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About this job

Overview
Position Title: Regional Program Officer (East & Southern Africa)
Position Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Arusha, Tanzania; or Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Regional Program Manager
Works closely with: Senior PD Manager, Director of Operations, Country Leads, Program Officers; Country Program Managers/Coordinators, Project Officers; Finance Officers, Financial Analysts; Specialty Teams & Depts
Type of posting: External
Application deadline: November 18, 2020
Background
Starting in October 2020, Farm Radio will implement a short duration 7-country project for the German international development agency, GIZ. The project will use a variety of strategies to increase awareness, knowledge and uptake of good agricultural, nutrition, health and gender practices. The project will be executed in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that distance methods, not just for broadcasting but also for design and training, will be at the forefront. Countries include Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Togo in West Africa; Ethiopia in East Africa and Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia in Southern Africa. Farm Radio has existing offices in Ethiopia and Mali and a longstanding strategic partnership with Farm Radio Trust in Malawi.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
The Regional Program Officer will play a critical role in the overall successful implementation of the project in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, including linking the global project team to countries teams in the region. The RPO also plays an important role in partnership development and resource mobilization to ensure the sustainability of programming.


(Regional) Project implementation and administration: 60%


(Regional) Monitoring, evaluation, research & learning: 20%


(Regional) Program development: 20%


Project Implementation (PI) and Project Administration
Under the supervision of the Regional Program Manager and working closely with Country and Specialty Teams, contribute to the effective implementation of the regional GIZ project to the highest standards and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, including farmers, funders, radio partners, extension services, and project collaborators. Specifically:


Compliance and funder relations


Ensure compliance to FRI policies and procedures, including risk review, spending variance, documentation and archiving, etc.


Monitor funder documents and communications, ensuring that requirements are understood, all staff are clear on responsibilities and deadlines are met


Project planning & implementation


Working with the Project Delivery Lead and Project Coordinators in three countries, develop and ensure the execution of project implementation plans in line with FRI procedures and templates, including start-up, implementation, monitoring, adaptation, evaluation and reporting


Working with Country Program and Finance Teams, oversee and monitor timely implementation of projects in line with annual workplans and spending plans and FRI policy and procedures, including monthly PI reviews, quarterly updates of work and spending plans, etc.


Working with Country Program and Finance Teams, manage consultants and project implementation partners to ensure quality, timely implementation of specific activities and results


Liaise with FRI Specialty Teams and Radio Network Department concerning project planning, implementation and reporting


Reporting


Working with Project Delivery Lead and Country Project Coordinators, synthesize project activities, results, findings and lessons learnt for


FRI’s internal reporting


Reporting to funders and other stakeholders


Other communication needs, in concert with FRI’s Communications Team


Backstop country Program Managers and Project Coordinators in the execution of their duties, including project agreements, contracts and MOUs; execution of project activities in line with implementation plans, workplans and spending plans; management of project staff; management of sub-recipients; reporting, etc.


Monitoring, evaluation, research & learning
Under the supervision of the Knowledge Management Team Manager and Regional Program Manager, East & Southern Africa, the RPO will contribute to the organization's monitoring-evaluation, research, learning and knowledge-sharing activities. More specifically:


Design, with the support of the knowledge management team, logic models and performance measurement frameworks and monitoring and evaluation plans


Contribute to the design of survey tools and other assessment instruments


Analyzes data generated by surveys, interviews, qualitative assessments, listeners' responses to on-air / online surveys


Preparation of baseline study, mid-term evaluation and final evaluation reports


Write project resumes (briefs) highlighting the results of the projects, the learnings and the implications in terms of best practices


Organizer or contribute to the experience of capitalization processes with partners and parties to projects


Contribute to the preparation of various knowledge sharing products for various audiences


Contribute to the sharing of learning and evidence of best practices internally to enable RRI staff to improve their approaches and impacts.


Program Development (PD)
Under the supervision of the Senior PD Manager and working closely with Country Representatives, contribute to the effective implementation of all PD processes within the region to the highest standards and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders: strategic and teaming partners, funders, radio broadcast partners and all other PD collaborators. Specifically:
Research & analysis


Scan opportunities for new program (funding) opportunities in the region


Analyse and present program opportunities to FRI program management in line with PD systems


Networking and relationship building

Develop and maintain FRI relationships with existing and potential funding partners

Proposal development


Prepare documentation in support of proposals, e.g. teaming agreements, contracts, etc.


Plan, design, and write concept notes and full proposals, including budgets, in response to funding opportunities


Coordinate, supervise, and support country staff to make their contributions to the success of PD proposals and processes


Ensure compliance to FRI risk review, documentation, and archiving procedures for proposals


QUALIFICATIONS
Experience, credentials, and requirements


5+ years of experience in program management, especially communication for development


Degree/Diploma in Agriculture, Communication, International Development, Environmental Studies or related field, Masters preferred


Fluent in English with very strong written and oral communication skills; ability in other East & Southern African languages an asset


Functional Portuguese a major asset


Willingness to travel


Knowledge


Knowledge and experience of program development and project implementation, including project cycles and results-based management


Knowledge of radio broadcasting and ICT


Knowledge of relevant agricultural and health practices in sub-Saharan Africa


Knowledge of national/international funders and strategic/implementing partners in East & Southern Africa


Skills and attributes


Functional French an asset


Good research, evaluation, data analysis, and writing skills


Excellent cross-cultural communication skills


Good organisational and time-management skills; ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines


Comfortable working under minimal supervision and with limited resources


Additional

Experience working and living in East & Southern Africa an asset