PROJECT DELIVERY LEAD

Consultant Position – March to December, 2021

Background

Starting in March 2021, Farm Radio International (FRI) will implement a short duration (10 months) 4-country project for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under its Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF). Over the project period, FRI will provide access to interactive radio services to an estimated 20+ million smallholder farmers in four countries of Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. The project will use a variety of strategies (remote agricultural advisory services through interactive radio programs, deployment of digital tools in collaboration with VIAMOs’ 321 service and production of delivery of radio resources to the network of broadcasting partners) to increase awareness, knowledge and uptake of good agricultural, climate resilient practices and market linkages. 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. FRI has existing offices in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi and a longstanding strategic partnership with Farm Radio Trust in Malawi.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Project Delivery Lead is responsible for the overall successful implementation of the project, including

1) Project coordination (25%)

2) Project planning and monitoring (35%)

3) Project analysis and reporting (30%)

4) Program development (10%)

1) Project coordination

The Project Delivery Lead is responsible for coordinating the project team, including a project finance officer and country project coordinators (4), as well as linking to Farm Radio’s Specialty Teams (5) and Senior Management. The Project Delivery Lead also leads on coordination with the funding agency (IFAD), the sub granted collaborating institution (VIAMO) and oversees engagements with other regional and national stakeholders, including our long-standing strategic partner (FRT).

● Facilitate regular meetings of the international project implementation steering group

● Coordinate regular program team meetings

● Liaise between teams to ensure inputs to shared documents and overall coordination

● Serve as the primary focal point for the funder

• Ensure issues and items raised by the funder are addressed by the appropriate Farm Radio International staff in a timely manner
• Maintain regular contact with the funder, including all project achievements

● Oversee the engagement and monitoring of the sub granted collaborating institution (VIAMO) and work with Farm Radio Trust

● Provide continuity and support efficiency among the 4 Country Teams in recruiting and engaging staff and consultants

2) Project planning and monitoring

The Project Delivery Lead is responsible for developing a comprehensive Project Implementation Plan (PIP), including a work plan, spending plan and various strategies, e.g. communication, M&E, interaction and gender, which guides the entire organisation in executing the project.

● Develop the project implementation plan (PIP), including an overall work plan, using Farm Radio and funder templates and processes

• Ensure appropriate inputs from Specialty Teams, Regional Officers and Country Teams
• Ensure the timely delivery of a coded budget and comprehensive spending plan by the Finance Team
• Ensure acceptance of the PIP by the funder

● Oversee any revisions to the PIP, including inputs by Teams and internal and external approvals

● Oversee the project structure for planning and monitoring

• Ensure Specialty and Country Teams develop and monitor quarterly work plans
• Monitor the overall execution of quarterly work plans and spending plans

3) Project analysis and reporting

The Project Delivery Lead collates results and data emerging from the project and, following analysis from different teams, crafts it into project reports, both internal and external. **

● Oversee the project structure for reporting, including a clear description in the PIP

• Ensure relevant results, data and reports are provided by Country, Finance and Specialty Teams

● Prepare monthly progress and insight briefs for senior management and the funder

● Record high-level data on a monthly basis in the Farm Radio Project Implementation Table

● Deliver detailed quarterly reports, gathering results and insights from Teams

● Drawing on inputs from Teams, delivers comprehensive reports to the funder as per the funding agreement and project workplan

• Liaises with the Project Resource Analyst to ensure that all financial reporting requirements are met and shared in a timely manner with the funder

● Ongoing link to Farm Radio Comms in order to launch and promote the project, share results, etc.

4) Program development

The Project Delivery Lead develops a strong relationship with representatives of the funder, including a forward-thinking line of dialogue with project leads and decision-makers a view to project sustainability and further funding, i.e. beyond the initial term of the project, as well as for new projects. These efforts may extend to other funders in the same geographies esp. East and Southern Africa.

● The Project Delivery Lead will manage the IFAD portfolio, including providing advice to other Farm Radio staff on IFAD funded initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Advanced degree in management, international development or equivalent experience

● Experience with agriculture, livelihoods and gender programming as well as radio broadcasting, ICT enabled extension & advisory services, mobile telephony and social and behaviour change communication are significant assets

● At least five years’ experience in managing complex communication-for-development or ICT-for-development projects, including results-based management, financial planning, contract negotiation, program reporting and staff oversight

● Significant knowledge of gender equality and inclusion, as well as women’s rights, and experience in integrating these principles into project management

● Experience working in developing country settings

● Expertise with distance methods, e.g. e-learning, distance/online facilitation and networking, etc.

● Fluency in English is a requirement;

● Excellent cross-cultural communication skills

● Excellent organizational skills and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines