Job Opportunity: Country Manager, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

 

About AGRA

Country Manager, Ghana
Nairobi, Kenya – Job Reference: CM/GH/06/2021

Founded in 2006, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Under its current strategy, AGRA continues to catalyze and sustain an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farmers. AGRA will deliver through an approach that simultaneously catalyzes change at farmer level, strengthens input and output market systems and puts government at the center to enable and champion private-sector-led agricultural growth at national level.

To support the successful delivery, AGRA is seeking to recruit an experienced and exceptional individual to the role of Country Manager, Ghana.

The role will be based in Accra, Ghana.

Why AGRA?

At AGRA we believe Agriculture is the single greatest opportunity to deliver inclusive economic growth, jobs, and health to the African continent. An alliance led by Africans with roots in farming communities across the continent combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from 24 nationalities. Our values of (I-RISEIntegrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Equity.) espouse our commitment to a call to action to go beyond ourselves as we arise and transform Africa’s Agriculture.

When you join us, we present you with intellectually stimulating assignments and structured career advancement with 30% of open roles being filled internally through promotions and transfers, and a Leadership commitment for this ratio to increase. This is after setting you up for success with a World Class Onboarding for new hires where a bespoke induction trains on all aspects of the role that you will need to succeed. You will gain a full understanding of our lofty ambitions to transform African agriculture, and how you can contribute to an amazing employee experience.

An attractive remuneration package benchmarked at the 67th Percentile of the Market with fabulous benefits such as pension, medical cover, life assurance and provision of tools of trade that allow you to work productively anywhere; which are commensurate with this position’s responsibility, scope and impact.

We are looking for people who are passionate about Africa, curious and collaborative to join our innovative, growing, and multidisciplinary team.

Role Summary:

Reporting to the Regional Head, West Africa, the Country Manager represents AGRA in the country and will act as the catalyst for AGRA’s integrated interventions, under the guidance of the VP Program Delivery and Innovation and Regional Head. S/he will mainly be responsible for coordinating activities and building necessary stakeholder relationships with the implementing partners, government, private sector, donors and other key stakeholders. S/he will lead the country to actively develop, execute, manage and report the country plans in tandem with the overall AGRA strategy. S/he will lead the country team in liaising with the key stakeholders in country and contribute to generating critical inputs in catalyzing Agriculture Transformation

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Lead systemic development of country plan on an annual basis in collaboration with AGRA teams.

  • Coordinate country-level interventions set out in the country plan, working with program teams to deliver innovative intervention models across the value chain.

  • Convene and build relationships with government, private sector, donors, civil society organizations and others with a presence in country, to build and nurture country-level partnerships deemed essential to AGRA’s mission in the country.

  • Represent AGRA in key meetings and forums of the government and its development partners including donor coordination meetings that contribute to the advancement of AGRA’s investments in the country.

  • Coordinate, facilitate, report and oversee implementation of AGRA-supported investments in country and foster the integration and learning of AGRA’s interventions in country.

  • Oversee country level research required to complete the country plan on a periodic basis, to ensure that country and program objectives are aligned to the national/government goals and objectives.

  • Identifying and pursuing opportunities to mobilize resources in support of AGRA’s priorities and/or advocating for public and private sector stakeholders to scale AGRA’s demonstrated intervention models in country.

  • Maintain working knowledge of national agricultural sector development plans in order to identify and pursue opportunities to (i) mobilize resources to support AGRA’s priorities and/or (ii) advocate for public and private sector stakeholders to scale AGRA’s demonstrated intervention models in country.

  • Relay feedback from AGRA’s partners, especially the government and development partners to other parts of the organization.

  • Provide day to day guidance, oversight, management, and professional development of Country Team, and oversee the work of AGRA consultants in the country as needed.

  • Assist program officers to research and develop grantee portfolios dealing with constraints, resources and opportunities for increasing and improving seed and technology supply at farmer levels.

  • Draw on the expertise of AGRA thematic leads in the systems, partnerships and policy work to enhance the operations and optimize the country strategies and link program investments and activities to other AGRA initiatives.

  • Serve as primary point-of-contact to donors in the relevant countries, furnishing them with required reports, day-to-day communications, and timely insights on program challenges and breakthroughs in a manner which maintains their positive engagement with the program.

    Academic, Professional Qualifications and Relevant experience:

  • Minimum of 10 years’ experience in agriculture related international development work.

  • At least 7 years of program design, project management experience, particularly over diverse

    value chains and teams working across diverse geographies.

  • Experience working with a large multinational development agency in a management and

    coordination role is an advantage.

  • Master’s degree in Agriculture, Economics or related disciplines

  • A relevant Doctorate degree will be an added advantage

  • Professional development programs in leadership and management including financial and staff

    supervision/performance management

  • Proficient in program management

  • Proficient in program design and M&E.

  • Proficient in M4P or Market Systems Training


Experience working on teams with a purview over both domestic-wide and regional activities.

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, kindly submit your application with a detailed CV (including your e-mail address and telephone contacts to recruit@agra.org noting to quote the job reference number in the subject of your email)

To be considered, applications must be received on or before 18th June 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  


Source: Agriculture in Africa Media | Email: press@agricinafrica.com

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