Rural Reconstruction Foundation

Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF) is a National level Non-Governmental voluntary Development Organization. Which is working since 1982 for the underprivileged community in many development segments. RRF invites applications from competent candidates for the following position under the project titled “Strengthening Climate-smart Vegetable and Flower Value Chain in Bangladesh” financed by the Heifer Project International Bangladesh.

Post : Project Coordinator

Vacancy: 01

Job Context:

The role of the Project Coordinator (PC) will carry-out the Heifer’s projects activities that includes cooperative and market development of inputs/services and produces/products. The major focused areas are: developing strong leadership and facilitating good governance of cooperatives; ensuring savings accumulations and lending, quality vegetable and flower production and productivity, ensuring quality inputs with solar irrigation, market system and value chain development, building market linkages for national and international market, strengthening supply chain. Through Heifer support self-help groups have organized themselves into cooperatives/farmers owned agri-business to access affordable inputs, technical and financial services, product aggregation, and marketing to support smallholder farmers to expand their business and achieve a sustainable living income. The PC will provide strategic guidance and support to team members, successful implementation of SHGs, cooperatives, collection point for vegetable and flower marketing, farmers training, Farmers Field School (FFS), demonstration, Farmer Field Day (FFD) and local governments for effective design and implementation of projects. S/he will coordinate Heifer International Bangladesh, build the capacity of cooperative and provide continuous backstopping for optimum project result.

Job Responsibilities:

Prepare detail implementation plan (DIP) and yearly project budget in consultation with Heifer Bangladesh program team by specifying the activities and timelines.
Ensure Self Help Group (SHG) and Cooperative formation on time, strengthen the cooperative capacity in relates to organizational (leadership, management, good governance system development, policy and procedure, monitoring etc.), ensuring savings generation and business management.
Prepare required guidelines on flower and vegetable production, agriculture inputs including solar irrigation, postharvest management and market linkage with value chain actors for vegetable domestic and international market for effective project implementation.
Support to field team for formation of FFS, FFD, vegetable demonstration, set collection point and build linkage with relevant stakeholder.
Lead the team for identify the farmer and their land for solar irrigation pump installation, ensure to follow the developed business model for irrigation, farmers cooperation for developing underground water distribution channel and system develop for sustainable solar pump operation.
Explore public and private organizations for joint initiatives to establish viable and sustainable business ventures for warehouse with forward and backward markets; identify local level market opportunities, facilitate coops to set marketing goals, connect coops with the market to sell their products.
Build functional partnerships for coops with relevant stakeholders (private sector, government agencies, other cross-cutting providers, etc.) for sustainable product marketing.
Identify and build linkages, relations, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders.
Establish and activate different businesses such as product aggregation and buyer linkage, commercial transportation service for Coops business, contracting/sub-contracting with different stakeholders.
Develop and manage sectoral networks such as buyer network, input suppliers’ network, etc.
Assist to solve business related problems based on need as per cooperative’s bylaws.
Build capacity of the staff, Coops staff through facilitating training, coaching and other capacity building initiatives on agriculture production, market facilitation, leadership, conflict management, business development, governance, organization development, etc
Participate in monthly meetings of Cooperative, review their financial and business reports and provide feedback; provide mentoring and coaching to coops to build local capacity for understanding and connecting with markets;
Organize and facilitate monthly staff meeting, PSRP, preparing monthly plan, reviewing last month accomplishments and ensure monthly action plan of all project staffs;
Visit HHs and meet with producers, vegetable and flower value chain actors, and other stakeholders in regular manner to identify their needs, observe field activities critically, identify operational and programmatic constraints and ensure remedial options in a participatory manner with the consultation of Heifer program team;
Form Project Management Committees (PMC), Project advisory committee at union, upazila and district level as per guideline. Facilitate meeting for leveraging service and resources for ensure CaLF
Build strong relationship and maintain liaison with Upazila level stakeholders particularly UNO, Cooperative Office, Agriculture department, Marketing department, Women and Child Affairs Office, UP, Elites and develop and manage partnership with private sectors and market actors
Check and verify quarterly fund requisition, develop the report, regular financial report and ensure timely submission; engage monthly and quarterly budget versus expenditure progress
Review monthly target, progress and quality achievement as per DIP and take necessary action to achieve the target
Select appropriate participants from cooperative for access to finance from bank and monthly follow up their repayments. Also follow the enterprise development guideline provided by Heifer International Bangladesh.
Plan, organize, participate and facilitate various workshops, trainings, meetings, survey and so on with entrepreneurs, coops, traders, service providers and other stakeholders;
Support Heifer team and other relevant stakeholders to ensure project objectives are met;
Perform necessary instruction and additional responsibilities required from donor.

Employment Status:
Contractual

Educational Requirements
Masters from any recognized university in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Agriculture Engineer including agribusiness disciplines with minimum second class/ division or equivalent GPA/ CGPA in all academic examinations

Experience Requirements
Minimum 07 years of agro based project working experience in the development/business sector on results-based project management.
Clear understanding the vegetable and flower subsectors knowledge and operation
Strong understanding of social capital, value chain, business, natural resources management and livelihood issues Skills and experience in networking skills and capacity building.

Additional Requirements

Clear understanding of social and economic development and market-based programming.
Competencies on vegetable and flower subsectors knowledge and operation
Knowledge on FFS, FFD, action research, crop demonstration, module preparation
Experience on solar irrigation system for the farmers is an asset
Organizing skills on training, workshop and other forum
Good facilitation and anchoring skill, ability to work independently and within a team;
Ability to develop plan and priorities work according to deadlines; and manage budgets and projects
Ability to think strategically and develop creative approaches and solutions to complex problems;
Previous experience of managing donor supported projects and microcredit and marketing-based projects will be an advantage
Excellent computer skills in packages including Microsoft Word and Excel
Highly motivated, participate in meetings even during weekends as and when necessary
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure to meet the deadline.

Job Location:
Jashore

Salary:
Monthly Salary TK. 60,000.00

Apply Procedure

Only those who meet the above requirements are requested to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be invited for interview. Any persuasion will disqualify the candidature. RRF reserves rights to finalize any application.

Application Deadline: 28 May 2023