Individual Consultant -Project Officer (Supply Chain) for Nutritious Food Project

Introduction

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses, and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious foods for all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Background

GAIN fights malnutrition in Ethiopia through innovative and sustainable models that increase access to affordable nutritious foods among communities vulnerable to malnutrition. The Supply Chain for Nutritious Food project is designed to improve access to affordable, safe, and nutritious dried fruit-based snacks by building a value chain for fruit processing and create jobs and income generation opportunities across the fruit value chain in Ethiopia. The project works with a public and private partnership approach to test, pilot, demonstrate and scaling up of market feasible innovative fruit drying solutions. To ensure suitability and create enabling environment for the value chain actors, the project provides a capacity strengthening and policy support to the public and private institutions.

The individual Consultant Project Officer works with the project manager, technical team, and global and country support team to assist the coordination and facilitation of the project activities delivery. The consultant will ensure smooth and efficient operation of the project by assisting with the administrative, logistics and programmatic deliverables.

Objective

GAIN Ethiopia would like to hire an individual who is able to work as a fulltime consultant to Supply Chain for Nutritious Food project implementation.

General objective:

• To provide overall facilitation and coordination support of project activities as per the project demand.

Specific objective

• To assist the project management and coordination, and project activities implementation
• To facilitate and support the procurement, logistic and administrative associated activities to the project.
• To support project documentation, learning and reporting as per the GAIN regular platform, template and project schedule.

Scope of the assignment

The individual service provider will be expected to work full-time for the duration of four months as per GAIN’s working hours.

The assignment requires to work with GAIN program, operation and finances team within and outside the country, work closely with the project partners, private sectors and government stakeholders in the project implementation location.

The assignment based in Addis Ababa and required to travel to the regions.

Tasks and Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultants will address, but not limited to, the following key activities for each objective,

Project Management assistance

• Assist the implementation of activities and support the tracking of progress and deliverables by other consultants.
• Under the guidance of the project manager, facilitate and schedule project review meetings and stakeholder meetings at regular cycles and prepare documentation of findings and recommendations.
• Liaise with the Project Manager or project team on identifying risks and issues and assist with change requests and contribute to resolve any project issues.
• Contribute to the drafting of project documentation during the design, planning and end-to-end implementation of the project as per the GAIN Project Management Guidelines (PMG) i.e results framework, work plans etc.

Procurement, Payments and Administrative support

• Assist and track all administrative aspects of the project procurement process, agreements/contracts preparation and logistic arrangements within the organizational procurement standards and guidelines.
• Support the project manager in preparing donors’ reports in collaboration with project teams and technical teams.
• Work closely with the finance and donor compliance team, monitor the timely invoice deliverables and payments.
• Contribute to accurate project budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Process timely payments to consultants and other service providers, ensuring the required compliances are ready based on the finance policy.
• Process travel authorizations, facilitate domestic and international travel and accommodations including for visiting team members.
• Organizing events and coordinating with the operations team in related tender processing and communication with the subcontractors.
• drafting and completing contracts using the e-contracting tool (CLM) and following up all the necessary procedures and ensure timely approvals and signing of contracting parties.
• completing Purchase Orders and processing payments for procurement of related goods and services.

Project documentation and reporting

• Collate and compile data and information to track, document and report the project progress against established milestones and deliverables.
• Flag any pending or delayed activities or processes to the project manager.
• Liaises with communication and project team for event tracking and documentation.

Relationship Management

• Under the supervision of the project manager and in collaboration with the MEL manager/officer, conduct regular monitoring visits of the project activities conducted under the project by consultants, partners and stakeholders.
• Work closely with external suppliers and professional services providers to facilitate effective delivery of projects.
• Contribute to a culture of mutual accountable partnership with other teams within GAIN that supports programs and projects.

Key organizational relationships

• Reports to the Project Manager
• Close collaboration with the project, country operation, MEL and communication team.
• Liaises regularly with GAIN legal team Programme Services and Knowledge Leadership teams.
• Vendors and Suppliers, other Consultant and partners

Competency

• Clear and systematic proactive thinking demonstrates good judgement, effective problem solving, and creativity.
• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change whilst always maintaining the ethos and objectives of the work.
• Good interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• Strong writing skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.
• Some understanding of the gender and protection dynamics of development work, and ability to capture this in the analysis and design of interventions.
• Strong ability to work with diverse groups/individuals, ranging from local partners, local authorities, local community groups, the civil society and the private sector.
• Computer literacy with good Excel, MS Word, Outlook, and Power Point skills and basic knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling web-based management systems
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Experience

• 3-5 years Experience in project activity coordination
• Previous experience with business and project administration systems, including financial administration.
• Proven ability to execute administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Experience in delivering a wide range of project management support services within tight deadlines, limited resources, while managing competing priorities.
• (Desirable) Experience working in multi-cultural or international environment desirable.

Other requirements

• Must be willing and able to travel
• Fluent written and verbal English (this will be evaluated)
• Knowledge of second language within GAIN’s regional offices (desirable)

Education

• Degree or equivalent recognized international accreditation in a project management and/or bachelor’s degree in business management, sociology, international relations, sustainable development, economics, development studies, or related field.