Back Project manager for the “Biotrade” project in Ecuador (M/F) - 4 years - Contract Type : Indépendant /Individual Entrepreneur

Expertise France is recruiting a Project Manager based in Quito, for the implementation of its “Bioeconomy/Biotrade project in Ecuador”.

A public agency, Expertise France is the interministerial actor in international technical cooperation, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Development Group (AFD group). The second largest agency in Europe, it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. It intervenes in key areas of development such as governance, health, education, environment and contributes alongside its partners to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The development of "Bioeconomy" is an important component of the productive diversification strategies aligned with the sustainable development goals of 2030 Agenda. In this context, the Republic of Ecuador is developing a national Bioeconomy strategy for the next 10 years.

The Bioeconomy project in Ecuador intervenes in this context and aims to meet two major challenges: (i) strengthening the sectors (mainly for the post-production and marketing) and (ii) strengthening access to financing for its producers via support to a solidarity financial bank (CONAFIPS).

The 4 main components of the project are as follows: ·

Component 1: Improve producers' access to financing mechanisms and tools via technical assistance to the CONAFIPS (National Society of Popular and Solidarity Finances); ·

Component 2: Strengthen Ecuadorian value chains in their post-production process in order to improve their bioeconomy products offering; ·

Component 3: Improve access to national and international markets; ·

Component 4: Establishment of a multi-actor governance and monitoring system for the Bioeconomy sector and Capitalization about Biotrade (including the upport to a local bioeconomy center called “Bioemprende”);

Overall Activities :

Based. e in Quito, and under the responsibility of the head of the agriculture division of Expertise France at headquarters (in Paris), and in close collaboration with the Ecuadorian partners, the Project Manager will be responsible for the general coordination as well as the operational and financial management of the activities entrusted to Expertise France. This includes the following tasks:

1- General coordination
• Ensure the overall coordination of the project with: AFD in Quito, the Ecuadorian partners and the complementary programmes of the other donors present in Ecuador;
• Organize and participate in steering committees, other project coordination bodies and other project representation meetings, and monitor the implementation of recommendations;
• Ensure the quality, internal and external coherence of the project, particularly with the other programmes underway in Ecuador and the region.

2- Strategic and operational project management:
In close collaboration with the partners involved in the program, the Project Manager will ensure the planning and technical steering of the activities entrusted to Expertise France in compliance with the TdR of Technical Assistance and the orientations of COPIL.
• Define operational directions and strategies, carry out technical and budgetary planning of the project in conjunction with national partners and monitor the implementation and update of all relevant project documents;
• Facilitate the building of a common vision within the program and support the ownership of activities by project partners;
• Support local partners in the implementation of activities;
• Identify needs in terms of short-term expertise, prepare terms of reference for services and ensure the mobilization of experts;
• Supervise the experts and operators recruited and coordinate the successful completion of assignments;
• Co-lead, guide and monitor the work of local partners in the implementation of activities;
• Prepare COPIL in coordination with local authorities and lessor.
• Lead a 4-person project team: engagement/evaluation, workload management, business planning, team meetings, etc.
• Coordinate the evaluation and capitalisation of the project within the framework of the Monitoring and Evaluation system;
• Ensure the proper flow of information between team members, Equatorial stakeholders, AFD and UE;

3- Administrative and financial management:
In coordination with the Administrative/Financial/Logistics team, the Project Manager controls the administrative and financial management of the project and ensures compliance with the contracting procedures:
• Coordinates administrative and financial monitoring for short-term expertise mobilization, technical assistance contracts, grants, framework contracts, logistics, travel, audits, accounting, etc.
• Coordinates and participates in the management of various contracts in compliance with procurement procedures (services, goods, works, expertise, etc.): procurement plan, contribution to the development of contract documents, contractual negotiations, quality control of contracts and monitoring of contractual commitments, financial monitoring, etc.;
• Ensure project reporting to AFD: quality of deliverables, intermediate and final technical and financial reports of the project;
• Internal reporting for Expertise France: monitoring of activities with resident expertise, financial monitoring, forecasts and budget closing.

This job description is not exhaustive, generally the Project Manager is the guarantor of the achievement of the contractual objectives of the project and will have to perform any activity necessary for the proper execution of the program.

4- Project team management
• Recruits and coaches the project team;
• Organizes team meetings;
• Ensures team training, cohesion and integration with partners;
• Oversees the project team, sets and evaluates their objectives;
• Coordinate the work within the team, manage the team’s workload plan and support it in the execution of the various functions;
• Ensure conditions appropriate to the context and work environment.

Specific professional experience
The profile sought is that of an expert in project management, specialized in support and development of so-called sustainable, organic and certified agricultural sectors.

• At least 5 years of experience in project management or supervision: international cooperation, agricultural and economic development, international technical assistance;
• Specific knowledge in particular on the downstream of sectors: certifications, labelling, transformations, traceability, marketing of bio-economy products;
• Knowledge of Ecuadorian agricultural value chains is a plus;
• Knowledge of biodiversity and “sustainable” financing for bio-entrepreneurs would be a plus;
• Experience with AFD and EU funded projects is required.
• Very good knowledge of reporting mechanisms (technical, administrative and financial) with donors such as AFD, EU;
• Ability to report project administrative and financial information to Expertise France headquarters in Paris.
• Significant experience in managing and supervising teams: knowledge of recruitment processes, good ability to manage a team of 6 to 7 people;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting multi-stakeholder processes and consultations;
• Expertise France experience would be an asset;
• Professional experience in the Republic of Ecuador and/or Latin America;

Qualifications and skills

• Excellent qualities/abilities:
communication;
team work and relationship;
synthesis and writing in Spanish and English;

• Excellent command of Spanish (written / oral);
• Excellent command of English (written / oral);

• Team player and ability to unite stakeholders and team members around common goals.
• Organization, autonomy and ability to adapt.
• Resilience and ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.