Background

Agriculture is a pivotal sector for attainment of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025 and the Millennium Development Goals which aim for Tanzania to become a middle income country with positive social transformation for all citizens. As a foundation providing 25% of gross domestic product and over 75% of employment, the sector is an anchor for four of the five economic targets in Tanzania’s poverty reduction strategy, as well as several social and governance goals.

In 2012 extensive information gathering was conducted through; high-level Roundtable with 30+ stakeholders, cross-country stakeholder consultations, fieldwork observations and interviews gathered and several core constraints were identified at the levels of (i) national policy; (ii) regional and local implementation; and (iii) the foundation of farms, markets, and value chains, along with (iv) underlying gaps in capacity and performance at all of these levels.

On 1 June, 2013, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania established a President's Delivery Bureau (PDB) as an Independent Department under the President's Office. Its primary objective is to facilitate the Government undertake Performance Management and Delivery of results in the Big Results Now (BRN) National Key Priority Areas and as stipulated in the Five Year Development Plan (FYDP). In discharging its duties PDB will be working closely with Government Ministries. To kick start the BRN projects, the Government has started working on five priority areas in the sectors of Agriculture, Infrastructure, Water, Education and Resources Mobilization. Given the special nature of agriculture in livelihoods of majority of Tanzanians, an Agricultural Delivery Division (ADD) has been formed in the PDB to spearhead agricultural transformation in the country.

UNDP Tanzania in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through a project support titled “Catalyzing Agricultural Development in Tanzania - Agricultural Delivery Division (ADD) ” under the President’s Office, are providing assistance to ensure the Agricultural Delivery Division (ADD) is adequately equipped with the expertise and workforce to carry out its broad mandate. Through the project, ADD will be availed critical technical expertise and seed funding to jump start the establishment of the Tanzanian Agricultural Delivery Division (ADD) in the President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB).

UNDP Tanzania is assisting in the recruitment of suitable, high calibre and results oriented professionals to join the Agriculture Delivery Bureau, which is supposed to spearhead the agriculture transformation in Tanzania.

Objective

The objective is to support the establishment and capacity development of an agricultural institution that will strengthen coordination and enhance delivery systems within the agricultural sector in Tanzania. Specifically, the project will facilitate the establishment of the Agricultural Delivery Division (ADD) within the President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Performance analysis, tracking and evaluation of ADD and programmes undertaken by the GOT and other counterparts Organization and management;
• Establishment of a consistent agricultural data and fact base to support sectorial, national and LGA implementers Plan, design and management of specialized activities which reflect a delivery of results perspective;
• Enhance working relationships, strengthen the agricultural fact base and assist in the creation of data-driven feedback loops for key agricultural sector stakeholders including research and training institutions;
• Analytical national knowledge products;
• Advocacy, networking and coordination among and between ADD Team members and other stakeholders.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• To provide day-to-day management of the Performance Analytics & Evaluation Directorate, including supervising and managing performance of personnel.

Lead performance tracking of key stakeholders related to agricultural development

• With the input of the other Directorates, prepare dashboard updates on progress of key performance indicators (beginning with those prioritized during the first set of Delivery Labs), to be presented at Transformation & Delivery Council meetings.

Coordinate problem solving and analysis regarding coordination and accountability mechanisms in Tanzania

• Coordinate undertaking of studies on existing coordination and accountability mechanisms with the goal of identifying bottlenecks and recommending evidence-based solutions. Examples include an analysis of the agricultural value chain through which recommendations could be made on how to improve collection, dissemination and utilization of data in agricultural decision-making;
• Organize Delivery Labs relevant to performance analytics and evaluation elements of the Agriculture National Key Result Area;
• Support stakeholders in the relevant government ministries to develop actionable sub-sector strategies and implementation plans;
• Support and participate in monitoring and evaluation of the Agriculture NKRAs; Facilitate publication of Agriculture Lab outputs;
• In collaboration with the Partnership officer in the MDU support coordination and organization of the stakeholders involvement in the agricultural sector.

Facilitate implementation of prioritized interventions

• Mobilize key public, private and NGO stakeholders to support the sub-sector strategies and implementation plans, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperative’s plan to establish a dynamic national agricultural database;
• Provide analytical support and recommendations to overcome key challenges and ensure timely delivery;
• In rare situations, to lead efforts to incubate key catalytic initiatives.

Oversee the Agricultural Delivery Division’s capacity building efforts by:

• Assisting the Deputy CEO to create operating guidelines on how the Division’s staff should interact with public sector counterparts;
• Work with public sector counterparts to prioritize key capacity gaps and develop solutions (e.g., trainings, staff secondments, changes in institutional procedures);
• Work closely with the Capacity Building Officer to facilitate and supporImpact of Results
  

Perform any other duties assigned by the Deputy CEO, Agricultural Delivery Division.

Impact of Results

The key results of the post will contribute to the PDB/ADD’s efforts to transform agriculture in Tanzania by enhancing performance culture in agriculture sector lead ministries by establishing and strengthening is performance measuring and evaluation system that will effectively monitor and report progress on regular basis for all Agriculture NKRAs.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the PDB/ADD;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly and without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Specialist knowledge and high level advisory experience in the area of performance analytics and evaluation of agricultural programmes;
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development and agricultural issues;
• Strong understanding of transformation dynamics in agriculture in developing countries.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
• Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on electoral issues;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes;
• Ability to apply theory to the specific country context.

Management and Leadership

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong writing, facilitation, and presentation skills;
• Builds strong relationships and networks with clients and external actors;
• Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including government, donors and civil society;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree from a recognized institution in Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration or another related discipline;
• Postgraduate training in performance management and analytics; or monitoring and evaluation will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional and practical experience including five (5) years in a managerial and leadership position;
• This experience should include a history of performance analysis, monitoring and evaluation, coordination, communication, performance tracking, and capacity building with complex multi-stakeholder arrangements in the agricultural sector;
• Candidate should have a track record of acting as a change agent;
• Excellent analytical, networking, communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media applications;
• Prior knowledge of Tanzania and/or East Africa is an asset;
• Good knowledge and active networks in the Tanzanian agricultural sector will be an asset;
• Works effectively under pressure, manages stress well and adapts to evolving situations.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent written and spoken English essential;
• Knowledge of Kiswahili is an asset.

Other:

• Willingness to travel frequently in Tanzania.