Deputy Programme Manager, Agricultural Development



Closing Date: February 28, 2022

Type of Vacancy: /

Details of the Post

Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community to fill the abovementioned position in the Caribbean Community Secretariat with assigned duty station in Guyana.

2.         FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Deputy Programme Manager, Agricultural Development is responsible for conceptualization and preparation of strategies and programmes to promote Regional agricultural development guided by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and, in particular, Articles 56-61 and 64.

3.         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A MSC. in agriculture Sciences/Agricultural Economics, plus at least five (5) years of relevant and equivalent level experience in the field of Agriculture working in one or more of the following:

  • A national or regional organisation
  • A regional institution
  • A multinational corporation

In addition, the candidate should possess specialized training and good working knowledge in:

  • Agricultural Trade policies
    • Agricultural policy administration and enforcement
    • IT applications for agricultural economic analyses
    • Project Management, Writing, Formulating and Budgeting

4.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Result 1: Development and implementation of community approved integrated and contemporary agri-food systems policy assistance mechanism that works to support the Community.

Activities

1.1       ASSISTS in sensitizing stakeholders and policy-makers to decisions of the Principal and other Organs of CARICOM and recommendations on policy and emerging issues related to production and trade of agricultural products;

1.2       BUILDS and MAINTAINS relationships with partner agencies and key stakeholders, facilitating their engagement in, and contribution to the identification and development of policy solutions and to inform policy decision making;

1.3       DEVELOPS and MAINTAINS a regional agricultural data management system to guide the development of the Region’s agricultural sector;

1.4   COLLABORATES and COORDINATES the development and implementation of Regional    programmes, projects and initiatives for improvement in the competitiveness of regional agriculture to achieve growth in output, productivity and trade;

1.5       ASSISTS with exploring and determining the availability of adequate technical and financial resources to support agricultural development programmes, projects and initiatives;

1.6       OVERSEES the preparation of technical papers for the Principal and other Organs of CARICOM and for various agriculture meetings and ASSISTS in the implementation of measures, programmes and projects in support of the Secretariat’s Work Programme for agricultural development, including such areas as:

  • Planning in thematic and commodity specific areas for the sustainable and economic growth of the agriculture sectors of Member States.
  • Promoting the identification of appropriate technological innovations and their adoption by agricultural stakeholders.
  • Planning, supporting and coordinating initiatives for  programmes in market information and market intelligence to secure growth and development of the Region’s agriculture sector.
  • Providing support and advice and  facilitating mechanisms to address technical issues related to agricultural trade disputes.
  • Support and facilitate the Region’s agriculture health and food safety policies and plans.

1.7       ASSISTS with effective Resource Mobilization and Project Implementation towards the development of the regions food system.

Key Results 2:  Leadership and technical expertise in policy formulation, planning, development and implementation for the Community.

Activities

2.1       CONTRIBUTES to the work of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in its efforts to collaborate with competent agencies to assist Member States in designing appropriate policy in support of agro-industries;

2.2       CONTRIBUTES to the development and promotion of community awareness of the external and internal economic and sectoral developments in regional agricultural development;

2.3       ASSISTS with promoting the consultative process with stakeholders including farmers, Non-Governmental Organizations, development partners to ensure collective and effective participation in the development of regional policies;

2.4       FORMULATES the various Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms for Regional Agricultural Programme and Projects;

2.5       ASSISTS with the development of policy proposals for the Region’s Agricultural Sector;

2.6       PREPARES submissions and sectorial Briefs, publications and Reports; and

2.7       ASSISTS with the quarterly monitoring and review of the programme of activities. 

Key Results 3: Effective Management of the units work programme

Activities

3.1       DIRECTS and SUPERVISES team members in planning, organizing, executing, and monitoring of internal targets and operations of the unit including setting performance targets, evaluating staff, training, and taking corrective action to address performance issues of staff;

3.2       REVIEWS and/or EXECUTES programme related workplans as designed or amended and PREPARES towards the implementation of the Community Agricultural Policy;

3.3       ADVISES of the achievability of planned programme activities and outputs against the background of availability and adequacy of human and financial resources;

3.4       EXAMINES and REPORTS on economic, efficiency and effectiveness in the use and management the Units resources; and

3.5       ESTABLISHES and MAINTAINS effective working relationships with management and staff of the Secretariat and Regional Institutions.

Key Result 4: Ensures other key activities are adequately performed.

Activities

4.1       ACTS as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Agriculture Development Unit during the absence of the Programme Manager;

4.2       REPRESENTS the Agriculture Unit in special assignments as directed by the Programme Manager; and

4.3       PREPARES and ASSISTS in the presentation of the details included in the quarterly reports to various organs of the Community.

In addition to the Activities outlined above, the incumbent is expected to perform other related duties as assigned.

5.         EMOLUMENTS AND BENEFITS

An attractive remuneration package will be offered.

6.         EDUCATION GRANT

The Officer shall be eligible for the payment of an education grant in respect of children (including step-children and legally-adopted children) who require reasonable education facilities that are not available at the assigned duty station or whose education the Officer would not want to disrupt in relocating to take up this appointment.

The grant shall apply to children under the age of twenty-three years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the cost of tuition (including textbooks), room and board up to a maximum total of EC$16,200.00 per year per child for a maximum of two children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five years.

7.         SETTLEMENT GRANT

On assumption of duty in Guyana, the Officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of the staff member, his or her spouse and each eligible child or other approved dependent.  The number of dependents eligible for Settlement Grant shall not exceed six (6) persons.

8.         RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT

Appointment may be on permanent establishment or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such regulations, rules, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time in respect of service with the Secretariat.

An Officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the Officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen years, unmarried and dependent on the Officer) and for such other dependents not exceeding two as may be approved by the    Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependents does not exceed six (6) in all.

In addition to passages, the Officer will be granted the following transportation allowances:

(i)         ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Guyana, not exceeding 45.3 cubic meters, plus a motor car (if the Officer already owns one);

(ii)        the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the Officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Guyana; and

(iii) the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects.

9.         LEAVE

The Officer will be eligible for the grant of vacation leave at the rate of twenty (20) working days a year and a leave grant after every twelve months of service in respect of the Officer, spouse and up to two dependent children.

10.       PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The Officer will be granted the privileges and immunities extended to officials of the Caribbean Community in accordance with Article 8 of the Community’s Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Guyana.

11.       GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Subject to your acceptance by the Secretariat’s insurance carrier, Sagicor Life Inc., the Officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health, life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health insurance, the Officer will contribute fifty per cent of the premium.  The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory.

12.       SUPERANNUATION

An Officer appointed to this post will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s Defined Contribution Pension Plan and contribute 7 per cent of basic salary per month, while the Secretariat will contribute 13 percent of the Officer’s basic salary to the pension plan. Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the Officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent of the pensionable salary normally payable to the Officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the Officer in the substantive employment.

13.       APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates must create a job profile and apply for the position via the  CARICOM Secretariat’s Employment Portal.

14.       The deadline for the submission of applications is 28 February 2022.

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