Program Manager, China-Mozambique Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) Technical Assistance Project

TechnoServe is recruiting a Program Manager, China-Mozambique Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) Technical Assistance Project, to be based in Maputo and Boane (location of the ATDC), Mozambique, with travel to China.

Description

• Project period: 2 years (until November 2020)
• China’s impressive path of poverty alleviation through agricultural development holds lessons for Africa. To share those lessons, models, and technologies for the benefit of African smallholder farmers, China has invested in the construction and support of Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centers (ATDCs) across Africa. The ATDCs have great potential to serve as technology transfer hubs that support the agricultural development of host countries and drive benefits for smallholder farmers
• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) aims to support a strong partnership with China to reduce poverty in Africa by catalyzing country-led and inclusive agricultural transformations. As part of this initiative, trilateral cooperation agreements are being signed between BMGF, China and host governments in Africa. The cooperation aims to maximize the benefits from China’s agricultural knowledge and experience, technologies, and models to improve agricultural production and SHF livelihoods. One project within this cooperation framework is to improve the effectiveness and impact of the ATDCs in Zambia and Mozambique. To support this objective BMGF has funded TechnoServe to implement the Technical Support for China's Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers project
• The project includes two core components delivered in parallel. The first supports the ATDC leadership and staff to strengthen management and organizational functions, with particular attention to establishing sustainability plans and diversifying the Center’s funding base. The second focuses on strengthening the ATDC to identify, demonstrate, and pilot technologies in selected value chains where there is demand from the African countries and where China is a leader, and ultimately to partner with entities that have the incentive and resources to scale-up these proven technologies
• TechnoServe is currently recruiting a manager for the Mozambique ATDC technical assistance project. In Mozambique the ATDC is called Centro de Investigação e Transferência de Tecnologias Agrárias do Umbeluzi (CITTAU). The project requires significant stakeholder management between Chinese and Mozambican CITTAU partners, private sector stakeholders, government agencies, and smallholder farmer associations to ensure alignment on the future of the CITTAU and to position it for success. This is a high profile opportunity to lead an international, multi-sectoral team and align multiple local and international stakeholders to ensure the CITTAU develops into a functional and sustainable center that can play a significant and constructive role in the priority value chains of rice and vegetables and serve as a technology transfer center of excellence

Duties

• Strategic and technical leadership
• Organizational development:
• Finalize CITTAU vision, mission and strategy building on existing outputs and process launched during year 1
• Drive a process of organization strengthening building on the institutional development areas identified, engaging short-term experts and specialist organizations to target specific areas of capacity development and institutional structuring where required
• Review of additional revenue potential for the center and support to CITTAU partners to prioritize investment of staff and resources to achieve sustainability
• Technology transfer:
• Ensure that CITTAU activities are aligned to identify, demonstrate, pilot and scale agricultural technologies in targeted value chains that have positive benefits for Mozambican farmers
• Leverage research to identify what drives impact for smallholder farmers and value to the supply chain, and build the models that will achieve scale, sustainability and improved quality of technology distribution
• Develop partnerships with organizations in China that can provide technology solutions identified by the center; propose and structure engagements with Chinese experts as well as universities, academies and private companies that can provide technical assistance to the partners
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation system for technology transfer to capture results and drive strategic decision-making
• Stakeholder management:
• Lead in maintaining close working relationships with key personnel from primary project partners: IIAM and Lianfeng
• Further develop strategic relationships with stakeholders in Mozambique including other Mozambique government agencies, NGOs (including AGRA), and the private sector including processors, seed companies, financial institutions, NGOs, farmers and other industry stakeholders in the areas of operation
• Identify and build a relationship with relevant technology suppliers and other potential partners in China
• Represent the project in local, national and international fora and meetings as requested
• Knowledge and learning:
• Develop knowledge and communication outputs to capture CITTAU results for multiple audiences
• Propose partnerships with Chinese and Mozambican research institutes to develop collaborative learning outputs
• Project management:
• Lead in ensuring the technical and administrative implementation of the project and achievement of all core project deliverables, including guiding and mentoring ATDC management staff to develop and implement organizational strengthening plan and sustainability plan
• Develop and execute detailed country implementation strategy and work plan that identifies, prioritizes and sequences the activities required for successful delivery
• Manage country budget to ensure that expenditures are in alignment with approved budget and that project implementation rate is within an acceptable range. Develop strategies to adjust or accelerate implementation as needed so that the project stays on track
• Manage project technical and support staff, ensuring that all have professional development plans and detailed work plans that contribute to the achievement of project overall objectives
• Lead in the timely preparation of project annual report and ensure compliance in donor reporting at the country level

Requisites

• A bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of experience. A master's degree and at least 5 years of experience strongly preferred
• Expertise in change management and organizational development with businesses and/or public institutions, preferably in sub-Saharan African and/or China
• Experience in capacity building, coaching and mentoring in a multi-cultural context
• Strong project/grant management and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex multi-stakeholder processes build rapport among internal and external stakeholders, particularly government and private sector stakeholders
• Understanding the agricultural landscape in Mozambique is an advantage
• Experience working with African government ministries or entities is required
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural relational and communication skills are required
• Excellent written, oral & presentation skills in English and Portuguese required
• Ability in spoken Mandarin Chinese is an advantage. Experience working in China, familiarity with Chinese culture and/or with Chinese organizations preferred

Notes

• Only pre-selected candidates who have all required experience and skills will be contacted for an interview
• We encourage the participation of women

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to ecunha@tns.org with the Subject line “Program Manager, China-Mozambique Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) Technical Assistance Project”