NUTRITION GARDEN SPECIALIST – The Horticulture Enterprise Enhancement Project (HEEP) 426 views

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO.
DATE OF ISSUANCE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Horticulture Enterprise Enhancement Project (HEEP) is an eight- year derotopment project financed jointly by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), CPEC Find and tba Government of Zimbabwe. HEEP supports the transformation of smallholder horticulture in Zimbabwe through Wage horticulture model and the 4P hub and spoke horticulture development The Project is focused in (cur provnces for tba VHGs: Matabetetand South, Masvingo. Manfcaland and Midlands. It axisrsts of three interlinked components Component 1: Wage Hcrtkukural Garden and 4P Mobilization and Development, Component 2 Access to Finance, and Component 3: Institutional Support and Project Coordination.
HEEP is in the process of recruting officers and service providers for its National Project Management Unit (NPMU) in Harare and in the three Regional Project Management Itois (RPMU) in the field. Io manage and ccordnate HEEP project activities. Whie the lead agency of the project is Ministry of Lands. Agriculture. Fisheries. Water and Rural Development (MLAFA’RDi, the Vilage Horticulture Gardens will he implemented through ARDA and HEEP 4P activities include pro-active co-operations wih the private sector, including the farming coirrourity, small and medium enterprises and larger precessing and marketing companies in key agricultural value drain.

Overall Scope of Work
Reporting to the Project Ccordinator. the Nutrition Garden Advisorwill lead the work on Village Horticulture Gardens related activities in the protect and overall coordination of the adivtfes undar Sub-Component 1.1. The specialist will also support policy dialogue, institutional coordination and local level capacity building in GAP and productriity skils. She wil work in ebse cdteboraton with the other members of the NPMU and super.ise the RPMU Nutrition Garden Specalisis that will support the impiementaton of tfe relevant activities in VHG for HEEP in collaboration wih the ARDA managers.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
The Nutrition Advisor will be responsible for providing technical expertise in the three objectives of VHGs: (a) sustainably increasing hertiaukure productivity (b) tranng farmers n horticulture production and (c) reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the context of HEEP. More specifically, tie CSA Specials! will perform the fdlcwng tasks:
⦁ Provide technioal inputs and guidance in the implementation of increased production and productivity of nutrition sensitive crops in the VHGs:
Provide technical guidance to ensure the m’nimization pos-harvest losses activities;
Provide inputs for ensuring market access for the horticultural formers
Ensure improved bortcubural productivity among the torget men and women beneficiaries of HEEP withh the project’s disaggregated data on genderand soriel inclusion in the Mentoring and Evaluation system, m dose consolation with the HEEP M&E staff.
Ensure the nctoston of VHGs data collection m the baselne stiudies to be undertaken as part of HEEP.
base w*h the Ministry of Lands. Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and Mnstiy ri Environment, Water and Clmate counterparts and wth the Prqect Coordinator, and engage n ongoing national and regional level policy dialogue.
Undertake the technical review of VHGs case studies, and repotting beng produced under HEEP;
Identify the appropnale dissemination channels tor the case studies, vulnerabxlty maps and other publcabns to be produced as pert of the HEEP.
Participate in the screening of VHGs business plans produced by the APGs to ensure integration nutrition senstr.B and high value crojos.
Provide training to fll the knowledge and capacity gaps of the various prqot stakeholders nctoding serrice providers and the project team in the understanding, planning and implementation of VHGs;
Provide strategic orientation in planring, implementation and monitoring sages through periodic field visfcs to project intervention areas;
Liase with ARDA managars on the management of VHGs to ccordnate tfe development and implementation of horticultural productivity activities
Contribute to the preparation of the AWPB;
Contribute to reporting structures as laid out n the HEEP documentation;
Undertake any other duties (relaied to HEEP activities) as may be assigned by tfe Project Coordinator.

Qualifications and Competences
⦁ A Master s degree in Agronomy, or Crop Sdenoe.
⦁ Thorough knowledge of tfe hartiolture sector in Zimbabwe.
⦁ Thorough knowledge of the legisiatrre and regulatory framework on horticulture in Zimbabwe.
⦁ Excellent and proven presentation, faciitaton and negotiation skils.
⦁ Good knowledge of communication tods and technologies (internet.
Maosoft offoe pokages etc).
⦁ Fluency h oral and wrBen En^ish i$ essential
Required Work Experience
At least three years of expenence in the field cf Agronomy with strong knowledge of horticulture.
Mode and Duration of Contract
Renewable performance-based contract after one year, tor the duration of the prqed