JOB PROFILE

Market for Refugee Youth (F2MARY) PROJECT Manager

ABOUT US

We are an International Development Organization putting ingenious ideas to work so people
in poverty can change their world. We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Challenges made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can grow big.

We are a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK registered charity with community projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, an independent development
publishing company and a technical consulting service. We combine these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works better for everyone.

OUR AIMS

We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, made worse by
catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. Our aims are to:

• Make agriculture work better for smallholder farmers, many of them women, so they
  can adapt to climate change and achieve a good standard of living.
• Help more people harness the transformational effects of clean affordable energy and
  reduce avoidable deaths caused by smoke from indoor stoves and fires.
• Make cities in poorer countries cleaner, healthier places to live and work.
• Build disaster resilience into the lives of people threatened by hazards reducing the risk of hazards and minimizing their impact on lives and livelihoods.

In Rwanda, we are recognized leaders in clean cooking and sustainable energy solutions. This includes ground-breaking work in solar, wind and water powered electricity generation, often delivered through independent mini grids. We bring rural communities, people in refugee camps, energy providers and decision makers together to put sustainable, clean energy solutions to work for the people who need them most. 

OUR VISION, MISSION, BELIEFS and AMBITION

OUR VISION

Our vision is for a world where all people have access to the technologies that enable them to meet their basic needs and reach their potential, in a way that safeguards the planet today, and for future generations.

OUR BELIEFS

We believe that:

• Technology is a key enabler of human development; and that technological innovation has the power to propel us into a better world.
• All people should have access to, and a voice in, shaping the technologies that can improve their lives.
• A sustainable future for our planet requires a fundamental shift in the way technology is developed and used.

OUR MISSION

To develop and demonstrate practical, technology-based solutions that enable women and men living in or vulnerable to poverty, to lead dignified lives. To partner with people whose lives are transformed by these efforts and with a range of other organizations: ensuring local ownership, and that the solutions work in the longer term without us. To inspire change through the widespread adoption of sustainable technologies that work – socially, economically, and environmentally, so that more people living in or vulnerable to poverty benefit from our learning.

OUR AMBITION

Our ambition is that by 2030 we will have transformed the way technology is used to improve the lives of people living in, or vulnerable to poverty.

Practical Action

about the role

Key Working Relationships

BACKGROUND

Practical Action is implementing the Farm to Market for Refugee Youth (F2MARY) project, funded by AGRA, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, as part of our agricultural initiatives. The project aims to increase the production and productivity of chili and poultry among young, vulnerable producers. Additionally, it seeks to ensure inclusive access to chili and poultry markets for young farmers and producers living with disabilities in refugee camps and host communities. The project is being implemented in Gisagara district, Mugombwa Sector.

We are looking to recruit a Project Manager; the post holder will be based in Kigali with frequent travel and with the primary responsibility of working directly with the Mugombwa beneficiaries to deliver this project.  S/he will be reporting to the Program Manager, The Coordinator will be responsible for managing all aspects of project delivery, quality including planning, team management, reporting, client relationships, resourcing, risk management, budgets, contract management and partner coordination specific to the project. S/he will also be expected to articulate Practical Action’s agriculture ambition in Rwanda and build and nurture strategic relationships including with government, the private sector and other stakeholders in support of organizational ambitions.

General Purpose.

The main goal is to create employment opportunities for youth and women within the agricultural value chain. By transforming the agricultural sector and fostering the growth of private sector companies, the project aims to generate more jobs, work, and entrepreneurship opportunities, enabling young people to gain meaningful (self) employment. Ultimately, the project seeks to create fulfilling and dignified jobs for youth and women through investment and the strengthening of work pathways that benefit them.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

To effectively implement the project, the postholder will be needed for the below activities to be delivered.

Leadership and Strategic Alignment

• Contribute to Rwanda’s quarterly and annual reporting against Practical Action’s Strategic Business Plan (SBP), particularly on youth employment in Agriculture contribution to Practical Action’s Agriculture Ambition.
• Lead market assessments, employment opportunities identification and related negotiations along selected agriculture value chains.
• Contribute to youth employment and entrepreneurship schemes development, while ensuring youth capacity development, internships, and job placement.
• Continuously monitor internships and job placement continuity(taking mitigation measures for(drop-out), as well as agriculture youth enterprise growth
• Contribute to youth entrepreneurship, business development, innovations and market linkages.
• Ensure that project activities, outputs and outcomes feed into Practical Action’s impact ambition and strategic plans.
• Lead, manage and motivate a team of field staff, ensuring that they have clear work objectives and individual/teamwork plans and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• Ensure gender and climate technology is mainstreamed within the project.
• Ensure compliance with staff development strategies and Performance Management systems and evaluations.
• Play a key role in developing our agriculture change ambitions, and the Strategic Business Plans.
• Apply the Framework for Change to analyze the nature, causes and scale of the problem we want to address, using a systems approach.

