Musika is an independent Zambian non-profit company supported by the Embassy of Sweden, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Irish Aid and WorldFish to stimulate and support private sector investment in the smallholder and rural markets.
Musika’s operations are national in scope and stretch across the agricultural industry, working primarily with those corporate entities in the sector that are committed to engaging the rural poor as their clients, suppliers and consumers. Musika provides its clients with high quality, commercially focused technical advice and business support to catalyse and strengthen mutually beneficial commercial relationships between the corporate and smallholder markets. Musika’s approach to reducing poverty and creating wealth in rural Zambia involves stimulating the development of a supportive market environment that provides long term and sustainable opportunities for farmers to invest in their own businesses and to graduate out of poverty.
Background
Musika was appointed as the host for the Secretariat of the Agri-PPP Platform by the Government, working in collaboration with The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), and Key Stakeholders during a meeting held on 19th November 2019 at Sarovar Neelkanth Hotel in Lusaka Zambia.
The Agri-PPP Platform is a local network that is multi sectoral in nature comprising both Public and Private organisations/individuals with interest in advancing public private partnerships across selected commodity value chains, or areas, in Zambia’s agriculture sector. Public Private Partnership (PPP) refers to collaboration between the public sector (Government) and the Private sector (both local and foreign) with a view to achieving a public good. This is a mechanism for improving the delivery of public goods and services by partnering with the private sector while retaining an active role for Government to ensure that national socio-economic objectives are achieved. In order to enhance the performance of Agri-PPPs in Zambia, an Agri-PPP Platform was established to generally enhance agriculture-led development, improve food and nutrition security, increase employment and wealth creation and reduce poverty through a strengthened Agri-PPP policy environment that promotes responsible, predictable and inclusive public and private sector investment.
The establishment of the Agri-PPP platform has necessitated the appointment of the Agri-PPP National Coordinator. The Agri-PPP National Coordinator is responsible for the management of the Platform for Public-Private Partnerships in Zambia’s agriculture sector. He/She will work in close collaboration with the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock and departments/teams within Musika that include the Technical operations, Knowledge Management, Finance and Administration teams to ensure that operations of the Agri-PPP Platform are well coordinated and activities implemented to maximum potential in line with the Agri-PPP guidelines.
The specific responsibilities of the Agri-PPP National Coordinator are as follows:
Key responsibilities:
1. PPP SECRETARIATE REPRESENTATION: To represent the Secretariat in all aspects of its work in Agri-PPP linkages, promote and maintain the corporate image of the PPP platform in relation to its professionalism, effectiveness, integrity and independence.
✓ To develop and maintain professional and institutional relationships with all key stakeholders (public, private and non-governmental) in the agricultural sector space and in doing so, create a platform for sharing information for the betterment of agricultural sector development in general
2. SECRETARIATE MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION: To take responsibility for coordinating the translation of the Agri-PPP guidelines into a workable operational programme and for developing and executing programme work plans for the Agri-PPP platform
✓ To manage the Agri-PPP relationships with the various stakeholders such as commercial agribusinesses, financial institutions and Government institutions and ensure maximum collaboration and synergy of the Agri-PPP platform
3. Secretariat Organization: To work in close collaboration with the national consultant responsible for drafting the National Agri-PPP Guidelines under the National PPP Act. Assist in identifying relevant stakeholders who can enhance the technical content of the National Guidelines. Ensure adequate presentation and communication of the National Agri-PPP Guidelines to stakeholders
✓ Work in close collaboration with the Government PPP Department through the line ministries to promote and implement government policy in line with the National agricultural development plan
4. Strategy and Technical operations: In collaboration with Agri-PPP stakeholders, through the Working Groups (WGs), provide direction on the value chains and topics to focus on and execute; Specific and priority value client on-boarding, strategic frameworks development, Development of TORs for Feasibility studies, PPPs design and implementation, Legislative frameworks, Policy on Agri-PPPs, Project finance and risk management, Role of financial institutions, Commodity exchange and warehouse receipt system
✓ In collaboration and through the Steering Committee (SC), provide the strategic direction on operations of the Agri-PPP Platform.
✓ Facilitate /organize quarterly meetings (4) of the SC for strategic planning and general operations of the Platform
5. Knowledge sharing: to share documents, information and knowledge on the relevant topics relating to Agri-PPPs with a view to enabling effective Agri-PPPs in Zambia
✓ Maintain knowledge of emerging best practice on enhancing private sector development and PPPs, keep abreast of latest trends and development in addressing PPP related issues.
✓ Work in close collaboration with FAO to identify, coordinate and implement South-South and Triangular Cooperation Exchange to broaden and deepen the Platform’s capacity to learn from and adapt evidence-based interventions from other countries in Africa and/or globally.
✓ Participate in and contribute to relevant training programs and conferences both internal and external to Zambia.
✓ Collaborate with the Musika Knowledge Management Department on all aspects of Monitoring and Results Measurement and Research related to the Platform
6. ADMINISTRATIVE and REPORTING DUTIES: To manage and maintain the Agri-PPP Platform Secretariat in line with the National Agri-PPP Guidelines.
✓ To take responsibility for reporting for the Platform, ensuring accurate and timely reporting against the Platform’s results assessment framework and qualitative indicators.
✓ Clear, concise and timely production of reports and minutes of stakeholder and Working Groups’ meetings to share with members and stakeholders
✓ Identify and incorporate amendments/improvements to the overarching framework of the Platform operations
Required Qualifications and Skills
✓ Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics, Business or other relevant discipline
✓ Not less than 7 years’ work experience
✓ Highly self-motivated with good analytical and facilitation skills
✓ Demonstrated understanding of PPP operations
✓ Demonstrated understanding of the agriculture policy and general policy environment in Zambia
✓ Proven success in mobilising private funds and strong linkages to the business community
✓ Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
✓ Proficiency in Agri-PPP policy analysis and advocacy
✓ Real understanding of the principles and practical methodology of Public – Private Partnerships(PPPs)
✓ Demonstrated capacity to liaise and negotiate with key stakeholders in other organizations
✓ Demonstrated capacity to maintain effective donor, government, and private sector relations
✓ Strong, demonstrable legal framework analysis skills
✓ Experience working in agricultural programmes in Zambia and/or other developing countries in the region
Only qualifying candidates should send a cover letter and CV to jobs@musika.org.zm, including “Agri-PPP National Coordinator” in the subject line.
Terms of Employment: S/he will be employed on an annual contractual basis. At the end of the contract, employee performance will be evaluated to determine status of contract renewal.
The Head Human Resource,
Musika Development Initiatives Ltd,
Post Net No. 481, Private Bag E891,
Lusaka.
Closing date: 27th May, 2020. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.