Sector/Program: Agriculture
Position Location: Lusaka
Reports to: Project Manager, Market-led Dairy Innovations Project (M-DIP)
Responsible for: Directing and coordinating the M & E aspects of the project
Key contacts: MAL, Dairy Association of Zambia, Dairy cooperatives, milk processors, input suppliers
Anticipated Start Date: 1st December 2015
Project background:
Substantial growth potential exists in expanding the dairy industry by bringing the traditional cattle sector into the formal system. Currently about 80% of all raw milk produced in the country comes from the traditional sector. However, the bulk of this milk does not reach the formal market. With targeted interventions aimed at improving animal husbandry practices and market access amongst emergent farmers, the sector has the potential to reduce the raw milk supply deficit in the country and significantly increase household income for the farmers.
Most of the dairy cooperatives in Zambia are still restricted to bulking, chilling and marketing of raw milk. Very few offer additional services to farmers such as veterinary services, dairy equipment services, artificial insemination, animal feed, training, microfinance, etc that are often essential to hence productivity and subsequently the growth of the sector.
To address these challenges, SNV has in the past two years piloted a dairy development project aimed at easing access to dairy support services for small scale farmers. This was done by supporting the organizational and governance capacity of selected dairy cooperatives to enable them to broker or offer additional services to their members. The project successfully piloted various services delivery models at cooperative level in the provision of services such as dairy skills training and fodder for small scale farmers. By integrating these models with other private investors and chain actors, the project demonstrated their viability justifying the need for scale up. To help lower the cost of production, the project also facilitated brokerage meetings between dairy cooperatives and chain actors to enable them enter into supply contracts that would ultimately lower the cost of inputs on the part of the farmers.
SNV will be upscaling this project in the southern province of Zambia and to contribute towards the implementation of this scale up project, we are seeking applications from suitably qualified Zambians to fill in the position of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.
Purpose of the job:
Ensure implementation of the M&E plan for the Dairy project including monitoring progress against planned activities, critical milestones and targets as well as providing support and guidance to the project team to ensure that the data collection, analysis and reporting, are of the highest possible quality.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
- To undertake and supervise regular data collection through the project team and implementing partners and ensure quality of the data by random verifications and validations
- To record, manage and preserve monitoring and evaluation data in a safe and accessible way
- To analyse and discuss findings based on regular monitoring data
- Provide technical support on M&E and evidence-based recommendations to the Project Manager.
- Participate actively in programme planning processes
Specific activities include the following:
- In Liaison with the project team design and develop, the Project Performance Monitoring Plan
- Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the project by designing and putting in place M&E systems;
- Contributing effectively to the development and review of project plans and budgets in order to guide program implementation;
- Developing appropriate M&E data collection tools;
- Work with the project Manager to ensure that M&E materials are available and the latest procedures, guidelines and protocols are used by the project;
- Guiding staff and implementing partners in preparing their progress reports;
- Collecting, compiling and analysing reports prepared by the project staff and implementing partners and consolidating draft progress reports for project management;
- Producing timely monitoring and impact assessment reports to the Project Manager in order to provide project performance information;
- Ensuring that data provided by beneficiaries and all reports submitted by the project team are accurate and complete;
- Guiding the regular sharing of the outputs of M&E findings with project staff and primary stakeholders;
- Ensuring that monitoring data are discussed in the appropriate forum and in a timely fashion in terms of implications for future action;
- Providing support to surveys and research;
- Coordinating project evaluations;
- Undertaking regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed;
- Carrying out any other duties assigned by the project Manager.
Competencies, Capabilities and Attributes: (Skills/behavioral (Special Training or Competence) :
- Ability to translate technical information into practical guidance tools and effectively communicate these using print, electronic and presentation media;
- Ability to work effectively in a team consisting of people with different technical backgrounds and with varying levels of technical training; excellent English written and oral communication skills and ability to write for a range of audience and purposes.
- Self-Starter and highly motivated.
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to work under pressure and to deliver quality products that meet deadlines and requirements
- Team player
- Relationship builder
- Ability to work with a wide range of actors from different backgrounds (smallholder farmers, private sector companies, government, and NGOs)
Academic & professional qualifications, Knowledge and Experience: (detail Knowledge (Education & Related Experience)
- Bachelors degree in social science (Social work, sociology, development studies, economics) with a focus on Monitoring and Evaluation
- Experience in participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation, training and facilitation, data processing/analysis and working with computers;
- Proven and demonstrated use of spreadsheets and IT statistical packages such as SPSS.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills required;
- Valid Driver’s License
Working environment: (The officer is expected to Spend 50% time in office and 50% field work) They will be based in the SNV head office in Lusaka, but will be required to travel extensively to project sites within Southern Province.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit an application letter addressed to the Country Operations Manager with full updated CV, pay rate history for the last three years, three professional references including their email addresses and day contact phone numbers.
Applications indicating the position applied for should be submitted tozambia@snvworld.org and copy to phiri@snvworld.org not later than Monday 9th November, 2015. Please do not attach any academic and professional certificates.
Closing date:
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Type of contract:
Local
