Regional Project Coordinator

1. Background

The Program to Build Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security in the Horn of Africa (BREFONS) is a continuation of the Multinational Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program – DRSLP. The latter is a long-term IGAD and African Development Bank partnership program that seeks to build resilience to Drought and Climate Change, improve community life, and promote regional integration in the Horn of Africa. It was designed to be implemented in three phases of five years each. The first phase of the program was planned for implementation from 2013 to 2017, but it was extended due to start-up delays. The ending phase 1 program (DRSLP – 1) aims to improve the drought resilience of arid and semi-arid land communities by contributing toward poverty reduction, food and nutrition security, improved rural incomes, and consequent accelerated sustainable economic growth in the Horn of Africa. The technical endorsement to pursue the second phase of the program was prompted by a program identification mission jointly undertaken by the African Development Bank and IGAD in June 2019. A key outcome of the mission was the determination of a second phase of the program, titled; “Program to build resilience for food and nutrition security in the Horn of Africa”. The Program falls under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) led by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation. The AAAP will contribute to closing Africa’s adaptation gap and support countries to make a transformational shift in their development pathways by putting climate adaptation and resilience at the centre of their critical growth-oriented and inclusive policies, programs, and institutions.

This Regional Component is part of the regional investment operation, which will be implemented in five countries, namely: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. The Program is expected to (i) increase the productivity of agropastoral production systems, (ii) increase incomes from agropastoral value chains, and (iii) enhance the adaptive capacity of the people to better prepare for and manage climate change risks and variation. The Project will provide a regional approach in order to bring an integrated package of interventions to build resilience in target communities within the five beneficiary countries. The Regional Component will be wholly financed by the ADF Regional Operations (RO) Grant through contributions from the participating member countries. This Regional Component’s Executing Agency is IGAD IDRRISI and will be largely implemented by the IGAD Agencies, IITA/TAAT, and CIAT over four calendar years.

1. Qualification and experience

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, Natural Resources Management, and Climate Change from a regular programme of a recognised University.
• With at least ten years of professional experience in managing and monitoring development projects, including activities in natural resource management and rural/community development projects. Experience in implementing climate change adaptation strategies, sector development infrastructures, and capacity building for rural populations will be an added advantage.
• Good knowledge of national policies and strategies, sector development, and land management issues.
• Good knowledge of the climate change issue, maintenance, upkeep and management of rural facilities to ensure the sustainability of investments.
• Proven knowledge of procurement, tender documents, consultations and disbursement procedures.
• Experience or knowledge of the African Development Bank’s (ADF) rules and procedures (acquisitions and disbursements). Experience in projects funded by multilateral donors or ADF.
• Ability to work with various Government departments, companies, other projects, NGOs, CSOs, and associations/cooperatives.
• Good knowledge of IT tools (including Word, Excel, MS Project, Access, etc.).
• Experience in the implementation and rigorous application of procedure manuals.
• Broad open-mindedness, willingness to work in a team, listening and dialogue skills. Ability to lead a team and harmoniously manage all human resources.

1. Tasks and responsibilities

• Supervision and coordination of all Program activities in synergy with the other components of ongoing ADF funded projects within the Region.
• Plan and coordinate the implementation of activities.
• Responsible for the implementation of results-based project management.
• Organisation of establishing a diagnosis and a reference situation of the projects.
• Responsible for establishing and executing partnerships with specialised units.
• Planning project activities in consultation with team members.
• Elaboration, in collaboration with team managers, of annual work plans and budgets for the project’s operations and investment.
• Elaboration and follow-up of the implementation, with the persons in charge of the different components and the partners involved, of the implementation schedule of the other project activities.
• Coordination and monitoring of procurement processes based on all planned services and schedules.
• Planning and coordination of monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Development of specific planning and data collection tools, databases, and computerisation of impact monitoring and evaluation tools.
• In liaison with the partner structures, organisation the acceptance of the works on behalf of the project.
• Coordination of the administrative and financial management of the project by the project procedures manual and the ADF’s rules and procedures.
• Approval of current expenditures and disbursements to banks for the project, suppliers and contractors.
• Monitoring the budgetary execution of the project.
• Representation of the project with local administrative authorities, partners outside the project, and within the regional bodies responsible for defining actions and ensuring the proper implementation of the project.

• Organization and coordination of external monitoring and evaluation, audit, supervision, mid-term review and completion missions, and organisation of AfDB supervision missions.
• Relationship management with the Bank, technical ministries, and other stakeholders.
• Organisation of the steering committee meetings.
• Finalization and dissemination of the project’s periodic activity report.
• Evaluation of the performance of the staff under their responsibility.
• Finalization of all remaining tasks before the effective start of the project.
• Signature of all financial commitments.
• Implementation of procedures for filing and archiving accounting documents.
• Implementation and management of a supplier file and a purchasing and inventory tracking file, including fixed assets inventory.
• Drawing up disbursement requests to the ADF and monitoring payments. Contribution to the revision of the list of goods and services. Monitoring the balance of the Loan.
• Monitoring the management of contracts and agreements with project partners.
• Monitoring and coordinating the management of funds entrusted to partners to implement agricultural infrastructure (lowlands and tracks).
• Participation in preparing Tender documents and the administrative follow-up of the various calls for tenders and contracts.
• Preparation, organisation and overall responsibility for the annual external audit within the deadlines required by the Bank.

1. Language skills

Proficiency in English Language is required. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

2. How to apply

Interested candidates should send their applications in PDF format, enclosed with a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, and academic documents, with three reference persons, including the last employer.

The application should be sent by email to the following addresses:

E-mail address: recruitment@igad.int (copies to: tesfaye.beshah@igad.int kebede.fufa@igad.int) with the subject line ‘Regional Project Coordinator – BREFONS”

The deadline for application submissions is the 26^th of August 2023 before or at 12.00 pm, Djibouti time zone (GMT+3).

Only successful candidates who meet the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted.

IGAD is an equal-opportunity employer, and qualified applicants from IGAD Member States are eligible to apply. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Download attached ToR document in PDF below 

TOR – Regional Project Coordinator – BREFONS