Country Engagement Manager

Job Title

Contract Type

Location

Country Engagement Manager

12 months consultancy contract with renewal option.

Kathmandu, Nepal

About Digital Green

Digital Green an international organization that drives transformative innovation to improve the lives of smallholder farmers across the world. Our mission is to empower the smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the power of technology. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest livelihoods needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poverty.

So far, Digital Green has reached nearly 2 million farmers across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Collaborating with over 20 partners, Digital Green has helped facilitate the production and dissemination of over 6,000 localized videos in 28 languages. Digital Green operates from offices in San Francisco, New Delhi and Addis Ababa. Digital Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the US. For more information, please visit Digital Green’s website: www.digitalgreen.org .

Digital Green is entering an exciting phase of development as it expands its activities to additional countries in Asia and Africa. As part of this, Digital Green has partnered with Winrock International, an international development organization, that is leading implementation of a 5-year Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture (KISAN) project (phase II) in Nepal. Digital Green is supporting KISAN II through digital platforms such as its community-based video approach to disseminate good practices among the farming community through a network of private agrovets and other market-based entities. Digital Green is also in the process of involvement with Govt. of Nepal through KISAN II to assist in developing a decentralized agricultural extension services as the country transitions to a federal structure with devolution of financial and implementation responsibilities to the municipality-level.

This position will be based in Kathmandu and anchor Digital Green activities in Nepal in partnership with KISAN II. The position will play a lead role in providing on-site support to KISAN II in designing and implementing solutions and managing partner relationships. The position will report to New Initiatives Program Head, Asia based in India.

Major Duties of the Engagement Manager

• Provide programmatic and technical support to KISAN II team in implementing Digital Green’s technology enabled solutions.
• Lead the implementation of public sector pilot activity building capacity of municipalities to plan, budget and deliver extension services.
• Provide assistance in preparation, planning and execution of work plans.
• Work closely and collaboratively with KISAN II team especially with Director, Agriculture Productivity in project design and implementation of Digital Green activities.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the Digital Green’s mission, approach, culture, technical solutions and training methodology.
• Conduct training and follow up quality assurance monitoring visits; provide handholding support in video production and dissemination.
• Monitor work plans, track activities, deliverables and milestones and prepare reports on achieved results of Digital Green’s support to the KISAN II.
• Actively engage in internal and external team meetings and teleconferences to provide country update, discuss issues, and identify solutions.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with all stakeholders including Municipalities, Government of Nepal at the National level, USAID and NGOs and private sector partners.
• Travel to project site to meet with Municipalities, Agrovets, farmers and other partners, as per the plan and project demand.
• Support visits by Digital Green staff by arranging meetings, planning training sessions, and helping with logistics.
• Manage program budget to maintain program expenditure within budget parameters
• Draft and share updates on activities with Communications team relevant for outreach materials, and success stories.
• Prepare annual, occasional and ad-hoc summaries, reports, and related materials on project and theme activities as required.
• With support of Digital Green’s finance team, assist in preparation and submission of timely financial monthly reports to KISAN II.
• Provide additional support as necessary to build the portfolio of Digital Green.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience working with smallholder farmers in Nepal and deep knowledge of agriculture in Nepal especially farmers’ issues.
• Experience working in agriculture policy / public & private sector extension and advisory services.
• Experience with ICT / technology for development solutions
• Demonstrated ability to conduct program planning and evaluation in developing country contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, team-based organizational structure.
• Strong experience in country or community-based field experience with services delivery with a focus on the private sector.
• Demonstrated skills in writing reports for governments, stakeholders, and non-technical audiences.
• Articulate communicator, excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work independently, and to competent track timelines and deliverables with minimal guidance.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali.
• Master’s degree in technology, business management, social sciences, rural development or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in development sector preferably in agriculture with strong skill and knowledge in using technology in increasing agricultural productivity and farmers’ well being.
• Experience of working in USAID projects would be a plus.
• The person should be a Nepali citizen

To be successful as a member of the Digital Green team, you will also

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization.
• Be an innovative and creative thinker – you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so.
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness.
• Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction.
• Work well independently as well as part of a team.

Compensation

Digital Green is a great place to work and prides itself on a competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Digital Green is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Procedure

Please email your resume and cover letter to recruitmentus@digitalgreen.org with the title Country Engagement Manager in the subject line before 22 October 2018 . Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Digital Green. Digital Green is an equal opportunity employer.