Senior Manager

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Agri-food Transformation Agency Support Center (TASC) is an initiative of the World Food Program to support governments in Africa who are interested in using the nodal agency model to spur transformational change in their agriculture sectors. The nodal agency model was successfully leveraged by many Asian countries from the 1960s to 1990s to drive transformational growth and rapidly expand their economies. More recently, the nodal agency model was used by the Government of Ethiopia when it established the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) in 2010. The model leverages high-level support from the senior government officials; a degree of independence that allows for innovation within government systems; and brings a high-performance mindset to public service delivery so that results and learning can be rapidly achieved.

TASC is focusing efforts in 2023 and 2024 on supporting The Government of Togo (GoT) to establish an Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) using this model. The Togo ATA is key initiative of the Office of the President (BdP) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MAEDR) in helping Togo realize its 2025 National Roadmap that centers agriculture as the engine of economic growth by realizing opportunities for increased production, income, and job creation. Further, the ATA is seen as a key implementing agency in the 2030 National Roadmap that is in the process of being developed and be the lead institution in climate smart agriculture for the country. The ATA was officially launched in January of 2023 and is in the process of staffing it’s Project Delivery and Analytics teams to advance evidence-based program strategy and implementation for five priority areas: 1- Mechanization; 2- Irrigation; 3- ZAAPs d’Excellence (model cooperatives); 4- Digital Extension; and 5- Value Chains.

The Senior Manager, TASC will be responsible for the following:

• Provide on-going operational leadership of TASC consultants and the Togo ATA Analytics Team across priority projects including technical guidance, critical review, capacity building, and support for the delivery of priority technical projects
• Provide high-level expert advice to Senior Leadership at the Togo ATA on complex and dynamic issues: institutional development, strategy including leading the development of on-going strategic planning sessions, and program design for maximum impact
• Lead development of learning products and activities for both TASC and Togo ATA so that the learnings from across TASC projects (Ethiopia and Togo) can be captured and reported internally and shared with global stakeholders
• As part of the TASC Senior Leadership Team, provide strategic and operational advice to the TASC Program Coordinator and lead specific engagements across TASC’s global activities including designing and developing TASC’s programs in Ethiopia and ensuring TASC maintains effective institutional partnerships in a fluid environment in Togo.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage the TASC analyst team in Togo to produce high quality deliverables

• Accountable for TASC Outcome 5: Documenting and communicating project learnings including design, implementation of activities, and reporting at conferences and to external partners
• Lead TASC engagement with the Togo ATA on institutional development including process      development, hiring, and knowledge management
• Responsible for development of the TASC annual report
• Assume leadership roles and responsibilities of TASC when the TASC Program Coordinator is not available (he works remotely 50% of the time and cannot attend all meetings)
• When in Togo, lead TASC tactical and strategic interactions on institutional development and analytical needs with the Director General (DG) of the Togo Agricultural Transformation Agency; note the DG is also the Advisor to the President of Togo Manage these interactions when working remotely
• When in Togo, direct TASC’s response to requests from the DG of the ATA and negotiate with the DG when warranted Manage TASC’s response to DG requests when working remotely
• Lead interactions between staff of the ATA and TASC in order to jointly develop and implement areas of work (on site and remote)
• Manage TASC’s engagement with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director of the WFP Togo Office when in Togo through regular meetings about TASC activities, facilitating engagements between WFP and the Togo ATA, and identifying potential areas of complementarity with activities of the Togo ATA
• Lead TASC engagement with external partners when in Togo including GIZ, AFD, World Bank, EU, Gates Foundation Support TASC’s engagement with external partners when working remotely

DELIVERABLES QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• The Togo ATA has developed effective analytical capabilities that support project implementation
• TASC Consultants have sufficient capacity to meet the Togo ATA’s analytical needs with minimal oversight
• Strong relationships have been developed between TASC and Togo ATA staff
• Learning products and activities including supporting documentation has been developed for TASC’s work in Togo and Ethiopia

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Education: Master’s Degree or higher in relevant field.
• Experience: 10 or more years of experience in international development with a preference for the agriculture sector; significant experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. A strong understanding of the nodal agency model with experience working in the Ethiopian ATA or a similar organization. Extensive experience leading multicultural teams, developing and maintaining strong partnerships, and enabling teams to learn and improve performance.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Broad knowledge of agriculture and development practices with a particular focus on managing teams to develop and execute workplans
• Designing and managing agricultural projects
• Ability to manage staff remotely
• Managing multiple project teams in Sub-Saharan Africa where contextual sensitivity and a dynamic environment underlie success
• Ability to design and facilitate meetings with multiple stakeholders to achieve results
• Ability to understand and align diverse views
• Track record of creating successful concept notes and proposals for development partners
• Ability to identify key documents, synthesis and create summary documents
• Ability to design a learning program that can be applied to teams and departments
• Ability to converse in French on agricultural topics

Languages:

• Fluency in English required (written and verbal); conversational level of French (verbal) required.

Source: https://career5.successfactors.eu//career?career_ns=job_listing&company=C0000168410P&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH&rcm_site_locale=en_GB&career_job_req_id=832992