The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), working alongside Catholic Relief Services and various partners in the Haitian cocoa industry, launched in 2013 the Creating Alliances in Cacao to Improve Alliances and Organization in Haiti, an initiative to help small-scale farmers in Haiti to expand into global supply chains.
Haiti is a country with a long tradition and comparative advantage in cocoa cultivation. The cocoa sector continues to provide important income generating opportunities to approximately 20,000 smallholder producers, the majority of whom are at or below the poverty line. The main challenges facing the industry are low volumes and quality, which negatively affect the sector’s ability access new markets. Cocoa producers in Haiti have some of the lowest yields in the region and have limited technical knowledge of ways to improve cocoa quality through the post-harvest process. Furthermore, most of Haiti’s cocoa cooperatives remain very fragile and have limited capacity to engage in direct trade with buyers seeking high quality supplies of cocoa.
The project will improve the participation of small-scale cocoa farmers and their cooperatives in the cocoa value chain by focusing on key areas for overcoming low competitiveness. First, it is geared to promote market access by creating direct links between cooperatives and local exporters, reducing the need for intermediaries and allowing producers to capture a higher share of prices. To boost production, it will improve yields, quality, and natural resource management. It aims to overcome a critical bottleneck by facilitating access to finance for cooperatives through business and financial training. Last, it will adopt a holistic perspective to promote coordination and collaboration with other actors of the chain to establish linkages, find synergies and improve the performance of the industry as a whole.
The project is expected to benefit 7,000 small scale cocoa producers, nearly 35% of cocoa producers in Haiti. It will catalyze systemic change by achieving significant scale at the national level in the two main cacao production zones through strengthening private institutions ability to access new markets. MIF and CRS partners with a host of stakeholders to pull together the financial resource and technical expertise needed to address the needs of the cocoa value chain at a national level.
Fonctions
The Program Manager- Cacao Value Chain directly oversees the strategic approach development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the MIF funded cocoa project. S/he ensures the appropriate coordination and integration of project activities, as well as an integrated approach to development interventions, including promoting gender equity.
S/he coordinates technical and strategic planning, project implementation and monitoring. S/he is directly responsible for the effective implementation in concert with partners and cocoa value chain actors who will be co-implementing various sub projects within the overall program portfolio. S/he will adhere to CRS, Government of Haiti and international standards in value chains enhancement. S/he is expected to professionally represent CRS/Haiti and sustain the agency’s reputation for high quality programming.
S/he may serve as representative to donors and is responsible for quality and timely reporting.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Management
1. Directly supervise four staff members, providing coaching, promoting professional development and conducting performance appraisals.
2. Provide leadership to and mentoring for partner project team members. Elaborate with partners a report format that integrates results, lessons learned, and best practices.
3. Ensures timely liquidation of project advances with partners, reviews monthly Budget Comparison Reports to verify accuracy, timeliness and appropriateness of expenditures in coordination with the CRS finance department.
4. Ensure timely and responsive reporting to donors and conformity with donor standards and technical parameters.
5. Contribute to the development and the implementation of initiatives to strengthen staff’s and partner’s capacity in administrative and financial management, and timely reporting.
6. Cooperate with the Finance Department in the preparation of audit reviews, and in responding to audit findings pertaining to the Cacao project.
Project Implementation
1. Supervise daily project activities and project staff to ensure program consistency and direction, coordinated implementation of program plans, and collaboration among partners.
2. Provide technical and management support to program components implemented through partners, ensuring transparency, program accountability and quality, and the achievement of expected results.
3. Participate in the program analysis and reflections with staff and partners to evaluate program methodologies and performance and disseminate lessons learned.
4. Periodically monitor progress against project objectives and indicators, ensuring timely and appropriate data collection, and that the interventions are on track and meeting their objectives. Provide recommendations and/or support for corrective action as necessary.
5. Review and edit progress and financial reports prepared by staff and partners, ensuring quality, accuracy, timely liquidation of advances and appropriate use of resources.
6. Manage project budgets to ensure projects are implemented within budget and on-time.
Strategic Planning
1. Contribute to the implementation of the CRS agricultural sector influence plan.
2. Work closely with other managers toward cross-sector integrations.
3. Participate actively in CRS meetings, SPP process, as well as other regional and agency-wide initiatives.
4. Contribute to proposals to respond to new opportunities in the cocoa value chain (or other related agriculture programming).
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
1. In coordination with the MEAL Coordinator, provide guidance to partner staff in design and/or enhancement of participatory M&E tools, surveys and evaluation instruments, to strengthen data collection and analysis.
2. Compile data and generate quality and timely narrative reports.
3. Ensure follow-up of evaluation and study report results and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices.
Representation:
1. Attend donor and government meetings as required.
2. Represent CRS’ interests to partners, donors, and government representatives.
3. Create and animate a platform for exchange with all partners of the alliance to share strategy and forward plans
4. Liaise and maintain relationship with private sector buyers.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: MEAL Coordinator, Project Accountant, Program Assistant, Procurement Manager, Human Resources Manager.
Qualifications:
1. University degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, or related field;
2. A minimum of four years of project management experience in an international organization, in particular working with donors and partner organizations;
3. Strong professional proficiency in spoken and written Haitian Creole, French and English. Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish is a plus;
4. Excellent organizational, team leadership, and communication skills;
5. Proven effective supervision of staff
6. Ability and willingness to work and travel in remote areas;
7. Ability and willingness to work beyond “regular” work hours when needed for project purposes;
8. Experience in value chain programming, agroforestry, and cacao production;
9. Experience in budget management;
10. Computer literate;
11. Ability to work independently and in coordination with a team;
12. Willingness to work in potentially stressful work environment;
13. Strong professional proficiency in spoken and written French and English.
Dossier de candidature doit avoir ...
The concerned candidates are asked to send their complete application (cover letter, CV, copy diplomas) confirming the subject "Program Manager"
Autres remarques
CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
