IFPRI -Country Program Manager, Rwanda
The Organization
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Rwanda. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries. It is a research center of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably
transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises
of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance
is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future (http://alliancebioversityciat.org).
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity
International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Rwanda.
The Position
The Alliance, on behalf of IFPRI, is seeking to recruit a Country Program Manager who will is to
support the head of the Rwanda Strategy Support Program (Rwanda SSP) and the program’s
staff at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the overall implementation of
the program, including the finance and administrative operations, monitoring and reporting
functions, and outreach and communications activities. The Country Program Manager will
engage closely with IFPRI staff, partner organizations, funders, and stakeholders to ensure that
the program supports Rwanda’s forward-looking strategy for economic growth and
transformation and, specifically, implementation of the 2018–2024 Strategic Plan for
Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 4) through policy analysis, capacity development, knowledge
sharing, and partnership.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Rwanda SSP Program Leader and IFPRI colleagues in the overall implementation of the program including: development of program’s annual workplans and budgets; fulfillment of the program’s reporting requirements to funders and partners; maintaining the program’s monitoring and evaluation system; and ensuring the program’s compliance with funders’ performance requirements.
- Manage relationships with program partners and funders, including regular and ad hoc reporting on program performance and finances, under the guidance of the Rwanda SSP Program Leader.
- In liaison with Program Leader contribute in developing concept notes, proposals, budgets, and fundraising strategies for new activities.
- Management of in-country staff, including recruitment, workplan development, supervision, and performance review.
- Monitor level of effort and expenditure of resources against program budgets.
- Liaise with hosting organization and IFPRI headquarters on administrative and financial matters on a regular basis.
- Contribute to program communications and outreach to various external audiences including government officials, the donor community, international and national research agencies, and CGIAR centers, programs, and initiatives
- Respond to requests for information about the program and its analytical outputs.
- Lead in planning of research seminars, learning events, workshops, and conferences for knowledge sharing and the dissemination of the Program’s research results.
- Represent IFPRI in informational and technical meetings with partners, funders, and stakeholders.
- Manage the publication and dissemination of research results in policy briefs, discussion papers, donor reports, and other targeted publications.
- Manage the implementation of the program’s communications strategy and social media presence, including, but not limited to, its website and social media feeds, quarterly newsletters, and other channels.
- Sustain and manage the provision of services for the program in a timely manner and at a quality required by the organization and its partners and funders
- Oversee administrative services, including office procurement, office maintenance, technical/IT services, vehicle fleet management, and management of local administrative staff.
- Communicate program requirements, timelines, and deliverables to research staff and collaborators.
- Oversee the management of staff travels, staff cash advances, collaborator and subcontractor agreements, and reviewing of program budgets,
Requirements
The successful candidate will be required to have:
- Bachelor’s degree with specialization in public policy, international development, development studies, economics, or related fields; Master’s degree desirable
- Over 4 years of relevant professional experience following degree.
- Demonstrated skills in program management skills including (1) coordination of multiple program activities, (2) tracking and monitoring program milestones, deliverables, and budgets, and (3) reporting on program performance to multiple funders using logical framework analysis/results-based management tools.
- Ability to summarize research outputs and synthesize communication materials for non- technical audiences.
- Familiarity with food policy and agricultural economics research and development
- issues related to food security, sustainable development, agricultural intensification, enhancing nutrition and promoting resilience in food production systems in Africa.
- Demonstrated ability to organize conferences, workshops, seminars, and learning/training events.
- Demonstrated experience in interacting with stakeholders (donors, governments, non-
- governmental organizations and research organizations), preferably in an international environment.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills to: (1) responsibly manage projects in a multi-cultural environment, and (2) respectfully and efficiently coordinate projects with collaborators in developing countries and establish durable partnerships.
- Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced working environment; excellent organizational skills and attention to details.
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Kinyarwanda; excellent professional writing and editing skills.
- Ability to travel internationally as necessary.
Preferred Qualifications
- Two or more years’ experience working with programs or projects funded by the main donors/development partners in Rwanda.
- Two or more years’ experience working with programs or projects that partner with the Government of Rwanda.
Terms of employment
This is a nationally recruited position based in Kigali , Rwanda. The contract will be for Two-Years period, subject to a probation period of three (3) months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. The Alliance offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits; we believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.
Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/ to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number Ref: 102966 – IFPRI -Country Program Manager, as the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting.
Note: The Alliance does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
Applications closing date:24th March 2023
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Click here for details & Apply
