Mount Everest Forest Botanicals Alliance announces vacancy for Project Coordinator

Job Title: Project Coordinator

Programme: MRIDA: SDG Women Earth Coalition: 

Project: Coffee Agroforestry Biocarbon Project

Duty Station: Kathmandu, Nepal; extensive tours in central and eastern Nepal project locations

Reports to: Project Manager, MEFBA

Project Period: 1st of December 2022 – 31st April 2030

Probation Period:12 months from the date of engagement.

Probation Remuneration: Rs 25,000 per month. TA/DA admissible during the field tour periods.

About MEFBA

MEFBA is a social enterprise, pioneering a community based climate adaptation livelihoods agroforestry project with a plan to integrate biocarbon credit offsetting as an additional revenue stream model as it fights poverty and working with sustainable agriculture and land management through agroforestry with a strong gender bias – growing trees alongside crops and livestock.

We do this together with small-holder farming families and farmers’ organisations in the districts of eastern and central Nepal. Agroforestry provides increased access to food, access to sustainable energy sources and more income.

Agroforestry also contributes to the mitigation of climate change and protects against the negative effects of climate change. Since its inception in 2019, MEFBA under MRIDA: SDG Women Earth Coalition  has reached over 1.5 lakhs people and undertaking coffee/cacao agroforestry with 10 million arabica coffee and  the planting of over 1 million native and economically beneficial trees.

The Coffee Agroforestry Biocarbon Project

The objective of the Smallholder Coffee/Cacao Development Project is to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development of the coffee/cacao value chain for enhanced incomes and improved nutrition status of smallholder farmers in Province 1 and 3 of Nepal initially. The Project Coordinator will be based in Kathmandu. Extensive domestic travel is expected.

The action will strengthen smallholder coffee cooperatives as a key enabler of support services that enable increased production, processing and trade of coffee/cacao/medicinal& aromatic plants/forest honey/bamboo/chuiri butter produced by smallholders in the provinces 1 and 3. It also seeks to stimulate trade-led economic growth by strengthening the competitiveness of smallholder coffee producers (both women and youths), promoting investments and jobs creation along the coffee/cacao/medicinal& aromatic plants/forest honey/bamboo/chuiri butter value chains.

The project coordinator will have the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning and implementation of the project, including responsibility for palika/provincial/national and community dialogues and cooperation, with a broad network of stakeholders. Coordination and strengthening of the partnership between the lead applicant, the four implementing organisations, farmer cooperatives, coffee value chain actors and the government is crucial for successful implementation of the project.

Also, the Project Coordinator will be expected to handle the daily management of the project including technical support to implementing partners and MEFBA staff at the country office, with adequate technical and professional guidance to ensuring quality delivery of the project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities 

• To prepare and coordinate the project management activities, developing annual work plans and budget, ensure production of quality and timely reports for the donor and stakeholders and work with the communication team to ensure that appropriate project documentations are created;
• To mobilise, inspire and train the partner communities with a strong focus on ensuring the participation of women and youths;
• To be the project representative and spokesperson and ensure that standards and requirements are met;
• Assign tasks and provide expertise and technical support to project staff and implementing partners;
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender to ensure women (and youth) are among the main target beneficiaries of the project;
• Coordinate and chair the project operational committee;
• Engage and liaise with partners and stakeholders for successful implementation of the project;
• Liaise and engage with Ministry of Forest/Agriculture/Environment & Science, Provincial and Local governments, Line Agencies at the district level of Forest/Agriculture/Environment & Science departments and directorates, value chain actors and decision-makers in promoting Public-Private Partnership for enhanced investment in the coffee value chain;
• In collaboration with partners, facilitate evidence-based advocacy for supportive policy frameworks and investment guidelines in the coffee sector;
• Enhance collaboration between research institutions and the project for coffee/cacao/medicinal& aromatic plants/forest honey/bamboo/chuiri butter, etc. research findings disseminations;
• Develop coffee/cacao/medicinal& aromatic plants/forest honey/bamboo/chuiri butter sectoral advocacy messages and presentations for various platforms; and
• Engage in resource mobilization.

Qualifications and field experiences

• Master’s degree in Forestry/Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Applied Agricultural Extension, Agriculture General, Crop Science, Agronomy, Environmental Science or related field with at least three years of relevant and proven working experience, preferably in the coffee sector or bachelor’s degree in relevant field and at least 1 year of relevant and proven working experience.
• Computer literate and conversant with Microsoft packages. Knowledge of Arc GIS and remote sensing imagery apps would be additional advantage.
• Project management skills and experience.
• Strong oral communication, analytical, listening and presentation skills together with excellent command of written and spoken English and Swahili.
• Strong skills and work experience in advocacy, networking and facilitation.
• Experience in working with civil society and government structures.
• Knowledge of development cooperation and experience in EU funds management.
• Knowledgeable about (and experience in) the national coffee sector, guiding policies and regulations and familiarity with policy research methodology and analytics.
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports in order to inform management and for strategic decision-making.
• People oriented and results driven.
• Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate actions.
• Experience in the fields of gender equality and human rights.
• Social and cultural sensitivity.
• This position is for Nepali national applicants only.
• Women with the stated qualifications are highly encouraged to apply.

MODE OF APPLICATION:

Deadline for the application is 1st of November, 2022 not later than 1700 hours/5:00 pm.

If you meet the set criteria, please send your application letter along with your social media id of facebook and Instagramalong with CV, Send application to: [email protected] With a copy to: [email protected] Subject Line: MRIDA – Project Coordinator

MEFBA is an equal opportunity employer and canvassing is strongly prohibited.