Senior Manager, Programs & Research at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Job Description

• Contribute to setting specific objectives, targets, and milestones, monitoring progress, and recommending concrete and innovative ideas/actions for design, planning, and implementation.
• Ensure the overall execution of AWARD programmatic work and progress monitoring. This entails effective activity planning, overseeing the day-to-day program operations and specific projects, the production of deliverables with high quality standards, in a timely manner and within the allocated budgets, supporting risk management efforts, quality assurance and development of contingency plans.
• Prepare comprehensive work plans and work closely with the Team to ensure the achievement of AWARD’s goals through cost-effective interventions and operations.
• Lead the development of a comprehensive research base at AWARD – This includes the generation and dissemination of knowledge in various forms (e.g., technical reports, journal articles, policy briefs, etc.) and to various audiences.
• Regularly contribute to scientific and policy discussions with key stakeholders in the agriculture landscape and related sectors.
• Coordinate with the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (ME&L) team, the development and implementation of the AWARD ME&L strategy in line with the current and prospective initiatives, the design of progress tracking systems, adequate measurement systems and methods that allow for effective program analysis and reporting.
• Coordinate with the Communications and ME&L teams, the review and dissemination of key findings and learnings from program implementation to various audiences and stakeholders.
• Prepare programmatic progress updates on a regular basis and provide adequate support for the donor reporting including liaising with the different units to collect and consolidate inputs, key highlights, and other relevant information.
• Contribute to AWARD’s resource mobilization efforts for strengthened gender-responsive interventions in agriculture and rural development while also identifying and providing guidance on new funding opportunities to explore as necessary.
• Represent AWARD in specific events while also collaborating with the internal audience and the wider AWARD community.
• Proactively supervise a dynamic team of colleagues by providing mentorship, coaching and the necessary support for team motivation, personal and professional growth.
• Support the review of AWARD’s grants, the analysis of cumulative results achieved and the preparation of recommendations to improve performance.
• Serve as a member of the Senior management and support the strategy design, identification of strategic partnerships in the agricultural research and development sectors.
• And perform any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor regarding the overall management, communication, monitoring, and evaluation of AWARD’s interventions.

Requirements

• A minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in program and research/project management and field experience working in Africa. Experience in managing gender and diversity-related programs with a policy focus is desirable.
• Strong expertise in managing and coordinating multiple projects and programs with a wide variety of partners and in different contexts. This includes excellent collaboration with public and private sector partners, including academic and research organizations in Africa to facilitate implementation of agricultural development projects and programs.
• Strong understanding of the role of gender in African agriculture, the agricultural policy landscape in Africa; agricultural value chain development and implications for socio-economic development, challenges, and opportunities for Africa’s effective development.
• Solid track record of contributions in agricultural research for development, use of mixed-methods approaches, evaluation design, impact assessment and other strategic analyses focused on gender, agri-food systems, and related research topics.
• A minimum of five years' experience in the coordination of donor-funded projects and thus, good knowledge of donor planning cycles, agreement requirements and regulations as well as reporting processes.
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization and donor relations, including writing grant proposals and other fundraising materials.
• Experience in communicating research-, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&L) – related evidence including practical recommendations for action.