Job Description: Rural Livelihoods Programme Manager

1. Introduction 

Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s programme for overseas development and is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy; in Tanzania, the Irish Aid programme is managed by the Embassy of Ireland.   The Embassy works with the Government of Tanzania, UN agencies, international research institutions, civil society organisations and other development partners to deliver on our overall goal of inclusive growth and reduced poverty and vulnerability in Tanzania.

The programme is guided by a five year Mission Strategy 2017-21 which is aligned with the Tanzanian Five Year Development Plan 2.   A key outcome area in our strategy is to ensure poor households increase their income and consumption and secure access to productive resources with a focus on ensuring public programmes better support poor people, particularly women, to increase their resilience and generate more sustainable livelihoods.  We will focus on support for the effective implementation of relevant public policies in agriculture and on a market systems approach that provides markets for and adds value to products produced by poor people. 

Across all our work we take account of women’s agency, women’s economic empowerment, improved health and wellbeing outcomes for women and girls and the reduction in gender based violence.   A commitment to research, monitoring and learning underpins our approach to programme implementation and delivery.  

2. The Position

The Embassy is now seeking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced Rural Livelihoods Programme Manager to join its Team.  The successful candidate will report to the Deputy Head of Development and work closely with other programme managers.  The post holder will be responsible for the Embassy’s engagement on agriculture policy and market systems development, for the management of partners and for technical advice and analysis for the design of a new programme aimed at supporting poor households to realise their right to a secure and resilient livelihood.

The primary duties and responsibilities of this post are:

Programme Development and Management

• Support the design and manage the Embassy’s Rural Livelihoods programme including planning, monitoring and management of the Mission’s support in the area.
• Develop key partnerships with the Government of Tanzania and other stakeholders including private sector actors.
• Working with the Embassy’s Gender Adviser, ensure that gender equality, and in particularly, women’s economic empowerment, is effectively mainstreamed through the Missions programming in this area.
• Represent the Embassy at appropriate sector working groups and coordination structures
• Support identification and commissioning of relevant research and analysis which informs the Embassy’s and Ireland’s approach to promotion of market systems development and agricultural public policy.
• Co-ordinate research and documentation of lessons learnt, ‘best practice’ and emerging thinking relating to rural livelihoods in Tanzania and globally.
• Ensure effective management of programme partners, in-line with the Irish Aid Grant Management Standard.
• Manage the Embassy’s external technical support relating to market systems development and agricultural public policy research.

Support the strategy of building evidence for learning

• Analyse key research studies, evaluations, and reports to identify and document lessons, and produce analytical summaries for internal use and/or policy application;
• Explore areas where Irish Aid can enhance its contribution to policy research, in accordance with the commitments in the mission strategy;
• Contribute brief articles, accounts, photographs and or case studies with particular emphasis on demonstrating the evidence and impact of the Irish Aid programme;

Communications and advocacy

• Support the development of policy coalitions to advocate for a comprehensive national agriculture policies and effective national delivery mechanisms.
• Ensure public communications and public diplomacy reflect Ireland’s strong commitment to promotion of sustainable livelihoods for the poor.
• Provide briefing material as required, including regular updates on the agricultural and private sector environment.

Coordination and Integration with other sectors in the mission strategy

• Work across the Mission to ensure synergies particularly in the areas of social protection and nutrition
• Actively integrate climate smart agriculture and environmental protection into the Mission’s programming on rural livelihoods.

Input into Irish Aid policies and strategies

• Actively engaging with HQ and other Missions on issues relating to rural livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.

3. Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A post-graduate qualification in Rural Development, Development Economics, Business, Agriculture or related discipline relevant to the requirements of this post;
• A minimum of four years relevant experience working in the field of agriculture and/or livelihoods. It is desirable that at least 3 of these years will have been spent working at a senior level with a locally based or international organisation.
• A sound understanding of the political, economic, social and cultural environments impacting on rural livelihoods in Tanzania; including a clear understanding of the relevant Tanzanian public policy  institutional and policy framework. (Knowledge of the “Making Markets Work for the Poor” approach highly desirable)
• Experience in planning and management for  results
• Excellent management skills and experience of managing partners 
• Experience with / proficiency in the analysis, management and synthesis of reports; Research skills and experience in managing research also desirable
• Excellent communication skills including excellent written and verbal skills in English; fluency in Swahili is desirable
• Strong IT skills
• Evidence of good interpersonal networking and communication skills.

4. Performance management

The Embassy of Ireland operates a Performance Management Development System (PMDS) based on that used in the Irish Civil Service. Staff members agree, with their manager, goals, key tasks and targets aligned to an annual business plan.  Performance is reviewed mid-year and at year-end.  The PMDS also includes agreed on-going professional development actions. 

5. Outline Terms and Conditions

• This position will be offered on a three-year renewable basis. A six month probationary period will apply.
• The annual salary for this position will be TZS 88,303,839.
• The Embassy offers an employee health benefits scheme.
• There are 24 days annual leave.

6. Application

Interested candidates should request an application form by e-mail to DESrecuitment[at]dfa[dot]ie.

Applicants should submit (i) a completed application form; (ii) a cover letter outlining their suitability for this post and their interests / motivations in working for Irish Aid / The Embassy of Ireland and (iii) a current Curriculum Vitae with a list of referees including current manager to DESrecuitment[at]dfa[dot]ie by 10^th February 2017 .

By submitting information electronically, parties accept that data may not be fully secure.

Parties may alternatively deliver their applications to the Embassy of Ireland by hand or by courier to:  Embassy of Ireland, 353 Toure Drive, Masaki. P O Box 9612, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Envelopes should be clearly marked “Application for the  Rural Livelihoods Programme Manager position”

Any personal information submitted to us will only be used for its intended purposes and will be destroyed when no longer needed. Any other processing or disclosure of personal data is not allowed other than in the exceptional circumstances provided for under the Data Protection Acts.”

• The Irish Embassy in Tanzania is an equal opportunities employer. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.