CLA Assistant Tempo Inteiro

The ELIM Serviços Lda. is hiring a Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Assistant to join the implementation team of the USAID-funded Feed the Future Promoting Innovative and Resilient Agriculture Market Systems (FTF PREMIER) Activity, in  Nampula.

ABOUT THE Opportunity

The Feed the Future Mozambique Promoting Innovative and Resilient Agriculture Market Systems Activity (FTF PREMIER) is a USAID funded five-year activity that will seize on opportunities to work with local market actors, increasing the resiliency of the agricultural market system in the Nacala Corridor to absorb, adapt, and respond to external climate, economic, and political shocks; to reduce poverty; and to improve food security. The activity will implement solutions including:

1. Enhancing access to finance across sectors for the rural poor and SMEs;
2. Enhancing risk mitigation management;
3. Building the capacity of smallholder producers and agribusinesses;
4. Expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially for youth and women.

Job Description

The Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Assistant will report to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager. S/He should possess keen research and report-writing skills, excellent communication, high concentration levels, good task management, and superior problem solving and critical thinking skills. S/He will work on a variety of areas, including facilitation of collaborative efforts across technical teams to develop a learning agenda, and to package and document evidence and learning from project activities to inform project approaches/workplans, adaptive management strategies, and collaboration with other programs. The Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Assistant must demonstrate a strong ability to work in a diverse team and engage external stakeholders, both local and international, in accordance with corporate expectations.

Main Responsibilities

• Together with MEL Manager, collaboratively implement a robust learning agenda/framework for continuous learning, collaborating, and adapting for the FtF PREMIER technical team and USAID/Mozambique mission staff which includes other programme Implementation Partners (IPs), Mozambican national and provincial government counterparts, and other stakeholders,
• Support the development of tools for realizing FtF PREMIER’s learning and adaptation strategy with a focus on promoting knowledge acquisition, management, documentation, and dissemination for learning and evidence-based design and implementation;
• Participate and support capacity building activities of FtF PREMIER private sector partners and government counterparts, and other stakeholders in the Market Systems Development approach;
• Facilitate collaborative planning sessions to finalize learning activities that address learning questions of relevance to key stakeholders;
• Coordinate knowledge capture, sharing, and strategic learning relevant to FtF PREMIER;
• Synthesize findings from evaluations, assessments, special studies, and other sources for use in project implementation, communications, stakeholder coordination, and reporting;
• Compile and disseminate information from both quantitative and qualitative data on successful and promising interventions, lessons learned and other project results to the USAID/Mozambique mission, local and national-level governmental bodies, other donors, IPs, and other stakeholders;
• Coordinate the production of internal and external learning products such as publications and reports on internal and external platforms across various media;
• Facilitate FTF PREMIER’s external knowledge sharing through the participation in local, regional, and international events such as the MSDN in Mozambique, the regional MSD Symposium, and the international BEAM Exchange events;
• Promote forums to facilitate collaboration, learning and adaptation;
• Provide technical support on a broad range of CLA, knowledge management (KM), or project capacity-building tasks.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Strong analytical and computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and dexterity with the set-up, and use of knowledge management information systems;
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills;
  Multistakeholder event coordination and facilitation and experience in the facilitation of knowledge sessions/workshops engaging participants from government, private sector, donor agencies and civil society;
• Experience with the capture, packaging, and presentation of project learning data;
• Written and visual illustration;
• Storytelling and packaging of Strong project management skills including the ability to anticipate demand and manage multiple tasks and projects while meeting tight deadlines;
• Understanding of capacities and constraints of smallholder farming, agribusiness development, and resilience building;
• Experience with the implementation of donor-funded projects preferred, with USAID-experience an advantage;
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced and changing environment;
• Demonstrated skill and experience in facilitating groups, meetings, and events (both online and in-person), resulting in collaborative decision-making, agreed-upon action items/priorities, and strong outcomes;
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences (capacity strengthening) through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods, using adult learning methodologies;
• Strong oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal, analytical, and training skills;
• Detail-oriented and excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner;
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint required.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in organizational learning, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, or another related area of expertise; (Master’s degree strongly preferred);
• At least 5 years of experience in knowledge management, organizational learning and/or strategic learning in an international development context relevant field;
• Prior experience with USAID activities, including strong conceptual knowledge of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and how that ties into USAID’s CLA framework;
• Proven track record designing learning and communication materials for external audiences;
• Prior experience implementing CLA into the program cycle (preferably with USAID programs);
• Demonstrated understanding of gender and youth issues in agriculture or market systems;
• Experience working in Mozambique. Prior work experience in countries in Southern Africa is an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience compiling and preparing presentations using both quantitative and qualitative data for USAID staff and implementing partners;
• Strong background in monitoring, data capture, evaluation, and analysis of development programs, preferably initiatives funded by USAID;
• Expertise in working with a variety of stakeholders, including host country government personnel, NGO partners, international donor agencies, and other stakeholders;
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative data synthesis, and experience in using key informant interviews, focus groups, and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and learn from the data;
• Strong writing and presentation skills; strong communications skills are a plus;
• Proficiency in using remote platforms (e.g., Zoom, Adobe Connect, Google Teams, Google Meet) for information sharing, workshops, and/or learning events;
• Fluency in English and Portuguese with excellent oral and written communication skills in both required.

Note: Interested candidates should submit a detailed cover letter and CV in English, with the subject line: “Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Assistant 2022” to headhunters@elimservicos.com

About ELIM Serviços Lda

ELIM Serviços Lda (ELIM) is a market research and development consultancy focused on the design, implementation, and measurement of socio-economic interventions for sustainable growth.

Established in Maputo in 2007, we have implemented projects in every Mozambican province and have worked in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. We are driven by a vision to strengthen Africa’s rural communities and local enterprises to foster inclusive benefit of the Continent’s economic growth opportunities. We do so by partnering with funders and implementers of development interventions to model sustainable solutions that adequately respond to the development challenges hindering Africa’s growth.