Consultant – Commercialization, Business analysts (Ward Information Centers and Digital Solutions)
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Welthungerhilfe
- Expires 03 Oct 2022
- Bulawayo
- Part Time
Job Description
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest German non-governmental organisations in development co- operation and emergency relief. Primarily in co-operation with local partner organisations, our task is to contribute to the improvement in nutritional and income base for the low-income populations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Welthungerhilfe has been implementing projects in Zimbabwe since 1980. Sector focus is on Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Food and Nutrition Security, Livelihoods and when necessary, Emergency Response.
WHH together with ICRISAT, CTDO and SAT are implementing a project entitled “Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems” which is funded by the European Union under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme”. Part of this project involves addressing communication challenges between agriculture stakeholders in Zimbabwe. One of the strategic arms of this project is access to digital extension services and education capacity building. As such, in partnership with the ministry of Lands, Agriculture, water, fisheries and rural resettlement the project has invested in community ward information centres that provide local communities with internet access connectivity, video-based extension services and smart gadgets for agronomy advisory efficiencies. In addition, the project has developed three digital solutions in the form of the lead farmer training platform, the digital virtual college and the In-service training application.
Position summary:
Welthungerhilfe is seeking for a Business Analyst Consultant for the ZAKIS project; Please kindly refer to the terms of reference for more information on this advert;
Duties and Responsibilities
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Terms of Reference: Commercialisation-Business Analyst (Ward Information Centers and Digital Solutions)
Background and Purpose
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest, privately-held, non-denominational and politically independent German non-governmental organisations in the area of development co-operation and emergency relief. Primarily in co-operation with local partner organisations, its task is to contribute to improved income and nutrition for the poorest rural populations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Welthungerhilfe has been implementing projects in Zimbabwe almost continuously since 1980. Currently the organisation together with its partners has projects in 5 Provinces. Sector focus is on Food and Nutrition security including WASH, and when necessary Emergency response.
WHH together with ICRISAT, CTDO and SAT are implementing a project entitled “Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems” which is funded by the European Union under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme”. Part of this project involves addressing communication challenges between agriculture stakeholders in Zimbabwe. One of the strategic arms of this project is access to digital extension services and education capacity building. As such, in partnership with the ministry of Lands, Agriculture, water, fisheries and rural resettlement the project has invested in community ward information centres that provide local communities with internet access connectivity, video-based extension services and smart gadgets for agronomy advisory efficiencies. In addition, the project has developed three digital solutions in the form of the lead farmer training platform, the digital virtual college and the Inservice training application.
Subject of the Consultancy
Problem
Whilst working with the Government of Zimbabwe in delivering pluralistic extension services, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) identified a gap experienced by smallholder farmers in communal areas where their efforts to venture into commercial agriculture are hampered by the lack of access to information. Information relating to markets, prices, weather and other specialized extension and advisory services are some of the key gaps experienced by farmers. Secondly, the high cost of data and lack of gadgets such as tablets and smartphones have meant that farmers in such communities are at a disadvantage regarding commercial trade. Additionally, extension officers and farm managers skills are not being upgraded at a rate at which modern farming systems require hence the need for digital adoption for leapfrogging.
Solution
To address this, the ZAKIS project has sought to create Ward information centers (Community Resource Centres) that will enable farmers to access this information through free wifi and access to devices, be able to watch extension videos shot from different parts of the country to demonstrate key concepts and inspire them and have access to podcasts and other related resources. In addition, the ward information centre is resourced with a desktop where extension officers at zonal level can now report electronically and do detailed zonal and ward analysis of issues relating to local production. The project is putting together 24 of these across the 4 districts to demonstrate proof of concept to the Government of Zimbabwe in order to motivate for the adoption of this approach across the country.
The Objectives for the set up of the Community Resource Centres are as follows:
a. Improve farmer's knowledge through alternative learning systems (videos and podcasts)
b. To enable those without digital devices to have access to them
c. To give internet access to the less privileged who can't access it such that they can do market research and sell efficiently.
d. To enable the local extension officers to improve their reporting through computer-generated reports.
The Objectives of the digital solutions are as follows:
a. The Inservice training app seeks to ensure extension staff skills are developed on a remote digital basis.
b. The lead farmer training app seeks to ensure that farmers with access to internet connectivity have a quality assured online training facility.
c. The virtual college seeks to ensure that farm manager is certified and skilled to viably manage farms.
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) seeks the services of a business consultancy firm/consultancy agency to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of the currently established Community Resource Centres and make recommendations on how these centres can be further improved from a business and utilisation sustainability perspective to ensure that rural farmers achieve increased production and enhanced viability. The consultant will further refine the business models for all digital applications to ensure they are self-sustainable on an independent basis.
Qualifications and Experience
• Extensive experience in digital product development, marketing and scale up pathways.
• Expertise in impact investment
• Experience in design thinking and innovation incubation.
• Proven record in facilitating ICT4Development and ICT4Agriculture solutions.
• Demonstratable knowledge in lean startups.
• An appreciation of Government processes and establishing collaborations with development partners.
Planned Time frame: A total 12 working days is planned.
Budgetary provisions: US$3 000.00
How to Apply
During the application process, WHH will not charge any fee nor will it require any payment for an application to be considered. WHH is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to race, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and or physical handicap. Persons with disability are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should email their proposals with budgetary provisions in a single document to recruitment.zimbabwe@welthungerhilfe.de by 30 September 2022 indicating “Business Analyst Consultancy” on the subject line.
NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
