Program Officer – Value Chain Development

Scope of Work

Program Design & Implementation:

• Design and implement strategies to promote sustainable, gender-inclusive, and youth-friendly value chains within the fisheries sector. 
• Develop activities aimed at increasing the capacity of women and youth to engage in fisheries value chains, from production to market access. 
• Actively support consultants, cross-border traders, and off-takers to collaborate in harnessing opportunities in cross border trade of fish.
• Support youth and women group champions, local leaders, government officials, and other relevant stakeholders to partner in project activities.
• Identify critical entry points for women and youth in the value chain, including roles in fishing, processing, value addition, and distribution.
• Conduct in-depth analyses of the fisheries value chains to identify gaps and opportunities for improving the participation and economic empowerment of women and youth.
• In liaison with the Program Team Leader, develop detailed fish project’ activity work plans and budgets. 
• Design and develop technical project materials and tools to support effective implementation.
• Participate in the development and issuance of fish project procedures and policies to new partners and project staff.
• Implement project-planned activities and track progress against milestones and key performance indicators.
• Implement a system of compliance assessment to ensure adherence to KT and donor project standards and requirements. 
• Provide strong transactional leadership to: a) the core project team(s), b) sub-grantees and/or sub-contractors, and c) the private sector value chain operators involved in the fish business linkages – with a specific focus on:
           - Leading in the annual planning and reporting of technical and financial results of the project.
           - Provide effective guidance and support to technical staff members assigned to the project.
           - Provide expertise and technical inputs in Value Chain Development aspects of the fish project.

Market Access & Linkages:

• Facilitate the establishment of market linkages between women and youth fish producers and processors with local and international markets.
• Support value-addition initiatives that allow women and youth to increase profitability through improved processing, packaging, and branding of fish products

Capacity Building & Training:

• Build the capacity of champions, youth and women group leaders and enumerators in fish postharvest handling, safety standards and value addition processing.

• Organize training programs targeting women and youth in fish production, processing, value addition, and post-harvest handling
  Provide technical support to women and youth groups on entrepreneurship, business development, and access to financial services. 

• Build capacity of the fish value chain actors and partners to appreciate the opportunities in structured cross border markets/trade of fish.

Project Finance Management

• Comply with project financial controls and all laid out operational procedures.
• Ensure value for money principle is observed throughout project implementation.
• Provide inputs that support the preparation of annual and other activity budgets, and conduct periodic budget reviews and analyses, undertaking accounts reconciliation of on-site and off-site budgets and reporting to the Program Team Leader
• Prepare procurement requests for goods/services that require prior funders’ approval.

Project Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Ensure high-quality technical and financial reporting in line with the requirements of Kilimo Trust and the funding partners.
• In collaboration with the Project Team leader & M& E lead, develop a precise project monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) plan.
• Implement the MEAL plan in liaison with the M&E Team.
• Manage and ensure accurate data capturing, analysis and reporting about project activities in accordance with donor requirements.
• Prepare and review quarterly progress reports.
• Review quarterly reports from field assistants, associates and or subcontractors/grantees in relation to sub-contract scope of work.
• In liaison with the M&E team, ensure accurate updated support documents of project activity implementation are uploaded in the M&E portal on a monthly basis.
• Support the Team Leader to consolidate findings and timely preparation of reports on project activities to project funders.
• Monitor achievements of project deliverables, risks, and any issues as well as impact and report back to Program team Leader as stated in Project Implementation Plans
• Manage and ensure accurate data capturing and analysis from country project teams.
• Prepare regular progress reports and submit the same on time to the Program Team Leader for review.
• Prepare and review quarterly, semi-annual, and annual project progress reports.
• Ensure timely submission of project progress reports

Information & Communication:

• Work closely with the Team Leader to ensure effective and unified communication to the project stakeholders and partners. 
• Prepare documentation of best practices including writing/editing articles, press releases, lessons learnt, and other project materials for publication.
• Analyse data collected from project activity implementation and produce knowledge articles, blogs, short videos 
• Develop effective communication processes and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders and partners.
• Coordinate communications between Program Team Leader and field/project offices
• Coordinate and participate in stakeholder and partners’ meetings

 Expectation Outputs:       

• Work Plans and budgets developed and effectively managed in program implementation
• Project study reports published
• Regularly updated database (s) of project participants in place.
• Updated support evidence of project activity implementation regularly uploaded in the M&E portal.
• Knowledge materials in various forms published, e.g. manuals, policy briefs, articles, blogs, social media posts, short videos, documentaries 
• Donor-approved quarterly progress reports.
• Project activity field monitoring reports
• Supervise and manage the performance of Project Assistants, Technical Assistants, Associates, Enumerators, and Consultants to achieve project goals and objectives.

 Qualifications:       

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Entrepreneurship or Natural Resource Economics with a strong understanding of Fish Value Chain Development, Cross Border Trade Dynamics, and Economics.

• Professional training in Supply Chain Management for perishable commodities, Entrepreneurship, Women & Youth empowerment or any of the above fields will be an added advantage.

• Demonstrated experience in value chain development in rural contexts is a MUST.

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive engagement in project management, especially in value chain development for youth and women empowerment initiatives in East Africa.

• Demonstrated experience in the Value Chain Diagnostic studies, Supply Chain Management, Cross Border Trade and or Entrepreneurship is a huge added advantage.

• Ability to speak and communicate well in any of the local languages of Tanzanian Fishing communities and Kiswahili is an added advantage. 

How to Apply:  

Please submit your application documents electronically through our KT Recruitment System with the following;

• An up-to-date CV, highlighting relevant skills and experience (presented in relation to each of the Responsibilities and each of the experience areas listed above). 
• The names and contacts of three referees, and a daytime contact telephone number of each of them. 
• Copies of Academic Certificate and Transcripts for O’ level, A’ level – where applicable, Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate qualifications 
• The names and contacts of your immediate supervisor(s) in the current job and two of your immediate previous jobs.
• Your daytime contact telephone number; and
• A statement and proof of the current remuneration package

Address all applications to The Human Resource Manager, Kilimo Trust
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Deadline: Friday, 14th February, 2025