Position Summary:
Under USDA/FAS Food For Progress (FFPr), Shelter For Life International (SFL) is implementinga multi-year program in The Gambia with a focus on supporting the Gambian government’s food security objectives through the application of resilient agriculture practices and improving the trade enabling environment. Project goals include strengthening the horticulture (namely fruit and vegetable) sector by: 1) increasing productivity and output; 2) expanding and improving quality of exports; 3) enabling increased trade by linking Gambian horticultural products to regional and US markets; and 4) improving incomes and standards of living for smallholder farmers. The project will achieve these goals by focusing primarily on three components: 1) increasing horticulture productivity and markets; 2) building capacity of farmer associations and cooperatives; and 3) improving the trade enabling environment and sanitary and phytosanitaryservices.
Shelter For Life is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the FFPr program in The Gambia. The COP will be responsible for the overall implementation, oversight, and results of the project. The COP will provide quality assurance and control of all program deliverables as well as provide leadership, supervision, and direction to the
project’s field staff and operations.
Areas of Responsibility:
Strategic Leadership
- Provide supervision, support, and direction to field staff in The Gambia
- Lead a multi-national, multi-lingual, and multi-skilled group of professionals
- Establish relationships with various partners and stakeholders such as the donor organization, government ministries, research institutions, farmers’ associations and cooperatives, national, regional and local authorities, public-private investment participants, and represent SFL at key meetings
- Bring focus and determination to the project staff to ensure high-quality results, and prioritize the achievement of the program’s goals
Quality Program Management
- Develop and oversee detailed regular, periodic work plans and ensure the project meets all deliverables
- Provide quality reports on project progress to SFL headquarters
and the project donor
- Carefully monitor project performance and document progress on project indicators
- Identify and engage participants for public-private investment partnerships
- Guide initiatives with producers to link Gambian horticultural products to local and US markets
- Provide oversight and guidance to the project’s finance department to maintain adherence to the program’s
budget and financial plans in accordance with donor requirements and SFL’s internal controls
- Coordinate and communicate activities with SFL HQ, USDA, the US Embassy, and local government officials
- Implement and enforce procedures that ensure compliancewith US Government rulesand regulations
- Enforce SFL’s internal control procedures, outlined by SFL’s Field Operations Manual, Employee Handbook and the Who we Are, What we Believe, and How we Serve documents
Technical Oversight
- Responsible for strategy, technical oversight and guidance of project components
- Provide overall responsibility for all data collection, monitoring and evaluation
- Oversee a range of activities for coherence and reinforcement of impact, to ensure that the components and activities work harmoniously together
Education and Experience Requirements
- Master’s degree in business administration, international development, international trade, agriculture, horticulture, or related field(s)
- A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in designing and implementing donor-funded development projects in the following technical sectors: agriculture/horticulture, agribusiness, food security, agriculture value chains,and cooperative and associations development
- A minimum of five (5) years of work experience as Chief of Party or a similar level post managing large agricultural/horticultural development of agribusiness projects
- Prior work experience with USDA-funded or similar international donor-funded programs
- Industry knowledge and experience in the field of resilient agriculture and/or horticulture
- Demonstrated experience in reporting project progress in adherence with donor guidelines
- Strong leadership and administrative skills, management ability in a cross-cultural environment
- Strong communications and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a variety of
stakeholders and organizations
- Prior work experience in Africa required; specific experience in The Gambiaor West African countries preferred
Personal Skills and Abilities
- Proven leadership skills with ability to maintain a positive work environment with professionalism
- Strong teamwork and listening skills with excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity
- Ability to research, analyze, coordinate, and plan, both strategically and innovatively
- Ability to quickly assess complex programs and situations and form accurate opinions
- Ability to respond practically, using adaptive management to operate successfully in difficult field conditions
- Willingness to adopt the use of locally appropriate technologies
- Ability to be flexible, persistent, and diplomatic to gain respect among staff and diverse stakeholders, including local community leaders, governmental ministries, and the donor organization
- Proficiency in written and spoken English required; knowledge of local languages a plus
SFL is interested in applicants whose professional ethics, values, and determination to achieve impact are evident and aligned with organizational priorities.
Additional notes:
- A minimum of twelve (12) months commitment to live and work in The Gambia is required
- Applicant must be comfortable with frequent travel, particularly within The Gambia and West Africa
- Competitive pay and generous benefits including six weeks of paid time off, two weeks of R&R, ACA compliant health insurance, and allowances for housing, food, and communication
To Apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter to info@shelter.org with the subject line: “Chief of Party – The
Gambia”. Applications must be in English. Please include your name in the title of all attached documents. In your resume, the work experience should be presented chronologically and should contain sufficient details to enable the review team to evaluate your qualifications and experience. Your cover letter should describe how your professional experiences will apply to implementing the three components listed in the position summary above,
including a brief description of strategies for achieving ambitious program targets (no more than two pages). The CV/resume should include the name, telephone number, and email of at least two references who do not work for your current employer.
About Us:
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is an international faith-based relief and development organization with over 30 years’ experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance to post-conflict countries around the world. We are currently operational in Afghanistan, Senegal, and The Gambia, with headquarters located in Minnetonka, MN, USA. Our team provides support and assistance in the following areas:
1. Population movement and settlement
2. Public infrastructure reconstruction
3. Economic and social development
Our mission is to demonstrate God’s love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. To learn more about us, please visit www.shelter.org
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is an international faith-based relief and development organization with over 30 years’ experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance to post-conflict countries around the world. We are currently operational in Afghanistan, Senegal, and The Gambia, with headquarters located in Minnetonka, MN, USA. Our team provides support and assistance in the following areas:
1. Population movement and settlement
2. Public infrastructure reconstruction
3. Economic and social development
Our mission is to demonstrate God’s love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. To learn more about us, please visit www.shelter.org
