The Government of Ghana has received a Grant from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to assist the Ministry of Food and Agriculture coordinate the implementation of a Bread Basket Strategy (BBS) designed to increase agricultural productivity and incomes in the Northern Region of Ghana. Part of this funding is to be used to recruit a Bread Basket Manager to manage a Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to be established in Tamale to enhance the coordination of Bread Basket activities in the Northern Region.

The goal of the project is to help improve the implementation of the BBS ensure transparency and level playing field for all key bread basket transformation stakeholders in the Northern Region of Ghana. Specifically, the project seeks to achieve the following:

•   Improve stakeholder planning, coordination and monitoring of the BBS implementation in the Northern Region and give a voice to all stakeholders including government, donors, investors, and communities.
•   Increase sustainable private sector involvement in BBS initiatives
•   Increase resource mobilization for effective implementation of the BBS initiatives

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals for the above stated position in the two-year project.

The Bread Basket Manager would be based in Tamale and be responsible for coordinating the Bread Basket Strategy/agriculture interventions in the Northern Region. He/she will report directly to the Chief Director.

Specific responsibilities of Bread Basket Manager will include but not limited to the following:

•   Coordinate and give a voice to all stakeholders - including government, donors, investors and communities
•   Design and operationalize the delivery systems to realize the aspirations of the breadbasket strategy
•   Identify entrepreneurs and commercial farm investors and assist them to invest in the Northern Region through information sharing training programmes, reducing bureaucratic red-tape, and act as focal point for matters related to the implementation of the Bread Basket Strategy in Northern Ghana. Identify donors, private sector players (such as financial institutions), and other stakeholders who could invest in the "project packages" needed to deliver the Breadbasket strategy, and work with them to ensure they work in concert. Track, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of the strategy.
•   Arbitrate disputes, raise issues when needed beyond the SDU, and re-shape the strategy as it is implemented incorporating lessons learned
•   Organize quarterly agriculture sector meetings with key stakeholders to dialogue and exchange information on operational and related national policy issues to enhance harmonization and coordination in the sector; and submit reports to the Minister of MoFA and the Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWG)
•   Assist the MOFA Regional Director of Agriculture and the Regional Coordinating Council to organize annual planning sessions for the agriculture sector in the districts and at the Regional level in such a way that it feeds into the National budgeting cycle

Qualification Required & Experience

•   At least M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, or related field
•   At least eight (8) years working experience in the agriculture sector in areas of policy development, donor relations and monitoring and evaluation. Familiarity with the agricultural development community in Ghana and knowledge of national development strategy, the FASDPE, METASIP and key donor funded programs in the sector will be an advantage
•   Excellent writing, presentation, communication skills and must be a computer literate;
•   Willingness and ability to work under minimum guidance and work extra hours;
•   Willing to travel extensively in the Northern Region and between the North and Accra

Location: Tamale

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentations to:

THE PROCUREMENT UNIT
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
P. O. BOX M.37
ACCRA

All applications should reach the Chief Director

Please include telephone, fax and email contacts

Closing Date: 12 June, 2013