Background / General description:
With financial contributions from six donors (EU, Norway, DFID, Irish Aid, FICA and USAID), the World Bank has established a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to co-finance the Agricultural Sector Wide Approach - Support project (ASWAp-SP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS). The proposed ETC senior agricultural specialist position will be part of the World Bank team in charge of supervising the execution of the MDTF and of advising the MoAFS in implementing ASWAp-SP activities.
The Development Objective of the ASWAp-SP is to improve the effectiveness of investments aimed at food security and sustainable agricultural growth. The project has the following four components: (1) Institutional development and capacity building in support of the ASWAp; (2) Sustainable food security, agricultural growth and diversification; (3) Project coordination; and (4) Improvement and maintenance of unpaved rural roads.
The objective of the MDTF is to scale up on-going activities with particular attention to: (a) Strengthening MoAFS administrative systems, particularly at the district level with a stronger focus on monitoring and evaluation systems; and strengthening MoAFS's capacity to implement the ASWAp; (b) Enhancing the organization and delivery of inputs under FISP, monitoring and evaluation, with a stronger focus on maize and legumes seeds availability; (c) Increasing the nationwide coverage of research and extension activities to reach out to more farmers and to increase FISP payoffs and sustainable impact on smallholders; and (d) Improving the efficiency of agricultural research and extension services while promoting a more pluralistic approach to delivering these services.
In addition, the MDTF will help develop the following additional activities: (a) Diversification of the maize-based production systems by:
(i) extending the current research and extension approach to increase the adoption rate of selected technologies, diversified crops (cereals, roots and tubers, pulses and leguminous, agro-forestry products, etc.) and livestock production by farmers; and
(ii) improving crop production and marketing, and ensuring availability of sufficient certified seeds to meet increasing demand both within and outside of FISP; (b) Improve the agricultural business environment and promote agribusiness partnerships in support of agricultural diversification with a more market oriented and demand-driven agriculture and integration into agricultural value chains and regional markets; and (c) Improve market access to the most productive agricultural areas through the improvement and sustainable maintenance of feeder roads.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 1 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The main objective of this assignment is to supervise, provide assistance to and report on the implementation of the ASWAp-SP agricultural components in accordance with the project's legal agreements and technical documentation. Duties will include but may not be limited to:
1.Oversee Project implementation
a)Liaise with the MoAFS and other implementing entities to provide support and guidance on all aspects of implementation of the project;
b)Review Project's annual work plans and budgets, cash-flow forecasts, disbursement requests, reports and submissions for the project;
c)Provide technical inputs on the review of procurement processes covering procurement plans, requests for '˜no objections', procurement post reviews, requests for variations to contracts and contract implementation;
d)Help organize and participate in supervision missions and carry out site visits, monitor the quality of execution of the works to verify compliance with specifications and good practice;
e)Proactively monitor project progress and financial requirements, taking agreed corrective measures when necessary, and support with project management;
f)In coordination with the team's social and environmental safeguards specialist, monitor compliance of activities with the project's safeguards requirements;
g)Contribute to the preparation of project-related documentation such as project amendments and terms of reference for consultancies.
2.Project reporting obligations
a)Work with the MoAFS to ensure that the progress reports are delivered timely and comprehensively reflect the physical and financial progress of works and identify issues that require attention by project stakeholders;
b)Prepare inputs for the Bank's six-monthly reports to donors on MTDF activities;
c)Help organize meetings of the Trust Fund Management Committee, prepare documentation for donors' review and assist drafting of minutes;
d)Contribute to the preparation of project briefings and other relevant monitoring information to inform clients, Bank management and donors in an organized manner and in compliance with the Bank's quality guidelines.
3.Contribute to in-country dialogue with key stakeholders on various agricultural policy issues under the ASWAp framework
a)Participate in the country dialogue on the operationalization of the ASWAp investment framework; contribute to the preparation of the Agricultural Sector Working Group, Joint Sector Review and Technical Working Groups;
b)Support the MoAFS in the establishment of a sound sector monitoring and coordination system;
c)Support the design, implementation and monitoring of critical studies for the ASWAp policy dialogue (including but not limited to the MoAFS's core function analysis, technology adoption study, FISP re-design, etc.);
d)Contribute to coordinate ASWAp-SP activities with other projects and investments of the Bank and other donors in the agricultural sector.
e)Increase engagement with non-state actors involved in agriculture value chain development including both private sector and farmer organizations/NGOs. Support their increased engagement in the ASWAp process;
f)Advise World Bank Task Team Leader and management of critical policy issues that need attention, if any.
Outputs: The expected outputs will include but may not be limited to:
Project activities progressing in accordance with agreed programme;
Inputs to Implementation Support Mission Aide-Memoires and internal web-based Bank's Implementation Status and Results Reports;
Progress reports and briefings;
Contributions to other related project documents (Concept Notes, Project Appraisal Documents);
TORs for consultants, workshops and mission related to ASWAp-SP implementation;
Minutes of meetings and workshops;
Comments on client reports and proposals.
Accountabilities: The senior agricultural specialist will be part of the World Bank supervision team based in the Malawi Country Office. He/she will directly report to the World Bank Task Team Leader for ASWAp-SP. He/she will liaise with colleagues in the Bank's agricultural and transport sectors for additional technical support as necessary.
Selection Criteria:
The position requires:
(i) a strong hands-on experience of agricultural projects, from design to implementation, supervision and monitoring and evaluation:
(ii) a solid knowledge of agricultural policy issues and a sound experience of participating in policy dialogue; and
(iii) a sound experience of interacting with a large range of stakeholders (Government institutions, donors, NGOs, farmers organizations, etc.).
The candidate should demonstrate a strong ability to quickly diagnose and resolve problems in project implementation, the skill to introduce new ideas to clients, to build partnerships and to mobilize regional and global knowledge to meet the Malawi needs.
Specific criteria will include:
- Advanced degree in the field of agriculture, rural development and/or economics;
- At least ten years of relevant experience in agriculture, including participation in the implementation of development projects and contribution to policy dialogue; relevant field experience in Malawi or a similar environment in the region is essential;
- Relevant knowledge of a critical agricultural policy issues in the field of food security, agricultural prices, marketing and tariffs, Government's interventions and subsidies;
- Experience of managing or supporting implementation of development assistance projects, experience with World Bank projects would be considered a plus;
- Some experience with World Bank procurement procedures would be considered a plus;
- Fluency in English, the ability to write quickly, concisely and clearly in English, good communication, mentoring and advocacy skills;
- Proven ability to maintain professional relations with Government officials, development partners and implementing agencies;
- Ability to work in a fast track environment, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different cultural backgrounds.
Required Competencies:
- Integrative Skills - Understands relevant cross-sectoral areas how they are interrelated; able to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations.
- Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
- Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
- Agriculture Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of agriculture policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
- Agricultural Sciences - Deep experience applying knowledge (soil, water, crops, livestock, inputs, biotech, disease control, etc.) to policy-related decisions and advice.
- Agricultural Systems - Production to Consumption - Broad understanding of agricultural value chain and depth in one or more subtopics: research, input supply, on-farm production, organizing and coordinating, processing, distribution, etc.
- Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
- Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
- Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
- Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
- Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
