Project Manager – Private Seed
Sector Development Project (PSSD)
IFDC Burundi
Current Job Openings –> Full Time –> Full Time Africa
Bujumbura • ID:20120999 • Full-Time/Regular
1. Justification and context
IFDC is recruiting a Project Manager to lead the Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project – Phase II (April 1 2023 – December 2026). PSSD is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Burundi. This four years project aims to build on an already implemented four years PSSD – Phase I (2019-2022) and another four years ISSD project (2014-2018). PSSD aims to ensure sustainable access to seeds and agricultural advisory services for 450.000 additional farmer households in Burundi.
The project is a private sector development (PSD) project that aims to establish a sustainable seed industry in Burundi by incentivizing and supporting Burundian and international seed companies to pilot innovations related to seed production and sales. The project focuses on the development of sales strategies that are tailored to farmer household requirements.
This includes:
-The sale of seeds in micro-packs
-Development of last-mile distribution capabilities
-Rural points of sales (POS)
-Mobile sales agents
-Micro-demonstration plots
-Consumer education-focused communication strategies tailored to farmers.
-Development of specialized promotional materials tailored to farmers.
The project moreover supports seed companies to increase production efficiencies though the provision of technical and targeted financial support for:
-Critical infrastructure upgrades
-Intensification of production
PSSD furthermore supports initiatives to improve the business-enabling environment in relation to seed
2. Functions and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
-Provide strong and strategic leadership on market system development related to the seed sector in Burundi.
-Ensure the daily management of the project, including financial management and management of project staffs.
-Prepare work plans and annual budgets of the project according to the dates indicated in the grant agreement between the EKN and IFDC related to the project.
-Document the progress of the project: develop narrative and financial progress reports for the KN, according to the dates indicated in the grant agreement between the EKN and IFDC
-Coordinate the recruitment of project staff and coordinate/supervise their daily activities.
-Communicate with stakeholders by providing leadership to the external communication of the project.
-Prepare the terms of reference for the activities which will be implemented with partners.
-Manage the PSSD grant fund.
-Assess risk management.
-Monitor progress, narrative, and progress reporting of subcontracted partner organizations.
-Monitor with the technical staff all activities directly implemented by IFDC: seed marketing support, seed entrepreneurship support, co-investment with seed companies; brand development!
-Organize training as planned in the project.
-Maintain day-to-day relationship with the EKN as it related to PSSD activities.
-Develop progress reports for the Ministry of Agriculture and partner organizations as required.
-Coordinate the implementation of PSSD.
-Coordinate the collaboration with the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in the Netherlands and other project partners.
-Any other activities as assigned by the IFDC Burundi Country Representative or the Vice President
Programs or his/her designee.
-Identify and channel new business opportunities to the IFDC Burundi Country Representative,
and when needed with the Vice President of Programs and the Vice President Business
Development.
3. Reporting relationships
-The PSSD Project Manager reports to the Director of the Market System Development Division, or his/her designee, on all aspects related to the PSSD Project and new business development in Burundi.
-For all in-country issues and coordination with other IFDC programs in Burundi, the Project Manager reports to the IFDC Country Director in Burundi.
4. Application procedure & deadline
All interested candidates are required to submit their application via the IFDC career portal on or before 31st March 2023.
NOTE: IFDC is an equal-opportunity employer.
Required Skills
Besides many technical and workplace skills go into efficient project management, these four skills are required:
Leadership: You’ll lead a team to achieve a goal.
Communication: You’re often the first line of communication for team members, vendors, stakeholders, and customers.
Organization: The ability to prioritize and multitask will keep projects running smoothly.
Critical thinking: Analyzing and evaluating a situation critically helps prevent issues before they happen.
Required Experience
-At least 10 years of experience successfully leading the management of complex, results-based, international rural agricultural development projects.
-At least Master’s degree in agriculture, soil science or related field required as mentioned above.
-Experience working in East Africa preferably Burundi or the Great Lakes region.
-Demonstrated ability in Market System Development approach (the concepts, principles, methods, and techniques of seed sector development activities, including training, capacity building, agribusiness development extension services and the technical activities mentioned
above).
-Demonstrated experience in seed marketing, seed entrepreneurship support, co-investment with seed companies, development of brands for seed varieties etc.
-Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with host governments, regional institutions, donors, UN agencies, other EKN and development partner projects, local organizations, private companies, and other partners.
-Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as demonstrated by experience.
-Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts, and grant programs with all required reporting requirements.
-Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project.
-Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in small audience and large audience settings.
-Fluency in written and spoken French and English languages is required.
-Ability to travel in Burundi and in East and Southern Africa. The position is based in Bujumbura, Burundi.
-This position is open to international and national (Burundi) applicants.
