Project Officer

Overview

Southern Highlands Tree Growers Association (SHTGA) is a member-based organization established in 2014 to promote the interests of tree growers who are organized in tree growers associations commonly known by their abbreviation as TGAs; enhance women and young people participation in tree planting; facilitate members’ access to improved forestry and farm inputs and access to advisory and extension services for increased forest and farm productivity and quality hence improved net income at harvest; enhance smallholder tree growers (STGs) access to markets and integration in the value chains; build and strengthen networking and peer learning amongst tree growers; SHTGA has 136 members TGAs with more than 9,000 tree growers.

SHTGA vision is to be the principal organization that unites private commercial tree growers for lobbying and advocacy for improved income and development of forest sector in the country, to represent tree growers in policy development, economic and social forums. Its mission is to promote an inclusive, environmentally and socially accepted private commercial forestry industry in Tanzania for sustainable improvement of peoples’ livelihood.

The Objective of the job: To build the capacity of TGAs, their members and other beneficiary farmer groups to implement project activities through training and provision of technical support while liaising with other relevant technical personnel of the local governments and related stakeholders. 

Reporting: The position reports to the TGA's Service Centre Manager

Location: The role is based in Njombe Tanzania, with field work being conducted across Southern Highlands and occassional travel to other parts of Tanzania

PERSON SPECIFICATION SKILLS

• Management and team work: Strong operational, management and interpersonal skills with the ability to work within a high performing and diverse team
• Personal integrity: Values driven, demonstrating integrity and strong ethical standards
• Computer literacy: Microsoft Office especially Word, Excel and Power Point
• Well developed stakeholders engagement capabilities: strong communicator, and relationship builder

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in working with smallholder producers, resource mobilization and public-private partnerships (PPP)
• At least 3 years of professional experience in business or market development. Experience of the same in an agricultural or forestry context is an added advantage

MAIN DUTIES/KEY RESPONSIBILITIESnafasi za kazi

• Provide technical backstopping to field extension staffs in the project thematic areas of; cooperative operations, agronomy, post-harvest handling, agribusiness management, farmer group crop production & marketing, gender mainstreaming, savings and credit schemes and HIV/AIDS-related issues.
• Coordinate training arrangements for the tree growers, and TGAs with SHTGA to enable them to implement the plan in a transparent and professional manner;
• Support tree growers and the organization in the practical implementation of village savings and lending associations
• Establish close working relations with the organizations and wood processing SMEs and support their vertical integration and advancement.
• Support tree growers, the organization and SME in a practical implementation of the plan;
• Monitor and supervise the implementation of monthly planned project activities by the organizations and other stakeholders in the production and marketing line department.
• Compile and submit monthly, quarterly and annual field activity progress reports from the organizations to the organizations Service
• Centre Manager for review and final submission to the board.
• Spearhead the development of tools and systems for project monitoring and data collection in regard to key project result areas and indicators. In the same vein manage data entry and the database for informed reporting and decision making.
• Conduct routine market surveys and update the organizations about potential markets, trends in the product demand chain and market prices. As a result, develop a market information system for the SHTGA.
• Establish a link between the tree growers associations farmers and SHTGA, public sector and the markets.
• Participate in the development of monthly activity work plans and targets & submit monthly activity progress reports to the organizations Service Centre Manager
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the organizations Service Centre Manager
  
  

QUALIFICATION

• A minimum of SA degree in Rural Development, BSc Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness or a similar undergraduate subject relating to forestry or Agriculture 

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please complete the following information.

• An up to date Curriculum Vitae (resume) of not more than three pages
• An application letter of not more than one page with the names and contacts of two referees

The above information should be sent to 

ktimbulattgau@gmail.com; copy to naseku.kisambu@weeffect.org