Program Manager - Livelihoods

dZi Foundation/ Nepal

Job Description of Program Manager - Livelihoods

Position: Program Manager - Livelihoods 

Reports to: Sr. Program Manager

Coordinates with: Program, MERLCom, and Operations 

Supervises: dZi’s field-based livelihood staff and PNGOs’ Livelihood Officers 

Location: Nepal Country Office, Lalitpur, with at least 30% field visits.

Grade & Band: 6, 1-5.

A) Background: 

dZi Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization working with rural communities in Nepal to achieve prosperity by eliminating barriers to basic needs, fostering opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, and building their capacity to catalyze transformational change. dZi adopts a new five-year strategic objective (2024- 2029) guided by past learning, adaptation to the emerging policy and development contexts, and an improved focus on partnership, local ownership, and sustainability beyond external investment.

B) Job Purpose and Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance of the Nepal Country Director and regular supervision of the Senior Program Manager, the Program Manager- Livelihoods (PM-L)’s primary purpose is to lead our Livelihoods program, focusing on rural poverty alleviation, agro-economy development, market linkage and supply chain management, climate resiliency, and green growth initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in rural development and a passion for creating sustainable economic opportunities for underserved communities.

C) Key Responsibilities:

1) Program Design and Implementation

• Design and manage livelihood programs that address rural poverty through agricultural development, market systems strengthening, and climate-smart practices.
• Develop comprehensive work plans and ensure timely delivery of project milestones and outcomes.
• Identify constraints in agricultural systems and develop interventions to improve productivity and income for smallholder farmers.
• Contribute to proposal development and new business opportunities related to rural livelihoods and green growth.

2) Market Linkage and Supply Chain Management

• Facilitate market linkages and value chain development, including nutrition-sensitive value chains, to create economic opportunities for rural communities.
• Implement strategies to improve supply chain efficiency and market access for smallholder farmers.
• Engage with private sector actors to develop sustainable business models that benefit rural communities.

3) Climate Resiliency and Green Growth

• Implement climate-smart agriculture techniques and promote agroecological resilience through improved soil and water management, conservation agriculture, and agroforestry.
• Integrate green growth principles into livelihood programs to ensure long-term sustainability and environmental protection.
• Develop strategies to enhance community resilience to climate change impacts.

4) Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Management

• Develop and manage partnerships with local NGOs, farmer cooperatives, government agencies, and private sector actors in the agriculture value chain.
• Coordinate with local and national government officials to align program activities with policy priorities.
• Represent the organization in relevant forums and contribute to policy dialogues on rural development and sustainable agriculture.

5) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Monitor project performance and conduct evaluations to assess program impact and effectiveness.
• Use data to adapt program strategies and improve outcomes.
• Oversee project finances, including budget management, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting.
• Prepare high-quality reports for donors, partners, and organizational leadership.

6) Team Management and Capacity Building

• Supervise and mentor implementation teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Provide technical leadership and capacity building for staff, government officials, and local partners on livelihood development approaches.
• Identify skill gaps and organize training programs to enhance team capabilities in areas such as market systems development, climate-smart agriculture, and monitoring and evaluation.

D) Qualifications and Skills:

1) Required qualifications

• Master's degree in agricultural economics, rural development, international development, or related field.
• Minimum 4-6 years of experience managing complex rural livelihood or agricultural development programs.
• Strong understanding of market systems approaches, value chain development, and private sector engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, and green growth principles.
• Experience with donor regulations and requirements.
• Excellent project management skills, including work planning, budgeting, and staff supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with experience using data for decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel frequently to rural project sites (up to 30% time).
• Proficiency in English required; knowledge of local language(s) highly desirable

2) Desired Qualifications:

• Passionate about rural development and poverty alleviation
• Innovative thinker with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex challenges
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to work effectively in challenging environments
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and inspire teams
• Commitment to participatory approaches and community-led development

3) Physical Requirement:

• Extensive hours sitting in front of a computer. 
• Committed to spending at least 30%, or more if required, time in the travel to the working areas with limited supervision, guidance, and conditions.

E) To apply

Please submit an updated CV, cover letter, and three professional references to vacancy.np@dzi.org by September 24, 2024, with the Subject Title “Application for PM_L”. In addition, please also submit your applications through Google Form.

In your cover letter, please highlight your experience in rural livelihood development and your approach to creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities, in particular the poor and marginalized groups.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further processing. Telephone inquiries will not be entertained. Canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification. dZi Foundation/ Nepal reserves all the rights to reject any or all applications without assigning any reasons.

dZi Foundation/ Nepal is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from minority and marginalized backgrounds are encouraged to apply. However, applicants shall not be discriminated against by caste, religion, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or medical condition.