High-Level Agriculture Forum Project Manager Jobs – QED Group, LLC
Job Title: High-Level Agriculture Forum Project Manager
Organization: QED Group, LLC
Project Name: USAID/Uganda Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Program
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About QED:
The QED Group, LLC is a full-service international development firm that provides practical solutions to social problems through sound analysis, proven management techniques, and creative implementation. We focus our efforts on two core practice areas: Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management. We work with U.S. agencies and overseas governments, international donors, private-sector clients, and PVOs/NGOs in more than 80 countries around the world. Key clients include USAID, the U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
About USAID/Uganda MEL Program:
The USAID/Uganda Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Program, also referred to as The Learning Contract, is a five-year activity that supports the USAID Mission’s Program and Policy Development office. USAID/Uganda contracted QED to implement this program, which provides Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) support services and aims to increase USAID/Uganda’s capacity to implement a Mission-wide Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) approach.
Background:
The State of Ugandan Agriculture Forum will be held in Kampala o/a February 2018. It will be a multi-day event with the primary focus on how Uganda can be competitive in the international agricultural markets. It will have approximately 1000 participants, including key stakeholders from industry, relevant ministries, local government, policy makers and private sector, civil society, the Parliament, researchers, and development partners. Up to four regional follow-on events may also be carried out to disseminate data and best practices as well as key outcomes of the main event. The goal of the forum is to eliminate the top five agriculture bottlenecks to make a difference in the lives of as many Ugandans as possible. It is to encourage increased and better-targeted investment in the country’s agricultural sector, and to better understand the current status, potential and future prospects for agriculture in Uganda.
Job Summary: The High-Level Agriculture Forum Project Manager will manage the conceptualization and organization of the forum, oversee data review and new research commissioning, provide forum oversight; manage logistics associated with the forum, and manage initial follow up and articulation of results of forum.
Scope of Work:
QED requires the services of a project manager to oversee the conceptualization, planning, execution, and follow up of a high-level agriculture convening tentatively scheduled for February 2018, working title for the forum is “The State of Ugandan Agriculture.”The consultant will ensure all activities under the SOW are completed in a professional and timely manner. He/she will work closely with the USAID/Uganda Economic Growth Office who is ultimately responsible for the forum.
The consultant is required to assist the mission to define the goal and objectives of the event. The consultant will also help the mission to determine the target participants, including key stakeholders from national and international industry, relevant ministries, local government, policy makers and private sector, civil society, the Parliament, researchers, and development partners. The consultant will interview key stakeholders in USAID, the GOU, private sector and others and developing a plan based on this information.
The consultant will assist the mission in forming a steering committee made up of diverse stakeholders to build ownership and include multiple perspectives in designing the event. Such assistance may include determining suitable candidates, developing a terms of reference for the committee, and additional logistics associated with supporting the meetings and decisions of the steering committee.
In line with the stated forum objectives and based on information provided by the key stakeholders, readings, best practices, and other research, the consultant will propose themes to be presented and discussed in the forum. Broadly, illustrative themes include: regulations and policies, investments, partnerships, political economy / rent seeking, economic participation and benefits for women, land access, labor issues, finance, and information/knowledge. The consultant will propose narrowing and tailoring themes to align with the forum objectives.
The consultant, in concert with the Economic Growth Office, will prepare a list of research, reports, and analyses to inform the forum’s objectives and selected themes. The consultant will conduct a desk review of existing materials and determine where the gaps exist, where materials should be updated, and what new research needs to be commissioned. The consultant will also research other agricultural forums in Uganda, East Africa and other parts of Africa as required, to cull best practices, useful lines of inquiry, topics, speakers, formats and so on. The consultant will manage research agendas and researchers to produce high quality, timely research products to inform the forum. The consultant will manage the drafting, editing, finalizing, and distribution of the 20-page forum summary document. The consultant will further propose and manage the preparation and distribution of the materials to be provided before, during, and after the forum.
