Director of Programmes at Fairtrade Africa Secretariat

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Last Date: January 20, 2011
Email: recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net

JOB PROFILE

Job Profile: DP - 1 - Fairtrade Africa Secretariat

JOB TITLE: Director of Programmes
TEAM: Executive Team	JOB FAMILY: Programmes
CATEGORY: International	LOCATION: Nairobi Kenya
REPORTING TO: Executive Director	Reporting to this post: Policy & Advocacy Manager, Standards Development Coordinator, Regional Managers
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Yes
BACKGOUND   Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is an umbrella organisation representing all Fairtrade certified producers in Africa. FTA also represents non Fairtrade Labelling Organisations (FLO) International certified producers on trade issues in Africa and globally.  Established in 2005, FTA is governed by an elected Board directing policy and strategy. FTA is a member of the FLO, a global network of organisations working to common standards and verification systems. FTA works through sub-regional and national structures across Africa to represent producers within the FLO system. Our aim is to improve livelihoods in Africa by increasing access to markets on better terms of trade. FTA seeks to deliver on these objectives by working to improve technical, organisational and managerial capacity of smallholders. This is further facilitated by developing strategic partnerships to leverage support for producers. FTA works with relevant organisations and institutions in building support for Fairtrade and fair trade values and principles across Africa as well as bringing people, institutions and governments together in a movement for change in trade practices.  Currently there are about over 250 Fairtrade certified producer organisations in Africa with some of the certified organisations numbering over 62,000 individual members. Fairtrade is promoting livelihoods for over half a million farm households across Africa.  FTA has been undergoing major organisational changes since 2009. This has culminated in the creation of new structures and teams to build on the strong institutional foundation established over the last two years. FTA is therefore looking for an experienced and well-motivated Programmes Director committed to the values of fair trade, smallholders and worker rights as well as poverty reduction in Africa to lead programmes development and implementation within the organisation.
JOB PURPOSE   Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Director of Programmes (DP) as a member of the Senior Management team, shares in the overall responsibility for the development, direction and coordination of FTA programmes. The DP in his/her capacity is responsible for Regional Networks, Policy and Advocacy (including communications) and Standards teams ensuring effective programme development and implementation, with the objective of delivering high quality support (technical, organisational and financial) and obtaining greater impact for Fairtrade certified producers in Africa.    As part of the post, the DP will lead project development and management and will work closely with the Executive Director to cultivate donors. The DP will line manage all Regional Managers, Policy and Advocacy Manager as well as the Standards Development Coordinator.    Strategic Planning:  Provide strategic vision and direction to FTA programmes.  Take a lead role in developing programme strategies and annual plans and budgets.  Participate in conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative programmes to support producer businesses.  Lead the design and implementation of fundraising strategies and project proposals in conjunction with the Executive Director and Senior Management Team to ensure that programmes are adequately financed within the parameters of the FTA strategic plan.  Ensure a participatory coordinated approach is taken to proposal development and that team leaders and regional managers, Finance, HR and other relevant departments participate in this process  Develop working relationships with donor liaisons to ensure that FTA is well positioned to access information on donor strategy and priorities.  Strategic Policy Planning  Provide management support and guidance to team managers to ensure they are delivering quality and timely inputs.  Develop and maintain an overview of key policies and programmes concerning producer support in Africa.  Support the Executive Director to review and update FTA strategy, to maximize impact in achieving longer-term, medium-term and short-term objectives. Keep in line with the changing needs of organisational and producer objectives.  Identify key opportunities and events for FTA in Africa to position itself as the leading producer led organization in Africa.  Provision of Technical Assistance  Provide advice to regional managers and team leads and ensure effectiveness in all aspects of programming including partner and staff capacity building.  Ensure provision of high quality technical assistance to all programmes  Ensure appropriate coordination between the different programme implementing partners  Ensure appropriate levels of technical assistance are provided to all programme partners.  Ensure that fair trade principles such fairness, community based approaches, good governance, non-discrimination etc. are mainstreamed in programme development.  Support the Regional Managers in the measurement of achievement and progress towards programme goals and results through the monitoring & evaluation system.  Knowledge Management  Ensure learning by the programme team from relevant best practice and assessing performance regularly against agreed programme objectives and indicators.  Prepare key policy briefing documents and communication materials for positioning FTA as key producer empowerment organisation.  Ensure learning by the FTA programme team from relevant best practice internally and externally.  Support in the review and evolving approach to working with programme partners.    Staff Development  Manage staff and team budget and report on progress on budget management.  Lead on internal and external programme/project evaluations as necessary and ensures the execution of baseline, periodic, and final evaluations as necessary in coordination with programme partners.  Help design and implement a coherent programme structure that is consistent with FTA practices and appropriate to member needs.  Senior Management Team Participation  Deputize for the Executive Director.  Contribute to overall management of FTA, supporting the executive director in reporting to the Board.  Work with Senior Management Team to ensure adequate staff management structures are in place.  Ensure transparent use of financial resources in compliance with FTA and donor policies and procedures. SKILLS AND COMPETENCE – Essential  Advance university degree in Agricultural Development/ Economics, Rural Development, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related studies  5 + years with NGO out of which 3 – 5 years formulating and directing programmes or leading an organization.  Familiarity and experience in developing and implementing capacity improvement strategies.  Experience of developing and managing monitoring and evaluation systems.  Genuine commitment to, and understanding of, results-based and participatory approaches.  Excellent conceptual and analytical skills. Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross team and cross sectorial working.  Proven ability to design and deliver on fundraising strategies.  High level of integrity.  Resource management, training and capacity building, coaching / mentoring skills.  Commitment to and understanding of fair trade values and principles.  Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and drafting competencies.  Demonstrated ability to understand complexities of producer market access issues and successfully pursue new market opportunities for producers.  Experience in project cycle management, ensuring the delivery of high quality programmes.  A professional history that demonstrates familiarity and understanding of Fairtrade and ethical trade principles and practices.    OTHERS This job description is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will be expected to work to agreed objectives, which should facilitate achievements of key responsibilities in accordance with the Performance Review Process.    APPLICATION Send applications to recruitments@fairtradeafrica.net by the 20th of January 2011. Please reference "FTA Director of Programmes" in the subject line. All applicants should state how they meet essential requirements of the post, with ALL the following: detailed CV, cover letter and salary (Gross) history (current and last 2 jobs is applicable), email address, telephone contacts, current and expected remuneration package, names of three referees with contact details by 20th of January 2011. Qualified applicants will be subjected to a background check as a condition of employment. The final hiring decision is anticipated end of January for a start date ASAP.    Date of issue: 15th December 2010

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