Project Manager

Job Description

VACANT POSITION: Project Manager

Closing date: December 13, 2022

Reporting to: Livelihood Program Manager & Executive Director

Duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension

Location: 50% Burao, and 50% Erigavo

About ADO

ADO is one of the leading NGOs in Somalia/Somaliland and implements crop, livestock, fodder, and fish production projects supporting the poor households impacted by climate change-associated shocks. Furthermore, ADO has provided resilient livelihood opportunities, climate change adaptation, and mitigation for rural communities through SMART agriculture programming and dryland farming and empowered women while creating a women-owned small business that generated huge incomes through self-help groups. Further, the ADO implements emergency and recovery programs to build the resilience of rural communities through conditional and unconditional cash and input support.

The ADO specializes in food security, WASH, environmental conservation, resilience, emergency, rural education, agriculture extension, and research programs; and has reached 1.2 million people across Somalia over the past seven years. ADO has its Head Office in Hargeisa. Besides, regional branch offices in Burao, Borama, and Erigavo. Furthermore, the ADO has a presence in Southern Somalia.

However, the ADO will implement the Darwin Initiative project, which is a long-term project (2022_2027) funded by the Darwin Initiative Institute through the Development Fund of Norway (DF), where the Agricultural Development Organization (ADO) has the ground implementation. The main goal is to improve seed, food and livelihood security of Agri-pastoralist households in Somaliland. The Project will build resilience in three communities through improved access to quality seeds, improved soil and water management, increased awareness of farmers’ rights, and increased capacity for the sustainable use and management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture among community members and government officials/institutions, and promotion of policies.

The ADO is committed to continuing the seed banking initiative for seed genome saving and biodiversity conservation, a practice through Community Seed Banking (CSB) that farmers and their families have engaged in for millennia. It has allowed them to cultivate different local varieties that have adapted to different environmental conditions and changes, such as water shortages, strong winds, limited soil nutrients, etc. In this regard, community seed banks can help farmers to access seeds to grow crops during the next planting season, or they can be used as an emergency seed supply when their crops are damaged and destroyed, for example, due to crop failure.

As climate change significantly impacts agricultural production, growing local varieties, which have a high degree of genetic diversity, is highly important because these varieties can better withstand and adapt to environmental stresses and changes. Setting up community seed banks may help farmers to acquire varieties that are adapted to local conditions; these varieties may not be accessible through formal seed systems, may be costly or may suffer from erratic supplies. In that case, it can help them access seeds for the next planting season and provide them with an emergency seed supply in times of crisis, thus making them less dependent on formal seed systems.

Community seed banks will help preserve seeds of the most adapted varieties for the region, either local varieties or new ones from breeding programs. The selection of the most appropriate varieties for a region needs time and trials with technical support. Still, after identifying the best varieties, the community seed bank plays a very important role in maintaining the availability of quality seeds. Seed diversity is enhanced, and additional income is generated when seeds are exchanged and sold to neighbouring communities. Diversification of crops and varieties is also highly important in terms of people’s food security because it reduces the risk of total production failures and strengthens communities’ resilience.

Whereas, ADO, a partner of DF Norway, is seeking a qualified Project Manager for our “New” Project of Darwin Initiative Project entitled ‘Climate Resilience, food and livelihood security for agro-pastoralists in Somaliland.’ The Project will work closely with two community seed banks; Beer CSB, established in 2016 in Beer under the Togdheer region and the second one will be established in Erigavo. Therefore, ADO is looking for a strong and competitive project manager with expertise in seed banking systems, including seed testing, production, storage, and quality management. Further, a Project Manager with experience in technical field research, biodiversity conservation, climate change, and the agriculture sector (crop), project management, team management, analytic research skill, and further expertise in dryland agriculture principles.

Scope of work

The Project Manager is expected to be based in the Burao and Erigavo towns with frequent travel to the project sites and guide the overall project planning process, implementation of activities, and project team and field-level activities with continued field supervision and monitoring. He/she will be responsible for overall project reporting, program, and representation of ADO when needed.
Candidates should have strong knowledge and experience in seed banking approaches, applied research, biodiversity conservation, climate change, environment, agriculture, and crop production systems, with different agriculture conservation techniques, agro-enterprise, and analytical skills.
The Project Manager will be generally responsible for designing, planning, and developing all project documents and implementing the project activities, management, monitoring, and reporting to the key stakeholders.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Oversee the high-quality implementation of project activities according to strategies outlined in the project document and performance management plan. Take responsibility for proper project leadership in compliance with donors’ requirements and regulations.
Ensure timely preparation of quality and project progress reports, Situational reports and other required information for the support offices and donors.
Review, provide expertise and professional input, and endorse livelihood programs technically.
Apply and promote ADO Agriculture strategy and approaches;
Represent ADO in the meeting with the line ministries and funding agency share and participate in the discussion meetings among the project stakeholders;
Writes the project proposal during the project planning phase while conducting dozens of studies and exercises;
Conduct continuous monitoring trips to project sites and observe whether planned activities met expected project results, indicators, and outputs in the project LFA framework.
Provide technical support in the review of sector technical reports and donor reports before submission to the donors.
Establish, manage and promote effective linkages with all technical partners working on the promotion of the dry land agriculture intervention
Prepares monthly plans and reports and submits to ADO Program Manager for the Livelihood Department and Executive Director for review and the DF;
Prepares quarterly, annual budget, and annual activities plans with close collaboration with the finance team;
Work with the M&E department to Design baselines, program/project monitoring activities, reviews, lessons learnt events and program evaluation exercises in line with various project documents
Establish, manage and promote effective linkages with all technical partners working on promoting the dryland agriculture intervention;
Ensure that complete documents are maintained in soft copies as well as hard copies in their respective project folders;
Work with finance and compliance staff regarding project advances, liquidations, and reconciliations;
Skills and Qualifications
Educational level required Bachelor or Master’s in Ecosystem, and Biodiversity Conservation, Environment, Agronomist specializing in Dryland Farming/Agriculture, and Food Security.
Knowledge of NORAD, and UK-funded project reporting, planning, and financial management will be of great significance and value-adding.
Have the competence and ability to take loads and implement the seed banking initiatives to accomplish program goals and objectives and to project and update quarterly work plans.
Prior experience in seed production, storage, quality management, and Community Seed Banks establishment, management, and sustainibility.
Experience working with the agro-pastoralist community on development matters, advocacy, and governance, Gender mainstreaming, children’s rights, and community mobilization skills.
Knowledge of proposal writing is mandatory
Ability to work independently with little or no day-to-day supervision of activities and meet deadlines but also coordinate effectively as part of a team
Experience in managing projects, proposal writing, and project review processes in INGO and local NGOs.
Excellent communication and writing skills
Excellent project management and analytical skills
Computer literacy and skills
Good leadership skills
Fluent in English, spoken and written.