The consultant will define a structure for the multi-day forum, including but not limited to defining the duration of the event, presentation formats, speakers, panel presentations, plenary and breakout sessions. The consultant will manage the master of ceremonies, ensuring that the master of ceremonies facilitator fully understands the forum’s objectives and is positioned to lead the proceedings successfully. The consultant will oversee the logistics of the event including but not limited to venue, managing invitations, post-event communications with participants and speakers, pre/during/post-event press and publicity if any, refreshments, VIP support if required, and all other support to make the event a success.
The consultant will prepare a follow up plan for actions to be taken after the forum. It will include details on who will do what, timing for actions, intended outcomes for the various next steps, etc.
The project manager will oversee budget and contracts as outlined:
- Develop a costed event budget which allows for cost sharing
- Assist in recruitment of assistant to the forum project manager, manage and train.
- Recruit and train forum facilitators to support planning and facilitation of main event and regional events (2 facilitators with conferenceplanning, facilitation, and training experience)
- Recruit report writer, note-takers/timekeepers, photographers and videographers to document events.
- Identify at least three potential venues for the main forum and three for Regional events that are available for event dates (Identify cost of venue, food, AV equipment, and other costs)
- With QED, contract venue and reserve accommodation for out of town participants
- Issue other contracts, as needed and approved by QED
Project manager will oversee all forum communication and logistical support, including:
- Attend steering committee meetings and assist with agenda development and preparation of support materials
- Work with Government of Uganda on the inter-ministerial forum coordination
- Work with GOU, donors, private sector etc. to assist with funding and buy into the event
- Oversee sending of invitations to speakers/moderators and confirm availability
- Draft session outline and presentation template and instructions to speakers and submit to USAID for approval and send to speakers
- Receive and prepare final presentations for speakers/moderators
- Oversee development and manage a forum website and system for receiving registrations for the forum
- Draft and send invitation to participants, including instructions for registering for the forum and booking accommodation, if necessary
- Monitor registration, accommodation booking, travel arrangements, shuttles, visa status for attendees, and confirmation of any other special duties
- Develop layout and print conference binders, following Steering Committee approval
- Provide pre-departure logistics support to participants
- Organize shuttles, if necessary
- Draft and send pre-departure logistics letter to participants and package of forum materials.
- Draft and publish Press Release with USAID approval
- Draft instructions/templates for note takers and provide with laptops
- Develop timecards
- Develop Evaluation Form
- Develop Agenda at a glance
- Develop Detailed Agenda with session summaries
- Load conference binder material on USBs
- Print nametags
- Prepare venue and manage the team for all event logistics (manage registration table, post signage, facilitate meals, organize and distribute Binders, etc.….)
- Provide other logistical support, as needed
Deliverables:
- A) Detailed plan for preparing, executing, and following up the forum
- B) Regular informal progress reports
- C) Plan of research
- D) Completed research, reports, and analyses, and other materials for distribution, including forum summary document
- E) Successful execution of high level agriculture forum
- F) Forum notes, photographs and report including post-forum follow up plan
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant should preferably hold a Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, agriculture, social sciences, international development, or a related field.
- At least seven years of related work experience with mid-level expertise
- Previous experience with designing and overseeing large, high level stakeholder events.
- Experience managing technical research agendas.
- Experience interacting with high level government and private sector actors.
- Experience working with agriculture or agri-business sector.
- Excellent customer service and organizational skills, including an ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, both in person and by phone, with high professionalism
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to solve problems and work independently
- Strong computer skills, including Excel and budget preparations
Level of Effort and Consultant(s) Needed: The anticipated LOE for this event is approximately full time over the period of performance (Immediately – one year) with anticipated additional resources (facilitators) at the time of the event (anticipated February 2018).
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested Candidates who meet the above criteria should send their CV, Cover letter and Bio Data Form, download here, expressing interest to thelearningcontract.recruit@gmail.com with the subject line as “ATTN: Consultancy Opportunity (USAID/Uganda High-Level Agriculture Forum Project Manager.”
Deadline: 9th June, 2017 by 5:00pm