Project Management and Delivering Quality

• Managing all aspects of project delivery, including planning, team management, resourcing, budgets and contract management, client relationships and partner co-ordination.
• Responsible for the overall direction, quality, performance, and coordination of the project implementation in line with the project objectives
• Ensure that project activities progress in accordance with the grant agreement and project work plans.
• Lead, manage and motivate project field staff, ensuring that they have clear work objectives and individual/teamwork plans and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.
• In coordination and with support from regional and project teams, ensure that local partners have the capacity to implement Practical Action’s programming, and provide for their capacity development as needed.
• Ensure preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports, program reports, and knowledge outputs
• Ensure effective communication with project team and partners (including international colleagues, Africa and UK offices).
• Maintain relations with government, camp management, cooperative management, donors and other key stakeholders in Rwanda.
• Conduct regular project team meetings to enhance information sharing among staff and effectiveness of operations.
• Ensure transparency in targeting beneficiaries, delivery of services and participation of beneficiaries and partners in planning and monitoring is reflected in project delivery.
• Support the project’s effective and systematic monitoring and evaluation process.
• Working with the impact team, support the capture and communication of the project’s impact for various internal and external audiences.
• Serve as the budget holder for the project and ensure monthly budget holder reports are reviewed and project spend is monitored monthly.
• Responsible for providing high quality, timely input to reports for the donor and internal purposes, as well as the development of relevant case studies, success stories and other documentation.
• Deliver the project’s procurement plan for Rwanda in accordance with donor and Practical Action procedures.
• Work closely with the procurement team in upholding value for money principles with suppliers in observance of procurement governance practices.
• Organize specific separate sessions for women during the mobilization process and during the development of participatory plans, ensuring that the needs of women and vulnerable categories are taken into account.

Strengthening Profile

• Represent Practical Action internally and externally on project related strategic matters.
• Contribute to storytelling in collaboration with the Communications, M&E and Knowledge team.
• Represent Practical Action in the Project area to local government, local communities, NGOs and other actors when requested to do so.
• Participate in local coordination / networking meetings as required.
• Develop and maintain professional links with development agencies, government bodies, county governments, technical and economic specialists, universities, and other professional institutions as required by the project.

PERSON PROFILE
To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Experience & Knowledge

• Extensive experience in project management and working knowledge of agriculture, development programming and at least five years’ experience managing rural development programs.

Essential and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, international development, project management, business administration or similar. Further training courses in topics relating to agriculture, project management, rural development etc. will be an advantage.
• Five (5) years of experience of managing the programme cycle, including assessments, project design, proposal and report writing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Experience working in INGO will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise and achievement in management of complex development programs/activities, including around rural development.
• Extensive practical management experience preferably in humanitarian programs, including budget and contract management, activity planning, client and stakeholder management, managing inputs from team members, consultants and partners, capability to use project management tools to deliver projects to time and budget at the satisfaction of the donor/client.
• Proven organizational skills: must be able to manage projects to time and budget and clearly work with diverse teams including technical leads, external partners, and donors.
• Research and analytical skills with a practical focus.
• Knowledge of the agricultural or agri-business at the local and national level
• Knowledge of social inclusion and participatory methods, including conducting research and using gender sensitive approaches.
• Knowledge in Gender mainstreaming and transformative approaches
• Experience working or dealing with private sector and an understanding of development and inclusive markets.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind set.
• Strong analytical, monitoring and evaluation, and report-writing abilities.
• Strong, demonstrable, financial management skills, particularly in budgeting and reporting.
• Strong communication, people management and interpersonal skills in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Strong partnership and negotiation skills
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Desirable

• Fluency in other languages and local languages in Rwanda.
• Existing strong relationships and networks within the geographic area.
• Post-graduate degree in relevant subject.
• Experience in working in remote areas and/or with refugee/ disadvantaged communities.

Working with Others:

• Experience working with multi-faceted teams both directly and remotely providing timely support when required.
• In coordination with government, donors, partners, and multilateral agencies coupled with excellent networking and communications skills.