Country Manager, Mali
Job Reference: CM/ML/PID/10/2021
Location: Bamako, Mali
About AGRA
Founded in 2006, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Under its current strategy, AGRA continues to catalyze and sustain an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farmers. AGRA will deliver through an approach that simultaneously catalyzes change at farmer level, strengthens input and output market systems and puts government at the center to enable and champion private-sector-led agricultural growth at national level.
To support the successful delivery, AGRA is seeking to recruit an experienced and exceptional individual to the role of Country Manager, Mali.
The role will be based in Bamako, Mali.
Why AGRA?
At AGRA we believe Agriculture is the single greatest opportunity to deliver inclusive economic growth, jobs, and health to the African continent. An alliance led by Africans with roots in farming communities across the continent combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from 24 nationalities. Our values of (I-RISE; Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Equity.) espouse our commitment to a call to action to go beyond ourselves as we arise and transform Africa’s Agriculture.
When you join us, we present you with intellectually stimulating assignments and structured career advancement with 30% of open roles being filled internally through promotions and transfers, and a Leadership commitment for this ratio to increase. This is after setting you up for success with a World Class Onboarding for new hires where a bespoke induction trains on all aspects of the role that you will need to succeed. You will gain a full understanding of our lofty ambitions to transform African agriculture, and how you can contribute to an amazing employee experience.
An attractive remuneration package benchmarked at the 67th Percentile of the Market with fabulous benefits such as pension, medical cover, life assurance and provision of tools of trade that allow you to work productively anywhere; which are commensurate with this position’s responsibility, scope and impact.
We are looking for people who are passionate about Africa, curious and collaborative to join our innovative, growing, and multidisciplinary team.
Role Summary:
Reporting to the Regional Head, West Africa, the Country Manager will represent AGRA in the country and will act as the catalyst for AGRA’s integrated interventions, under the guidance of the VP Program Innovation & Delivery and Regional Head. S/he will mainly be responsible for coordinating implementation of activities and building necessary relationships with the government, private sector, donors, and other key stakeholders. S/He will lead the country to actively manage the country resources, while maintaining close linkages with Nairobi technical divisions. S/He will lead the country team in liaising with the implementing partners, government, and donors in the country. S/he will be critical in overseeing the implementation, monitoring and reporting AGRA’s Country operational plans to achieve desired impact efficiently and effectively.
For more information on AGRA, applicants can visit www.agra.org
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develops the country plan on an annual basis in collaboration with AGRA teams.
- Identifies and pursues opportunities to mobilize resources in support of AGRA’s priorities and/or advocating for public and private sector stakeholders to scale AGRA’s demonstrated intervention models in country.
- Directs program officers to research and develop grantee portfolios dealing with constraints, resources, and opportunities for increasing and improving seed and technology supply at farmer levels.
- Convenes and builds relationships with domestic government, private sector, donors, civil society organizations and others with a presence in country, to build and nurture country-level partnerships deemed essential to AGRA’s mission in the country.
- Leads in representing AGRA in key meetings and forums of the government and its development partners including donor coordination meetings that contribute to the advancement of AGRA’s investments in the country.
- Leads in possessing a working knowledge of national agricultural sector development plans to identify and pursue opportunities to (i) mobilize resources to support AGRA’s priorities and/or (ii) advocate for public and private sector stakeholders to scale AGRA’s demonstrated intervention models in country.
- Advices and relays feedback from AGRA’s partners, especially the government and development partners to other parts of the organization.
- Engages donors in the relevant countries, furnishing them with required reports, day-to-day communications, and timely insights on program challenges and breakthroughs in a manner which maintains their positive engagement with the program.
- Inspires and grows teamwork, partnership, and collaboration among the team to raise overall team contributions and performance.
- Achieves talent development of existing staff, hiring new staff as necessary and manages team dynamics of the team to ensure a high-performance team.
- Communicates results through written and verbal communication.
- Oversees country-level interventions set out in the country plan, working with program teams to deliver innovative intervention models across the value chain.
- Plans, facilitates, and oversees implementation of AGRA-supported investments in country and foster the integration of AGRA’s investments in country.
- Oversees country level research required to complete the country plan on a periodic basis, to safeguard that country and program objectives are aligned to the national/government goals and objectives
- Guides, oversees, manages, and professionally develops the Country Team, and oversees the work of AGRA consultants in the country as needed.
- Builds on the expertise of AGRA program officers in the areas of soil fertility, policy, and farmer organizations to enhance the operations of country strategies and link program investments and activities to other AGRA initiatives.
- Directs and provides coaching to relevant technical and administrative staff.
- Facilitates, and oversees audit recommendations and implementation.
- Serve as primary point-of-contact to donors in the relevant countries, furnishing them with required reports, day-to-day communications, and timely insights on program challenges and breakthroughs in a manner which maintains their positive engagement with the program
Academic, Professional Qualifications and Relevant experience:
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in agriculture related international development
- At least 5 years of management experience, particularly over diverse teams working across diverse
- Experience working with a large multinational development agency in a management and coordination role is an advantage.
- Experience working on teams with a purview over both domestic-wide and regional activities
- Good command of English and French
- Master’s degree in Agriculture, Economics or related disciplines
- A relevant Doctorate degree will be an added advantage
- Professional development programs in leadership and management including financial and staff/supervision performance management
- Proficient in program management
- Proficient in program design and M&E.
- Proficient in M4P or Market Systems Training
If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, kindly submit your application with a detailed CV in English and French (including your e-mail address and telephone contacts to [email protected] noting to quote the job reference number in the subject of your email)
To be considered, applications must be received on or before 12th, November 2021.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
AGRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer
