Aga Khan Foundation Latest Jobs in Tanzania

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, non-denominational, development agency promoting creative and effective solutions to problems that impede social and economic development.

AKF (East Africa) has initiated a multi-input area development programme – the Coastal Rural Support Programme, Tanzania (CRSP, T) – in southern Tanzania.

The Programme’s overall goal is to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in Mtwara and Lindi Regions.

The Foundation invites applications from suitable, qualified & experienced persons to fill the following vacant positions:

1. Project Irrigation Engineer

Overall Objective:

The Irrigation Engineer will provide support to the activities of the food security and income components, field team and farming communities towards enhancing water productivity in rain-fed lowland rice production systems through improved community capacity for rainwater harvesting, retention, distribution and use in rice farmers’ fields.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Planning and coordination

• Plan with senior project management, district government officials and community leaders on CRSPT interventions in small scale, low cost water management projects aimed at improving water availability for rice cultivation.
• Lead the negotiations and deliberation with relevant stakeholders towards improving water availability for agriculture.

Mobilisation and capacity building

• Mobilise communities to improve lowland development and water management systems.
• Facilitate the formation and training of Community Water Management Committees.
• Facilitate capacity building for local artisans and community resource persons on the fabrication and use of simple water diversion, lifting, filtration, and distribution equipments in cropping environment.

Supervision of construction implementation

• Supervise the implementation of activities relating to civil engineering works, environmental impact assessment and social innovations.
• Provide technical expertise during design, implementation of construction work, monitoring and evaluation of water harvesting facilities.

Qualifications and other Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of active working experience in same or related discipline.
• University degree in either civil or irrigation engineering or other relevant field (advanced degree at M.Sc level with at least 5 years post graduate experience is preferred)
• Candidate with demonstrable practical experience with rain-fed inland valley lowlands rice production systems particularly on water harvesting, river diversion, weir construction and water distribution is preferred.

2. Project Action Research Scientist

Overall Objective:

The Action Research Scientist will coordinate research activities of Coastal Rural Support Programme, Tanzania (CRSPT) to provide greater understanding of the links between climate change, agricultural productivity and household nutrition in Lindi and Mtwara region of Tanzania.

She/he will supervise a “challenge fund” and activities that support action research proposals that address impacts of climate change on household crop production, incomes and child nutrition outcomes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Planning and coordination:

• Plan and lead all interventions on action research areas.
• Plan the timeframes and sequences of action research areas and topics in ways that ensure coherence and synergy in results, while being cost effective.
• Supervise the field implementation of all activities to ensure achievement of defined objectives for the various action research areas.
• Coordinate the various stages from conception, design, implementation and reporting of action research projects.

Facilitation of a virtual learning platform

• Summarise discussion and feedbacks from advisory team and implement possible suggestions.
• Monitor progress and evaluate quality and reporting of action research by contracted parties with the assistance of the advisory team.
• Facilitate cross program-learning activities and initiate mechanisms that facilitate feedback from action research into the on-going implementation of CRSPT programme activities.

Resource mobilisation and capacity building

• Mobilise relevant resources needed for the successful implementation of action research projects.
• Mobilise stakeholders to participate in the reflexive research and action cycles at local, regional and national levels.
• Constitute and coordinate a virtual committee of advisors to guide project implementation.

Qualifications and other Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years relevant working experience in the field of rural development and applied research.
• A postgraduate degree (minimum at Masters level) either in sociology, natural resource or agricultural economics, development studies, agro-ecology, environmental studies or other relevant area of study.

3. Agriculture Market Development Manager

Overall Objective:

The Agriculture Market Development Manager will work closely with the Food Security Manager. She/he will implement the market development strategy and drive the market development activities for rice and sesame sub sectors through collaboration and establishing networks with producer groups.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Producer marketing groups

• Promote relevant and appropriate Market development strategies and plans for managing sesame and rice production and marketing as a business.
• Lead in the development or formation of producer marketing groups.
• Lead exposure visits by farmers and cooperatives to observe and replicate good practices in rice & sesame marketing.
• Develop district-level associations, and linkages with producer marketing groups.

Market Access and information

• Support producer marketing groups to improve quality and reach new market opportunities.
• Develop channels for regular market information to reach farmers and their associations.

Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver training materials for producer marketing groups to support their growth and development.
• To facilitate preparation and implementation of business and marketing plans for producer organisations.
• Provide logistical support for training and identification of training needs for producer groups on post harvest handling, bulk buying, marketing and other needed group activities.

Qualifications and other Requirements

• Minimum 8 years work experience with relevance in agricultural produce marketing.
• Experience with private sector and hands on market linkages will be an added advantage.
• University Degree in Agricultural Economics or relevant area of study with proven records of achievement.

Applications should include a cover letter describing why you are interested and qualified for this position, CV, and contact information for at least three referees not related to you.

Applications marked confidential should be delivered or e-mailed by 15th June, 2011 to the Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation, Tanzania,

by e-mail to: recruit.akftz@akdn.org

or mail to The Aga Khan Foundation, Tanzania, P.O. Box 125, Dar-es-Salaam.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an Agency of the Aga Khan Development Network.

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