Malawi: Country Advisor - Malawi

1. Project Background:

The Feed the Future Southern Africa Seed Trade Project (the Seed Trade Project) contract is being implemented by DAI and is based in Lusaka, Zambia. The Seed Trade Project facilitates seed trade across the SADC region by providing technical assistance in the implementation of seed variety testing, registration and release, seed certification and quality assurance, and quarantine and phytosanitary measures for seed. The Seed Trade Project supports activities in Feed the Future focus and aligned countries in the SADC region, including Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

It is necessary to inform activities with: 1) the current status of efforts by the government ministries and agencies of member-states to domesticate the SADC HSRs; 2) the current activities and thinking of seed companies and national seed associations to use the SADC varietal registration and seed certification scheme in their business operations in SADC countries; 3) the status of dual COMESA-SADC member-state domestication of COMESA harmonization and seed company plans to use the COMESA-SADC varietal registration and seed certification scheme; 4) the presence and programs of other donor and organizational initiatives that are currently working to harmonize seed regulations, build capacities of public seed certification agencies, public phytosanitary inspection and quarantine for seed pests and diseases, private seed inspection and certification services, and improved customs handling and reporting of seed traded across SADC borders.

2. Position Purpose:

The Malawi Country Advisor will support the Seed Trade Project and serve as the point of contact in-country for USAID/Malawi, the donor community, local CSO and NGO stakeholders, government agencies, and the private seed sector. He/she will continuously monitor the developments and current events regarding the seed sector, assist with the planning and execution of stakeholder meetings, trainings, and program activities in Malawi, coordinating logistics, and providing technical input and assistance where appropriate.

3. Tasks and Responsibilities:

· Assist in planning and organizing technical activities and stakeholder meetings as needed, providing post-meeting summary reports to Chief of Party and his/her designate.

· Meet with relevant donors and international organizations to identify seed system improvement projects and activities that are complementary or additional to those under consideration in the Seed Trade Project.

· Visit Strategic Partnership Facility partners/sites to monitor and evaluate grant progress.

· Work with USAID Activity Managers to carry out Seed Trade activities as requested by Chief of Party and his/her designate

· Participate in donor meetings, seed-agriculture events and conferences, coordination meetings, and USAID/Malawi joint consultations.

· Organize, facilitate and where appropriate assist in the delivery of training/capacity building.

· Facilitate meetings and travel for visiting Seed Trade Project staff and/or independent consultants as requested by Chief of Party.

· Write status updates and Weekly Progress Report entries.

· Conduct other project-related activities as requested by the Chief of Party.

4. Deliverables:

• Meeting summaries. All meetings will be summarized using the theory of change framework, specifically the relationship between the information obtained and the intermediate results.
• Weekly Progress Report entries. Provide weekly entries made regarding seed/agriculture developments and program activities in Malawi.
• Support for execution and planning of USAID 2018 project activities. For ongoing activities in 2018, upon request, contribute ideas on proposed activities and an implementation schedule.

5. Qualifications:

• At least a Master’s degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics or a relevant field preferred
• A minimum of six years related professional experience.
• Seed systems development experience working with both public and private sector
• A good working relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture – National Seed Authority, Research, and National Plant Protection Organisation
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private‐sector partners and stakeholders in a multi‐country setting.

• Experienced in national and local stakeholder participatory consultation.
  Expertise in developing and disseminating knowledge management and learning documents.

• An articulate individual who possesses excellent communications and personnel management skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization.

• An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.

• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.

• Fluency in English is required.

• Legal residency status in Malawi is required.

Reporting:

The Country Advisor will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi. He/She will report to the Seed Trade Chief of Party and his/her designate.

Please apply at the following link:

https://fs9.formsite.com/daisuppliers/form15/index.html