The goal of the Ag Extension Project is to strengthen the existing agriculture extension system in southwest Bangladesh in order to sustainably improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers. The project works to build the capacity of public and private-sector extension agents in meeting extension needs, and seeks to foster farmer demand for agricultural extension and advisory services, synergized by use of information communication technology (ICT).

Access to technical information is a major constraint for smallholder farmers resulting in part from a fundamental lack of awareness of existing information sources – and from limited access to existing technical information and advice. 

The project requires an ICT Coordinator to be responsible to ensure (a) the ICT strategy of the project is understood, prioritized and planned for implementation; (b) Regional and District level field staff are well oriented and supported to implement ICT related activities; (c) there are appropriate M&E plans to monitor the ICT component; and (d) there is communication and coordination between Dhaka Ahsania Mission and mPower.  

1.  Develop guidelines and plans used to orient field staff to procedures and activities needed to implement the ICT component of the Ag Extension Project:  Work with the appropriate project technical staff members to develop procedures and guidelines to enable project staff to implement the ICT component of the Ag Extension Project.  The guidelines should include the development of training modules to enable small holder farmers, SAAOs and ag stakeholders to gain access to technical ag information using ICT apps and approaches.

2.  Coordinate ICT strategy and plans with mPower:  The ICT Coordinator will be in continuous communication with the mPower team – to jointly plan and oversee ICT related activities.  The mPower team is responsible to develop and field test ICT apps and approaches, while Dhaka Ahsania Mission field staff are responsible for rolling out and enabling adoption of ICT apps and approaches.  Thus, it is essential that the ICT Coordinator work in close collaboration with the mPower team.

3.  Coordinate and support ICT component implementation through a team of ICT Officers in the field:  The ICT Coordinator will serve as team leader for ICT Officers representing both DAM and mPower in the three Regional Field Offices.  The ICT Coordinator will travel in the field a minimum of 50% of his/her time.  He / she will meet regularly with ICT Officers and go with them to observe and assess field activities related to the ICT component.

4.  Coordinate with the project Monitoring & Evaluation Unit:  Work closely with the project M&E Unit to assist them in ensuring a system and forms are in place to track and document ICT activities and their impact.  As USAID is very interested in learning how ICT apps and approaches can support ag information dissemination, it is essential that the M&E system can effectively collect and organize information to effectively demonstrate the effects of the ICT component of the Ag Extension Project.

5.  Serve as an ICT Representative on behalf of the Ag Extension Project and Dhaka Ahsania Mission and mPower with other ICT in ag stakeholders, including the Government of Bangladesh:  Serve as a representative to share ICT innovation and advances at meetings and events; develop ICT focused presentations to share innovation and learning from the project; help organize the annual e-ag conference on behalf of the project; and carry out other ICT related functions as needed.

• Minimum of 5-years of experience with ICT positions (E)
• Academic degree (Master Degree preferred)  (D)
• Experience in project implementation, preferably in a leadership role and preferably with ag and/or ICT related projects (E)
• Demonstrated communications and team leadership experience and skills (E)

Job Knowledge: 

A thorough knowledge and understanding of professional ethics, staff development, supervision and staff management. Good team building and leadership quality, ability to motivate staff to achieve the project goal with in the time frame. 

Skills: 

Interpersonal communication skills and negotiation skills, Result driven, Ability to work on deadline, Good coordination skills, good facilitation skills, Good English and Bangla Communication skills, High level of integrity and sense of maintaining confidentiality and Excellent computer (MS Office, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint) operating skills.