Project Facilitator – JICA Sustainable Agricultural Development Project

I. General Information:

1. Job title: Project Facilitator (PF)
   
   
2. Duty station: Chisinau, Moldova
   
   
3. Starting date: As earliest possible
   
   
4. Contract duration:

• 1^st period: As earliest possible up to 16 May 2024 (confirmed)
• 2^nd period: from 3 June to 8 August 2024 (tentative)
• 3^rd Period: from 3 March to 8 May 2025 (tentative)
• 4^th period: from 2 June to 21 August 2025 (tentative)
• 5^th period: from 8 September to 13 November 2025 (tentative)

5. Contract type: Full time during the contract duration above
   
   
6. Works for: Sustainable Agricultural Development Advisor for the Agency for Development and Modernization of Agriculture (ADMA)
   
   
7. Coordinates with: Agency for Development and Modernization of Agriculture (ADMA)

II. Background:

The agriculture sector in Moldova is integral to the nation’s economy, constituting about 10% of the GDP, employing 65.6% of the labor force (as of 2020), and accounting for 45% of export value. Small-scale farmers, who represent over 90% of farmers and typically work on 1-2ha of land, find horticultural crops a valuable income source. However, challenges such as limited cultivation techniques, agricultural knowledge, funding access, labor shortages due to migration for work abroad, droughts, and rising costs for farming inputs and fuel have resulted in low yields and quality of agricultural products. While some fruit crops are exported, vegetable production faces issues with pricing, quality, and stable supply, leading to a dependency on imports. In response, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) decided to conduct the Advisory Services for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Republic of Moldova (the Project) in collaboration with the Agency for the Development and Modernization of Agriculture in Moldova (ADMA) aiming to promote the export of horticultural crops and reduce reliance on imports by (1) conducting a value chain (VC) survey, (2) identifying means to strengthen the VC, (3) implementing pilot projects, (4) facilitating the networking among the stakeholders, (5) deriving recommendations for strengthening VC based on the results of the Project. JICA has assigned the Project to Kaihatsu Management Consulting, Inc (KMC) to dispatch its employees as a Sustainable Agricultural Development Advisor (the JICA advisor).

III. Terms of Reference:

1. Assistance for the JICA advisor

• Making appointments for interviews with concerned stakeholders in the agriculture sector with assistance from ADMA
• Providing interpretation (English and Romanian) to the Employer at the interviews, meetings, workshops,
• Providing translation (English and Romanian) of documents,
• Arranging logistics for the interviews, field visits, meetings, seminars, workshops, and
• Drafting interview transcripts.

2. Facilitation of project implementation

• Monitoring the progress of pilot projects to be conducted under the Project
• Being a mentor for stakeholders of pilot project implementation and identifying issues where exist
• Consulting with the JICA advisor about the issues on the pilot project implementation.

IV. Qualification:

• A minimum of five (5) years’ work experience. Experiences and knowledge in the agricultural sector are preferable.
• Excellent communication skills with various types of people, including farmers in rural areas as well as CEOs of companies in the agricultural sector
• Excellent command of English in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing
• Computer skills including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proactive, Creative and innovative attitude
• Interest to work with various stakeholders in the agricultural sector including farmers, wholesalers, retailers, agricultural service providers, etc.

V. How to apply:

1. Interested applicants are invited to send the CV in English to: Tudor Morari, tudor.morari@adma.gov.md .
2. Deadline for applications: 5pm, 12 April 2024