Senior Project Officer

Job Summary:

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, and lead the implementation of assigned project activities in line with the detailed implementation plan, CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Identify, map, and engage formal SMEs, financial institutions, and other market actors across target districts/regions to build a pipeline for SCRF grant funding and Business Development Services (BDS) support.
• Leverage engagement with RESAf smallholder farmers and farmer groups/cooperatives to facilitate linkages with private sector partners (e.g. offtakers, input and service providers) and identify eligible actors for SCRF and BDS support.
• Facilitate co-creation processes with private sector partners (e.g. coffee and spice exporters) and provide technical support to promote production diversification and integration of agroforestry crops among smallholder farmers.
• Coordinate with market actors to develop agroforestry business models for typical smallholder farms, incorporating short-, medium-, and long-term cash flows, seasonal and multiyear income streams, and nutrition-sensitive agroforestry opportunities.
• Support and coordinate specialized training and capacity-building initiatives for farmer groups, focusing on financial management, business planning, partnership development, governance, and readiness for carbon finance engagement.
• Conduct capacity and gap assessments, including gender-sensitive self-assessments, for groups with Carbon Development Agreements (CDAs) to ensure inclusive governance structures that actively involve women and youth.
• Conduct routine field monitoring, support visits, and ad-hoc inspections to track progress, ensure adherence to standards, troubleshoot implementation challenges, and verify appropriate use of project resources.
• Promote continuous learning, accountability, and adaptive management by coordinating evaluations, supporting partner reflection, analyzing implementation challenges, and recommending adjustments to plans and schedules.
• Ensure effective layering and coordination of M4LLR and Restore Africa interventions across all target geographies, including facilitating quarterly review meetings with implementing partner field staff.
• Coordinate and oversee field-level implementation, reporting, and stakeholder engagement; serve as the liaison between local stakeholders, implementing partners, and the project team to mobilize actors and promote project impact.
• Work closely with implementing partner coordinators and technical staff to ensure timely allocation of logistical, administrative, and financial resources; review and consolidate field and technical reports.
• Ensure complete, accurate, and compliant project documentation for all assigned activities in line with agency and donor requirements, and support preparation of trend analyses, case studies, and documentation of promising practices.

Basic Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a bachelor's Degree in Agricultural economics, Agribusiness, or related studies with specialized study in Market Systems Development or relevant field.
• A minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, in the field of livelihoods, business development support, agriculture or agroforestry. Experience working with an NGO is a significant advantage.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience working with Private sector actors is a must.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Prior experience in business development services and/or in financial services is a plus
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Deep commitment to land restoration.