Project Officer: Agro - Entrepreneurs Access to Finance Training & Mentorship Project
Agriculture, Farming Jobs
- Zimbabwe Agricultural Develop…
- Expires 05 Jan 2025
- Harare
- Full Time
Job Description
Industry: Agriculture
Employment Type: Fixed Term – 1 year 5 months
Location: Harare
Job Summary
Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals to fill the position of Project Officer for a One (1) Year Five (5) Months Rural and Peri-Urban Women and Youth Agro - Entrepreneurs [i.e. Smallholder Farmers (SHFs), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)] Access to Finance Training and Mentorship Project in Zimbabwe. The program seeks to provide financial literacy training and to facilitate increased access to appropriately structured finance to youth and women involved in agribusiness initiatives. This position reports to the Programmes Manager of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT).
About ZADT
ZADT partners and collaborates with private sector, other development institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to facilitate access to finance for smallholder farmers and related agribusinesses, as well as provision of business development services to potential beneficiaries of these programmes to generate sustainable incomes, create jobs and improve their livelihoods.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties And Responsibilities
The incumbent is expected to perform the following duties;
▪ Participate in recruitment of project staff.
▪ Train and manage Project Field Officers to undertake and implement projects that increase their household incomes, create jobs and improve food security.
▪ Identify, select, and verify eligibility of target Women and Youth beneficiaries.
▪ Facilitate and co-ordinate financial literacy training and linkage of youth and women involved in agribusiness initiatives to access appropriately structured finance in identified and selected project areas.
▪ Identify, promote, and validate scoping of private sector, value chain players and hubs partnership engagement for the beneficiary Women and Youth Agro-Entrepreneurs.
▪ Identify, validate, and implement scoping of target value chain clusters and corridors.
▪ Create and establish sustainable partnerships with financial institutions and agribusinesses to promote the expansion of credit opportunities to the targeted Women and Youth Agro- Entrepreneurs.
▪ Liaise and network with financial institutions to identify training needs of current and potential borrowers of the Fund.
▪ Review and recommend improvements on training and mentorship programme to improve financial literacy, access to finance and linkages to appropriate finance, development and marketing partners.
▪ Supervise, co-ordinate and work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders for all issues related to the project implementation in all the project areas.
▪ Establish and maintain a fully functional project impact tracking and reporting system.
▪ Manage and co-ordinate the day-to-day operations of the project staff; and work with partner financial institutions and value chain players to create project awareness and extended reach.
▪ Receive and review periodic project reports from the Field Officers, compile consolidated project reports and status updates as per reporting guidelines and/or request.
▪ Manage and direct project and operational staff, partner, and beneficiary stakeholders to adhere to the project goals and overall objectives, track and report on the project impact.
▪ Develop and implement strategies and criteria for risk assessment and applying this to minimise risks to the Project.
Qualifications and Experience
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
▪ Strong understanding of the development context in Zimbabwe, and communication needs of different types of donors.
▪ Appreciation for MSME, public and private sector businesses, and well networked in the market in the financial services sector.
▪ Demonstrated experience in development finance; developing and successful implementation of sustainable environmentally friendly projects and monitoring systems.
▪ Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills, self-starter, proactive and strategic thinker with meticulous attention to detail, working well under pressure, and meeting deadlines.
▪ Strong experience in developing and maintaining business relationships and partnerships.
▪ Ability to produce analytical and well-presented reports and publications.
▪ Demonstrated experience in conducting project evaluations and reporting especially agribusinesses.
▪ Strong written, oral communication and presentation skills.
▪ Full proficiency with MS Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
▪ Integrity in all aspects.
Qualifications And Experience
▪ At least 10 years’ relevant work experience in development finance project management, agribusiness and/or banking of which 5 years should have been at a management level.
▪ A professional or postgraduate qualification such as MCOM-Development Finance, MBA, MBL, ACCA CIMA, CIS, etc
▪ An honours degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics or Business degree with experience in or working with agribusiness or equivalent from a recognized university is a clear advantage.
▪ At least 5 years’ working experience in a financial institution, and particularly credit and risk assessment as well as monitoring of loans.
▪ Critical competencies in corporate governance principles and information systems.
▪ Clean Class 4 Driver’s License.
How to Apply
How To Apply
▪ To apply, please send one document that includes your cover letter describing your interest, qualifications, contactable references, and your CV to info@zadt.co.zw
▪ ZADT is an equal opportunity organization and encourages both female and male candidates to apply. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis and shortlisting will proceed as applications are received. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Deadline: 13 December 2024
