VACANCY ADVERTISEMENT
Position: Crop officer Tanzania Smallholder Sesame Production and Marketing Project
Location: Babati, Manyara Tanzania. Duration: Fixed three (3) year contract
Community Support Initiatives – Tanzania (COSITA) is a registered non profit making organization based in Babati Township, Manyara Tanzania. The main objective being to improve the livelihoods of poor, marginalized and vulnerable communities, through ensuring their participation in development projects, gender balance, social accountability, and Sustainable resource management. Cosita currently operates in Babati, Mbulu and Hanang districts.
The ‘Improving smallholder livelihoods through the sesame value chain (phase 3)’ project will connect 10,000 smallholder farmers with the sesame value chain, using best practice approaches to address the barriers currently facing smallholder farmers developed by Farm Africa, a partner organisation. The Project will have a particular focus on greater equality between men and women, while engaging young people in Agricultural value chain. The project hopes to increase sesame production in target districts by 50% and increase household income from trading, improving the implementation of policies supporting smallholder enterprises. The project also aims at improving the effectiveness of Tanzanian NGOs supporting agricultural development. Cosita is among three implementing partners, with support of Farm Africa and funding from Comic Relief.
We are seeking a Crop Officer to support implementation of this project with oversight of project field activities. They will manage the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of all aspects of the project with other project staff and partners. The officer will lead the formation and capacity building of the sesame producer groups to develop profitable and sustainable markets for sesame and to manage their sesame husbandry and production sustainably.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Crop Officer manages agricultural field activities and supports the Executive Director in providing leadership and management of this project. The project areas of operations are Babati, Manyoni and Bahi Districts in Tanzania, though the project office will be located in Babati District headquarters. We are seeking someone with a proven track record in the management of agricultural value chain projects particularly within NGOs in Tanzania. A minimum of five (5) years working experience specializing in crop management, rural development and or a closely related sector.
The post holder should have excellent project planning and execution skills, and strong communications and facilitation skills. Prospective applicants should have a degree in agriculture or closely related subject with a sound knowledge of the agricultural production, agricultural value chains and policy environment in Tanzania.
Candidates with the above mentioned skills and attributes and feel interested can send a one page application letter, detailed CV (not more than 3 pages) and copies of academic certifies to the Executive Director COSITA, P.O Box 558, Babati – Manyara – Tanzania; or through email cositango@gmail.com not later than April 12,2015.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by tel/mob phone or emails indicated in their cvs