The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA) is a not - for - profit organization formed in 2006 to work with African
governments, farmers, donors, NGOs and the private sector to reduce hunger and
poverty in Africa through agricultural development targeted at resource poor
farmers.
AGRA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and an office in Accra, Ghana.
AGRA is seeking to recruit a highly competent and experienced individual to fill the following position.
Data Management Assistant
This position will be based in Nairobi and will report to a Program Coordinator, Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS).
Job Description
Scope: The Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS) is a five-year, $150 million initiative aimed at increasing smallholder farmers’ crop yields through the development and supply of seed of improved crop varieties.
PASS is implemented via four sub-programs which fund:
1) post-graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) training in plant breeding and/or seed technology;
2) breeding programs capable of generating higher-yielding, well-adapted crop varieties;
3) the creation and strengthening of private, independent seed enterprises; and,
4) the training and networking of village-level agro-dealers who market certified seed and fertilizers to smallholder farmers. PASS began operations in March, 2007.
PASS has been gathering detailed data from over 220 grants on seed production, breeding activities, demonstrations, field days, seed and fertilizer sold, and students enrolled and graduated etc.
A database has also been developed for this purpose, and is just becoming operational.
PASS, coming toward the end of its first phase of five years, is at a critical stage where accurate data is required to show progress and justify further funding. Data will also be used to establish gaps and potential linkages as PASS moves to its second phase. The need for collection of accurate, full and timely data cannot be overemphasized.
Responsibilities:
Data Management: The incumbent will be responsible for collection, organization, cleaning, entry and processing from grantees according to plans approved by the program director, program coordinator, and AGRA’s M&E unit.
This will include ensuring grantees have the requisite data sheets, preliminary grantee training on data recording, sending reminders on due dates, confirming data accuracy with grantees and program officers, recording data and dates of data received, generating monthly desktop, quarterly and annual reports.
The incumbent will likewise be responsible for uploading data into the PASS database and maintaining the overall functioning and updating of the database in consultation with AGRA IT unit.
Analysis and Data Presentation: The incumbent will be responsible for generating individual reports, tables, and figures from the collected data as required by PASS and AGRA staff or other partners such as donors.
In addition to collection and management of data for the database, the incumbent will be responsible for facts and figures which are currently maintained separately by PASS program staff which are not compatible with the database at the moment.
These include but are not limited to: post-graduate student information, training course participants, crop release traits and release data, contacts of seed affiliates, master tables and sub-tables for seed production, and tracking disbursement of loans by seed company funds.
This will be centrally maintained by the incumbent and constantly updated, and late incorporated in the larger MIS database being developed. Once developed, overall responsibility for updating this new database will form part of the responsibilities.
The incumbent will work closely with AGRA IT department, and other providers to ensure that the database is always functional, and raise any arising issues immediately.
Follow up on reports: One-third of PASS grantees are required to submit reports quarterly, while the rest report half-yearly. All grantee payments are dependent on receipt and approval of the reports. The incumbent will work with the respective program assistants and the PASS program coordinator to ensure timely grantee reporting, approvals and disbursements.
Travel grants: PASS makes approximately 20 travel grants that need to be generated, approved, paid out and accounted for. This will be handled by the incumbent.
GIFTS entries: The incumbent will be expected to update grant and grantee records as need arises.
Meeting assistance: The incumbent will be required to assist in arranging program meetings as required.
Backstop support to Program Officers and any other related duties.
Qualifications: First degree from a recognized university in computer systems, or related field.
Experience: 2 years’ working with databases including direct data entry, sorting, cleaning and generation of reports.
Special Attributes: Thorough, accurate, attention to detail, ability to work under minimal supervision, ability to work under tight deadlines.
Reporting: This position reports to the Program Coordinator PASS, and has secondary reporting to the M&E Program Officer assigned to the PASS program.
Applicants should submit their applications with a detailed CV, stating their current position, remuneration, e-mail and telephone contacts, quoting reference number DMA/09-11 on both the application letter and envelope.
To be considered your application must be received by 7 October, 2011 addressed to:
The Director
Executive Selection Division
Deloitte Consulting Limited
Deloitte Place, Waiyaki Way Muthangari, Westlands
P O Box 40092 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
or by email: agra@deloitte.co.ke
Tel: +254 20 423 0000
Fax: +254 20 444 8966
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