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Project Overview and Role
Improving Market Systems in Agriculture for Rwanda (IMSAR) is a 4-year programme that aims to increase the income of poor households operating in targeted agricultural markets through adopting a market systems approach to attract investment and stimulate inclusive growth. IMSAR is a GBP ?13.5M programme funded by the UK government through the Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented by Palladium International. The programme uses a combination of market development services, technical assistance and a short to medium term grants finance facility to design and implement innovative approaches to increasing incomes of the rural poor and catalysing inclusive growth.
Role description
Palladium seeks to recruit a vibrant and experienced market systems development specialist to provide technical leadership, guidance and oversight in the design, implementation, and management of market systems development interventions in the targeted agricultural markets. S/he is accountable for the successful implementation of market development activities through the effective leadership and management of technical/implementation staff. The Team Leader position will be integral to achieving IMSAR’s targets.Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead the overall leadership of the programme as part of the management team
- Providing technical leadership and guidance to the team to ensure the ongoing professional development of implementation staff, particularly in relation to business consulting skills, deal-making and the application of the market systems development approach
Market development and implementation
- Guide the development and review of market level strategies
- Support in identifying potential new opportunities and drive forward innovative ideas
- Guide intervention conceptualisation, design, adaptation, and scale-up in response to changing market realities
- Effectively oversee the delivery of implementation activities in line with market/intervention strategies and results chains as well as programme strategy and milestones, both technical and financial
- Provide technical guidance to implementation staff to ensure results are achieved
Programme Management
- Lead the preparation of the annual strategic plans; technical and operational work plans and budgets; staffing plans; performance management and other planning activities as required
- Monitor implementation progress; work to resolve issues, manage and mitigate risk; and escalates material issues and risks as appropriate
Performance Management, Training & Mentoring
- Lead, manage, motivate and train programme staff to follow a thorough market systems analysis and the consistent application of the market systems development approach
- Contribute to training needs assessment of the team, developing and implementing performance improvement plans and on-the-job-training where appropriate
Monitoring, Evidence & Learning and reporting
- Use the programme’s Monitoring and Result Measurement data to guide the review of programme progress and inform strategy adaptation
- Provide timely and accurate reporting on market development activities, based on evidence of IMSAR’s impact which also promotes learning across the Team and with wider stakeholders
- Lead the regular progress reporting to the client and contribute to programme’s communications and learning outputs
- Liaise closely with the IMSAR Technical Director to identify lessons and programme thought-leadership subjects to allow IMSAR to position itself at the forefront of MSD learning
Stakeholders Coordination
- Develop and manage effective working relationships with key stakeholders; participate in multi-stakeholder platforms (including other donor’s funded initiatives) on programme’s strategic approach, focus, achievements, and lessons
- Take a leadership role in MSD approach within the broader Rwandan market where we articulate the MSD approach with the aim of better coordinating with other donor funded projects and raising awareness of IMSAR’s approach in Rwanda
Cross-cutting elements
- Ensure cross-cutting elements (including women’s economic empowerment, social inclusion and climate change) are incorporated throughout the programme lifecycle, and proactively inform the programme strategy
Location and Reporting
The Team Leader position will be based in Kigali with frequent travel in Rwanda and reports to the Project DirectorRequirements
- Relevant academic qualifications in a related field
- Extensive professional experience in private sector development and agriculture development
- Extensive experience managing market systems development programmes, including direct experience in implementation
- Strong understanding of market systems frameworks and facilitation strategies and in-depth knowledge of market system dynamics and designing market system intervention strategies
- Strong leadership experience with proven experience in a senior role in the private sector or market development programmes
- Proven ability to work with and motivate private- and public-sector actors
- Strong team management experience, and ability to provide supervision and coaching in market systems development skills;
- Demonstrated experience managing various stakeholders
- Ability to deliver programmes on time, target and on budget
- Excellent writing skills in English
- Experience working on DFID funded programmes
- (Desirable) Knowledge of Kinyarwanda
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
