Vacancy at Yayasan Jembatan Masa Depan

Yayasan Jembatan Masa Depan (www.jmd.or.id) is an Indonesian-registered non-governmental organization. The specific mission of JMD is to develop and implement sustainable development initiatives in former tsunami and conflict-affected zones. Over the past five years, JMD has been responding to the livelihoods and education needs of the most vulnerable populations in the Province of Aceh, Indonesia. Requests from the Indonesian government and other international aid agencies have prompted JMD to expand its working areas to the more remote communities throughout Aceh, where some of its poorest and marginalized inhabitants are living.

It is clear that as the external reconstruction assistance programs have phased out, many areas of the province have not been afforded the appropriate training in civil society strengthening, needs assessment, government/donor networking or community organizing that is necessary for their own citizens to become development leaders in their own right--autonomous shapers of their district’s economic and social destinies as part of a unified Aceh and a global market. Thus, JMD’s goal is to not only implement small-scale projects in individual locations that are most in need, but to work to establish a continuum of economic and social services in one concentrated sub/district and to significantly add to the economic stability of the province.

Position, Reporting, and Duty Station

Purpose: JMD is seeking to employ a Direct Support to Farmers (DSF) Coordinator to manage the DSF Component under the IOM Sustainable Economic Growth for Aceh: Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah Districts Project (IOM-SEGA)

The position of DSF Coordinator is full-time. Details on reporting, location, and travel as follow:

Reporting – The DSF Coordinator will report directly to JMD’s Associate Director, in coordination with the IOM-SEGA Project Manager.

Location and Travel – The DSF Coordinator will be based at the IOM-SEGA Project office in Takengon, Aceh Tengah. S/he will be required to undertake frequent monitoring and field visits across Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah districts, including to remote and rural areas. Persons unable to fulfill this travel requirement will not be considered for the position.

Description of the IOM-SEGA Project

JMD is partnering with, and funded by, IOM on the SEGA Project. The three aims of the project are:

1. Increase the productivity and quality of coffee in by capacity building of farmers and cooperatives and by strengthening the relations with domestic and international traders in this sector.
2. Increase the quality and productivity of the coffee processing and selection by developing entrepreneurship, and by enhancing business activities by capacity building and matching grants.
3. Improve the export market by strengthening relations with exporters and traders

JMD is responsible for carrying out the Direct Support to Farmers (DSF) component, which, under the IOM-JMD agreement, will provide technical support and expertise to 1000 coffee farmers, with the following specific objectives:

• Improve the quality of Arabica coffee beans sold by Acehnese farmers, and ensure a more consistent quality of beans grown in the region.
• Optimize the coffee yield from each of the 1000 beneficiary farmers.
• Train 50 coffee farmers (women and men) as local coffee extension workers (Agricultural Extension Workers, AEWs); so that knowledge and skills related to coffee production remain in the village.
• Create mutually beneficial and long-term working relationships between farmers, AEWs, cooperatives, coffee buyers, local leaders and other relevant institutions.
• Offer female community members – married, single, or widowed – equal access to coffee-related income generating activities and to provide them with an equal stake in decision making on project activities
• Increase knowledge of the beneficiaries on small business management. Special emphasis to be placed on financial literacy and small business management for women.

Tasks to be preformed under this contract:

The overall responsibility of the Coordinator will be the management of the DSF component inclusive procurement inputs for direct support to farmers and the timely preparation of narrative donor reporting.

The Coordinator will be particular responsible for:

· Managing and motivating a team of 7 AECs and 50 AEWs in the districts of Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah.

· Responsible for the management and coordination of all of the current and proposed project activities, namely:

1. Planning and implementation of field schools and SEGA cross-component activities.

2. Socialization of field school activities, as well as of IOM-SEGA’s related components such as the Warehouse Receipt System, the Coffee Auction, amongst others.

3. Monitoring of field school and activities related to DSF across SEGA components.

· Developing and refining customized, appropriate and sustainable projects for each farmer beneficiary group/field school.

· Actively coordinating and maintaining good communication with the other components of the IOM-SEGA project. An aim is to introduce farmers to market opportunities and credit possibilities provided by other parts of the Project, government institutions and banks.

· Actively planning, coordination, and managing activities related to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, following the project’s environmental specialist’s lead.

· Working with IOM technical and administrative staff to insure quality and timeliness.

· Reporting – preparation and submission of Monthly Narrative Reports to IOM-SEGA Project Manager, as well as other reporting, as required.

Tangible and measurable output of the work assignment

· All identified beneficiaries tracked and evaluated; additional beneficiaries identified

· Surveys conducted on all previously designated coffee farms

· Farm plans designed with AECs and beneficiaries on all previously identified farms

· Implementation of above farm plans

· Provision of appropriate trainings and technical assistance

· Approved agricultural inputs delivered to beneficiaries

· Approved coffee processing equipment delivered to farmer groups as appropriate

· Regular progress reports delivered per MoU with IOM, outlining current and proposed activities, and including qualitative and quantitative data

Performance indicators

• Continued assistance to the 50 selected Agiculture Extension Workers.
• 1,000 coffee farmers trained in techniques on how to increase productivity and coffee quality.
• Soil management plans developed based on the nutritional status results from the 230 soil and foilage samples taken from beneficiary coffee farms.
• Final distribution of at least 1000 packages of agricultural inputs for increasing productivity and quality
• Final distribution of 50 packages of equipment for improving processing quality distributed to coffee farmer groups.
• Continued support for 50 previously established community nurseries.
• Project progress reports prepared as requested.
• Regular team meetings held and documented
• Coordination meetings with stakeholders held and documented

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• University degree agriculture, economics or engineering,
• At least 5 years relevant experience in rural/agriculture development projects of which preferably 2 years is in a managerial capacity,
• Proven Team Leader/project director experience in at least one long term assignment (> 1 years) involving an international cooperation program
• Strong command of principles and working methods of project cycle management.
• Preferably, a working experience and knowledge of the coffee sector.
• Preferably, a working experience and knowledge of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as familiarity with gender equality concepts.
• Proven experience in institutional strengthening and staff training.
• Preferably, experience in Aceh province.
• Perfect written and oral command of Indonesian, good oral and written English and Acehnese communications skills
• Computer literate.

Start date: ASAP Monthly Salary Rp. 7,500,000 – 10,000,000 based on qualifications and experience, by bank transfer.

How to apply:

How to apply: Please send a resume and a cover letter to mercedes@jmd.or.id by 15 February 2012, 5pm (Jakarta time). Subject line: 'DSF Coordinator’.

« JMD reserves the right to close any vacancy before the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding. »

Note: Informasi Lowongan ini dikirim oleh staf JMD ke redaksi LOWONGAN KERJA ACEH.