Project Title: Connected Energies. Community Welfare and Production Chains (AICS OSC Call 2020) – Promoted AICS/AID: 012590/05/7
Project duration: 01.01.2023-30.06.2026
Partnership: Lead NGO CIPA in collaboration with the OSC Fondazione Giovanni Paolo II, Municipality of Koudougou, OSC DEAFAL, University for Foreigners of Perugia and Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Burkina Faso
Place of work: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Duration of collaboration : 12 months, renewable for additional months on any new programming/projects in the country. The work will be carried out for 12 months of which at least 10 months in Burkina Faso and 2 missions in Italy for the coordination of the strategy and activities with CIPA.
Application Deadline: April 25, 2025
Estimated contract start : May 15, 2025
Salary level: middle/senior according to the CIPA salary grids. Contract type: Project collaboration contract
Project description: The project has the general objective of promoting human development by reconciling social inclusion, economic prosperity, innovation and environmental responsibility by working with rural communities in the province of Bolukiemdé and strengthening their resilience to environmental shocks and economic fragilities that cause food insecurity, unemployment, poverty. In a rural context characterized by serious socio-economic fragility, made evident by the exclusive dependence on seasonal and subsistence agriculture, the lack of sustainable agricultural supply chains capable of generating income, the inability of the country system to have a strategic vision for development and scarcity of access to resources (electricity and water), the project promotes human development by reconciling social inclusion, economic prosperity, innovation and environmental responsibility. It operates in 13 rural villages in the Province of Bolukiemdé for the direct benefit of the local population and interfaces with the 13 Cooperatives, consortium in a Network for the collection, storage and marketing of agricultural products. The Network acts as a partner-beneficiary of the project and uses the Processing Center built in Koudougou and equipped with a solar system, fodder, cold chamber, materials for storage and packaging and vehicles for collection and marketing. The initiative works to ensure that rural communities activate community welfare systems (in the intervention villages) that use solar energy for food security, education (13 schools) and health (6 Health Centers) and supports small producers in the agri-food chain in creating job opportunities and accessing the most profitable organized market.
In the strictly agricultural field, it promotes the adoption of sustainable production practices at community level (Regenerative Organic Agriculture), the associated management of the agri-food chain and quality control. The project accompanies the individual Cooperatives and the Network in the processes of local associationism to achieve the effective appropriation of resources and processes by the beneficiaries and the adoption of a community approach (constituent elements of the strategy that, starting from the available technological innovations, make them privileged tools of intervention for the common good). Through the declination of the Water-Energy-Food nexus, the promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture, of associative forms of Agro-Business, Inclusive Governance (participation in strategic decision-making choices of the most vulnerable targets, young people, small producers, women and girls) and actions of Female Empowerment, the results achieved generate a significant impact in the rural context, deseasonalizing crops through constant access to resources (water and energy), diversifying horticultural production and investing the surplus in a market-oriented vision that guarantees its economic sustainability.
Main tasks and responsibilities
● Coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the project in full synergy with the technical staff currently involved
● Coordination between CIPA Headquarters in Italy and the project partners on site
● Organize and conduct local team coordination meetings ensuring the best management of relationships with the working group
● Organize and follow the short missions of the Italian experts foreseen by the project
● Manage the project budget according to the donor’s rules, the expected financial and administrative procedures and the planning agreed with the Headquarters
● Collaborate with the Cabinet responsible for identifying project indicators
● Coordinate, supervise and lead local staff
● Prepare financial planning under the supervision of the CIPA Headquarters in Italy
● Contribute to the identification of potential donors and the development of project proposals
● Supervise the preparation of dissemination documents and technical manuals required by the project
● Organize technical meetings in Ouagadougou with local teams and beneficiaries, training activities, Steering Committee and events planned by the project;
● Preparation of quarterly progress reports and preparation of the final narrative report, in collaboration with the Headquarters in Italy
● Maintain constant relations with institutional interlocutors, CSOs, local counterparts and actors involved in the implementation of project activities, representing CIPA in the required institutional settings (AICS meetings, COIB – Coordination of Italian CSOs in Burkina Faso, other)
● Participate in the selection of local staff and support the team in a process of strengthening the skills of the national staff;
● Collaborate with the Country Representative and the head office for regulatory compliance required in the country and meetings with local authorities.
Skills
● Project management skills
● Ability to coordinate human resources, even in multicultural teams,
● Management and administrative/procedural skills
● Ability to draft and manage the budget and purchasing procedures according to the rules set out in the AICS Procedures (PRAG);
● Good interpersonal and communication skills, even in institutional and international contexts.
● Excellent knowledge of French, written and spoken.
Requirements required
● Degree in economic or social disciplines, international cooperation or similar;
● Previous experience of at least 3 years in the management of cooperation projects abroad, with particular reference to projects financed by AICS
● Previous work experience in the project topics/sectors
Preferred requirements
● Previous experience in the local context
● Study path in agricultural sciences, sustainable development and/or international cooperation
● Training in PCM and administrative/accounting management
● Knowledge and use of advanced monitoring and evaluation tools for projects and programmes
How to apply
Applications must be sent by 25 April 2025 to the email addresses progetti@centropace.org and coordinamento@centopace.org indicating as the subject “CANDIDATE PROGETTO ENERGIE IN CONNESSION” attaching the following documents:
● Updated CV in European format containing the authorization to process personal data pursuant to Legislative Decree 196/2003
● Availability date indication
● Cover letter/motivation;
● Indication of at least 2 references with telephone number and e-mail address.
CIPA reserves the right to close the selection process early if a suitable candidate is identified. Only candidates selected based on their CVs will be contacted for an interview.