Project Manager – Rwanda TVET Agri

Expertise France is recruiting a Project Manager based in Kigali, Rwanda, for the implementation of its project “Rwanda TVET Agri”.

Expertise France is the French agency for international cooperation, under the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery. The agency develops and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in low- and middle-income countries. Expertise France intervenes in key areas of sustainable development, such as climate, health and education, and contributes alongside its partners to the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

This role is part of Expertise France’s Operations Directorate / Human Capital and Social Development Department / Vocational Training, Integration and Employment Division, with direct supervision by the Head of the Division.

The Project Manager will be positioned within the project team based in Kigali, Rwanda, and will collaborate with all project beneficiaries and partners to ensure successful implementation of the project. The Project Manager will be in permanent contact with a Project Officer based at the headquarters in Paris, France, to support them in carrying out their missions.

The main responsibilities of the Project Manager will be:

• Ensuring the successful implementation of the project in accordance with the technical, calendar, budgetary and legal expectations provided for in the contract signed between Expertise France and the donors;
• Project piloting, governance and monitoring-evaluation, as well as coordination of stakeholders;
• Management of the project team made up of 9 people based in Rwanda.

More specifically, the Project Manager will carry out the following missions:

1. Management and coordination of activities

Project management

• Ensure the technical, financial and contractual management of the project to achieve the expected results, in close collaboration with the project team;
• Ensure the planning of activities and resources, develop the annual budget, monitoring, evaluation and capitalization of activities;
• Mobilize and supervise the short-term expertise necessary for the project;
• Make strategic decisions and, if necessary, reorient the project in consultation with the project team and partners; anticipate and manage risks associated with the project.

Coordination of activities

• Ensure the proper execution of donor contracts and project implementation contracts: progress of activities, budget execution, compliance with commitments, monitoring and evaluation, audit;
• Support the development and functioning of programming and reporting documents: annual budgeted activity plans, technical and financial reports, monitoring and reporting tools, etc.;
• Contribute to headquarters’ technical and financial planning and reporting exercises;
• Report on the project’s progress and submit internal and external reports to headquarters, donors and project partners;
• Ensure fluid communication between headquarters and in-country offices;
• Liaise with Expertise France’s support teams in Kigali, for Purchasing/Logistics and Admin/Finance.

Quality of activities

• Ensure the efficiency and quality of activities to meet the project’s objectives, in close collaboration with the project team;
• Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project activities, in collaboration with the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, and the quality of the deliverables;
• Supervise the implementation of evaluations and lead the learning activities, for project adaptations when necessary.

2. Management of the project team of 9 people

• Recruit the project team based in Kigali and provinces, and ensure their training, cohesion and integration with partners;
• Supervise the project team, set and evaluate their objectives;
• Ensure the coordination of work within the team, manage the team’s workplan and support them in the execution of their functions;
• Ensure working conditions are adapted to the context and working environment.

3. Project representation and stakeholder coordination

• Ensure the liaison and regular consultation between project stakeholders;
• Coordinate the interventions of implementation partners and ensure the high quality of partnerships;
• Facilitate the mobilization and engagement of private actors;
• Prepare and lead the various project governance committees;
• Facilitate the exchange of good practices and lessons learned between stakeholders;
• Ensure regular exchanges with people and communities affected by the project, for information sharing, co-creation and adaptation of activities;
• Coordinate with other ongoing interventions in Rwanda in the sectors of technical and vocational education and training, and agriculture;
• Ensure regular liaison with the donor in Kigali;
• Preserve and strengthen the excellence of institutional partnerships and stakeholder relations;
• Represent Expertise France and promote the project in Rwanda.

Project description

The “Rwanda TVET Agri” project aims to contribute to the National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050 established by the Government of Rwanda to guide the socio-economic development of the country towards a prosperous and high-income economy by 2050. Representing 25% of GDP and 70% of Rwanda’s active population, agriculture is a key sector targeted in order to boost the country’s economy and create jobs. The development of agricultural skills is one of the priorities for the sector’s transformation, with the national objective of establishing Centers of Vocational Excellence for technical and vocational education and training in agriculture. These centers will help develop a new generation of qualified workforce, capable of stimulating sustainable agricultural development, contributing to food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods for rural communities in Rwanda.

The “Rwanda TVET Agri” project is implemented by Expertise France to support the national agency Rwanda Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board (RTB) in the establishment of Centers of Excellence in agriculture. In line with national priorities, the project aims to increase the sustainability, climate resilience and inclusion of agricultural practices by strengthening the skills of women and youth in Rwanda.

The project is structured around two specific objectives:

1. Improve access of women and youth to quality skills and formal certification in agricultural practices.
2. Improve the effectiveness of mechanisms for integrating women and young people into the agricultural labor market, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture.

In Rwanda, 77% of farmers are women, mainly in subsistence agriculture, vulnerable to climate change. Gender is a key cross-cutting theme for the project which aims to implement transformative and sustainable actions for women, young girls and their communities.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years, with a budget of +16 million euros. It will include technical assistance at the national level in support of RTB, and three training centers in the Western and Northern provinces of Rwanda will also be supported with technical assistance, rehabilitation of infrastructure and procurement of agricultural equipment. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the beneficiary partner RTB, as well as with donors and project partners.

Desired profile

QUALIFICATIONS

Expertise France is looking for a candidate with a higher education degree in project management / international relations / public policies / employment and professional integration policies / professional training/development policies or any other diploma related to the position.

SKILLS

• Good knowledge of issues related to technical and vocational education and training and/or agriculture, preferably on the African continent and/or in Rwanda;
• Understanding of gender issues and interest in promoting gender equality in the areas of technical and vocational education and training and/or agriculture;
• Good command of European priorities and funding mechanisms for international cooperation;
• Proven ability to work with different stakeholders;
• Sense of initiative and of responsibility;
• Diplomacy, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Empathy and listening skills, with a keen interest in teamwork and networking;
• Autonomy, adaptability and responsiveness;
• Analytical and organizational skills;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);
• Fluency in both French and English.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Successful professional experience of at least 10 years in project management, preferably in international cooperation and/or technical assistance;
• Successful experience implementing projects in low- or middle-income countries. In Rwanda and/or on the African continent will be appreciated;
• Experience working with high-level international officials (ministers, institutional officials, etc.);
• Experience in the field of education, technical and vocational education and training and/or agriculture. Experience in involvement/monitoring of infrastructure activities will be an asset;
• Proven experience in leadership roles and as a multidisciplinary and international team leader .

Further information

Contract duration: 12 months (renewable for up to 4 additional years)

Start date: no earlier than June 2024 (subject to confirmation of project funding)