Project Coordination Support

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Project Coordination Support

ITC - International Trade Centre

Home-based, Jamaica

Result of Service

Expected Outputs and Timelines: By June 2025
Work plan designed and validated for Y1 project activities in Jamaica
Presentations and reports on project objectives and activities in Jamaica developed
Work plans developed with selected companies/social enterprises and validated by companies and partners
MOUs developed with selected support institutions
Workshops, trainings and technical assistance conducted in support services to agroprocessors/farmer cooperatives in Jamaica
Alliances activated resulting in improvements in food security, value addition and sales transactions increased as a result of support provided
Missions conducted to support/evaluate work with agroprocessors and lead farmers
Guidance and inputs provided to project team, national counterparts and project partners through regular meetings
Written and/or oral reports delivered on the progress of project activities for Jamaica including progress update on delivery of work plans and MOUs, including capacity building and market linkages support
Written monthly report delivered as per reporting template

Expected duration

6 months (approx.15 January to 15 June 2025).

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. The Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OLAC), as a geographical section of the Division of Country Programmes (DCP), is responsible for defining the ITC strategy and coordinating all regional interventions for individual countries or at the sub-regional and regional levels. The Green & Inclusive Value Chains section (GIVC) within the Division for Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) is responsible for sector-wide transformation, improving market linkages and private sector competitiveness linked to responsible production and consumption, climate resilience, food security, sustainable standards, and market systems. The section utilizes the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodologies to implement projects in its Inclusive and Sustainable Agribusiness value chains areas of work. The A4A is a participatory partnership model that focuses on increasing the competitiveness of MSMES, smallholder farmers and value chain actors while ensuring respect of environmental, economic, and social requirements. A4A seeks to develop responsible, inclusive and sustainable trade by aligning investment and coordination across the full ecosystem of VC actors and by building competitiveness especially in agribusiness. The establishment of partnerships and networks is an essential underlying element of the A4A approach as it contributes to mobilise collaboration, expertise and investment into the alliances along with sustainability of the approach over time. The European Union (EU) funded project “Strengthening nutritious and sustainable value chains in the Caribbean through Alliances” aims to support agri-MSMEs, cooperatives and producers (smallholder farmers and fishers) to become more competitive and resilient through value addition, diversification, and new market development at the regional level. The project is aligned with various EU and CARICOM strategies, including the CARICOM strategy related to “Regional Food Production and Productivity Towards a Sustainable Import Replacement Programme: 25% by 2025 Reduction in the Regional Food Bill”, which has developed a comprehensive import-replacement programme with accompanying targets for selected commodities, geared towards achieving the overall 25% by 2025 objective. This assignment aims to contribute to the coordination of project partners and activities in Jamaica under the project, including capacity building and market linkages programmes for agri-processors and farmer/fisherfolk associations/cooperatives formulating productive and commercial alliances in fruits and vegetables, fisheries/aquaculture and roots and tubers primarily, according to key areas and priorities identified in the company and institutions screening exercise.

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems (GIVC), and under overall guidance of the Associate Programme Officer(s) (GIVC and OLAC), and in collaboration with the national team, the consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

Prepare written outputs, including reports and presentations on project objectives and activities in Jamaica, to be regularly updated for presenting to government, donor and private sector partners.
Assist in developing a country-level work plan for the Year 1 activities of the project implementation phase in Jamaica, including proposed budget allocations, timelines and outputs, for validation by national level partners.
Assist in developing work plans for selected companies/social enterprises, outlining areas of support and calendar of activities, co-investment from companies, for validation by companies and support institutions and with inputs from A4A service centers (processing, marketing, investment etc.)
Provide inputs to the formulation of MOUs with supporting institutions, outlining key roles and responsibilities for the implementation of project activities, with inputs from A4A service centers (processing, marketing, investment etc.)
Together with key partners, support in the implementation of work plans for selected companies, outlining areas of support and calendar of activities, including co-investment from companies, through regular follow-up
Assist in the coordination of implementation and monitoring of MOUs with supporting institutions, including regular meetings and follow-up on progress
Facilitate logistics for at least two (2) missions per month to coordinate/evaluate work with agroprocessors and lead farmers/ associations, together with key private and public sector partners
Facilitate the organization of biweekly meetings with the project team to present progress updates on the agreed work plan and regular meetings with project partners, including selected companies and institutions.
Facilitate the activation and coordination commercial alliances and market linkages between agri- processors/ lead farmers, for improved business transactions
Support the preparation of agroprocessors, lead farmers and support institutions in project activities (including capacity building trainings, B2B meetings, e-commerce, trade shows etc.)
Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting, including surveys at national and local levels level to measure results and impact achieved by the project (including behavioral changes, sales, investment and income; and case studies). NOTE – The selected candidate must be available for duty travel for short periods to rural areas in the country and to other countries in the region. Copyright The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Undergraduate degree (BA/BSc other) in business management, economics, development studies, business administration or related field
Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in business management, project coordination, private sector operations, manufacturing/agro-processing and exports, including knowledge of agribusiness and participatory approaches.
Proven experience in Caribbean context and in the provision of projects/initiatives.
Experience of working with private sector, and with international/donor organizations or in national development agencies.
Ability to produce documents for official circulation among institutions and international stakeholders (memos, reports, business proposals)
Ability to design, develop, monitor and coordinate work plans and business plans
Good understanding and direct knowledge of the country Public Sector functioning and dynamics
Good understanding and direct knowledge of the agribusiness sector in the country
Good understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics Good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Excellent interpersonal, networking, communication, data entry and reporting skills
Pro-active and initiative-driven behavior
Strong research skills including data collection, analysis, and presentations
Capacity to synthesize a large amount of information and complex data
Demonstrated expertise in business management and entrepreneurship
Experience in agribusiness or related field (including manufacturing, operations, business management, logistics)
Excellent interpersonal, networking, communication, data entry and reporting skills
Pro-active and initiative-driven behavior