ACCELERATING FARM INCOMES (AFI):  BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SOIL HEALTH, MARKETS, AND PRODUCTIVITY IN TELANGANA STATE, INDIA FUNDED BY WALMART FOUNDATION

JUSTIFICATION AND CONTEXT

IFDC is implementing the Accelerating Farm Incomes (AFI) project funded by Walmart Foundation in Telangana State, India. The project has been on-going for a year, but due to COVID and successive lockdowns since March 2020, seeks a Chief-of-Party / Project Leader to lead the project and support the team to accelerate implementation in the coming years.

The goal of AFI is to strengthen and reorient agricultural production systems in the peri-urban agriculture (PUA) and rural locations of the Telangana State of India through technology diffusion, capacity building, and micro-enterprise development. All three components are crucial for market-driven agriculture production system sustainability. The project is expected to achieve an immediate impact on improved productivity, production, and increased farmer income due to enhanced resource use efficiency and linking farmers with markets. AFI will focus on the following key issues in improving crop productivity and farmers income in Telangana state by:

1. Increasing productivity by creating awareness and enhancing farmer knowledge on good agriculture production practices (GAPs);
2. Ensuring introduction and adoption of site-specific technologies (seed, fertilizers, crop protection practices, and products) to suit Telangana's marginal soils (with low nitrogen and phosphorus levels), which have severe nutrient deficiencies in semi-arid/rainfed conditions.
3. Creating access to viable marketing pathways and sustainable opportunities for selling farmers’ produce and optimizing their income.

The project is implemented by IFDC which brings more than 45 years of experience in global agricultural development research, implementation, and innovation in Asia and Africa. IFDC is a  Public International Organization that is in the final stages of security its registration in India and is currently hosted by ICRISAT on Hyderabad. IFDC undertakes projects in Bangladesh, Nepal and recently in Myanmar.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHIEF OF PARTY / PROJECT LEADER

• Ensure the daily management of the project, including financial management and management of project staff to ensure that project deliverables are met

• Prepare work plans and annual Budgets of the Project according to the dates indicated in the agreement between Walmart Foundation and IFDC related to the project; Lead and coordinate field monitoring visits as needed.

• Develop narrative and financial progress reports for the Walmart Foundation, according to the dates indicated in the agreement between Walmart Foundation and IFDC related to the project

• Coordinate the recruitment of Project staff and coordinate/supervise their daily activities

• Provide leadership to external communication of the Project

• Prepare the terms of reference for the activities which will be implemented by subcontracting with partners

• Conduct recruitment of Partner Organizations, consultants and / or service providers

• Monitor progress, narrative and progress reporting of subcontracted Partner Organizations consultants and / or service providers

• Monitor with the technical staff all activities directly implemented by IFDC

• Organize trainings as planned in the Project

• Organize awareness raising campaigns for the Program

• Ensuring project deliverables and maintaining day-to-day relationship with the Walmart Foundation as it related to project activities

• Develop progress reports for project reporting as required by the donor, by IFDC or other stakeholders

• Any other activities as assigned by the IFDC India Country Representative or IFDC Regional Director, Asia, East and Southern Africa.

• Identify and channel new business opportunities to the IFDC India Country Representative, to the Regional Director, Asia, East and Southern Africa and IFDC Business Development Unit.

• Regularly review partners’ performance, financial reporting (together with the project Admin staff) and strategic value related to AFI intervention logics, outcomes and the project Result Framework;

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• The Chief of Party reports to the Regional Director, Asia, East and Southern Africa or his/her designee on all aspects related to the AFI Project and new business development in India.
• For all country issues and coordination with other IFDC programs in India, the COP reports to the IFDC Country Representative in India.

Required Skills

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 5 years of experience successfully leading the management of complex, results based, international rural agricultural development programs (implementation, logistics, budget, staffing) funded by private sector, foundations or other international donors.

• Experience working in India, preferably in Telangana.

• Master’s degree in agriculture, business, economics, land management or related field required.

• In-depth knowledge of agricultural development having expertise in technology transfer, peri-urban market development, agri-business and monitoring and evaluation.

• Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with private sector, host institutions, donors, other development partners, local organizations, and other partners.

• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as demonstrated by past experience.

• Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts and consultants with all required reporting requirements

• Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project

• Advanced computer skills are essential, including Microsoft Word, Access, and Excel.

• The position is open to Indian Nationals only.

• Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of agriculture sector development activities, including training, capacity building, agribusiness development extension services and the technical activities mentioned above.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Required Experience

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 5 years of experience successfully leading the management of complex, results based, international rural agricultural development programs (implementation, logistics, budget, staffing) funded by private sector, foundations or other international donors.

• Experience working in India, preferably in Telangana.

• Master’s degree in agriculture, business, economics, land management or related field required.

• In-depth knowledge of agricultural development having expertise in technology transfer, peri-urban market development, agri-business and monitoring and evaluation.

• Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with private sector, host institutions, donors, other development partners, local organizations, and other partners.

• Ability to successfully manage and develop staff as demonstrated by past experience.

• Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts and consultants with all required reporting requirements

• Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project

• Advanced computer skills are essential, including Microsoft Word, Access, and Excel.

• The position is open to Indian Nationals only.

• Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of agriculture sector development activities, including training, capacity building, agribusiness development extension services and the technical activities mentioned above.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required