The
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a not - for - profit
organization formed in 2006 to work with African governments, farmers, donors,
NGOs and the private sector to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa through
agricultural development targeted at resource poor farmers.

AGRA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and an office in Accra, Ghana.
AGRA is seeking to recruit a highly competent and experienced individual to
fill the following position.


Data Management Assistant


This
position will be based in Nairobi and will report to a Program Coordinator,
Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS).


Job Description




Scope: The Program for Africa’s Seed Systems
(PASS) is a five-year, $150 million initiative aimed at increasing smallholder
farmers’ crop yields through the development and supply of seed of improved
crop varieties.






PASS is implemented via four sub-programs which
fund:


1)
post-graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) training in plant breeding and/or seed
technology;

2) breeding programs capable of generating higher-yielding, well-adapted crop
varieties;

3) the creation and strengthening of private, independent seed enterprises;
and,

4) the training and networking of village-level agro-dealers who market
certified seed and fertilizers to smallholder farmers. PASS began operations in
March, 2007.

PASS has been gathering detailed data from over 220 grants on seed production,
breeding activities, demonstrations, field days, seed and fertilizer sold, and
students enrolled and graduated etc.

A database has also been developed for this purpose, and is just becoming
operational.

PASS, coming toward the end of its first phase of five years, is at a critical
stage where accurate data is required to show progress and justify further
funding. Data will also be used to establish gaps and potential linkages as
PASS moves to its second phase. The need for collection of accurate, full and
timely data cannot be overemphasized.


Responsibilities:


Data
Management: The incumbent will be responsible for collection, organization,
cleaning, entry and processing from grantees according to plans approved by the
program director, program coordinator, and AGRA’s M&E unit.

This will include ensuring grantees have the requisite data sheets, preliminary
grantee training on data recording, sending reminders on due dates, confirming
data accuracy with grantees and program officers, recording data and dates of
data received, generating monthly desktop, quarterly and annual reports.

The incumbent will likewise be responsible for uploading data into the PASS
database and maintaining the overall functioning and updating of the database
in consultation with AGRA IT unit.

Analysis and Data Presentation: The incumbent will be responsible for
generating individual reports, tables, and figures from the collected data as
required by PASS and AGRA staff or other partners such as donors.

In addition to collection and management of data for the database, the
incumbent will be responsible for facts and figures which are currently
maintained separately by PASS program staff which are not compatible with the
database at the moment.

These include but are not limited to: post-graduate student information,
training course participants, crop release traits and release data, contacts of
seed affiliates, master tables and sub-tables for seed production, and tracking
disbursement of loans by seed company funds.

This will be centrally maintained by the incumbent and constantly updated, and
late incorporated in the larger MIS database being developed. Once developed,
overall responsibility for updating this new database will form part of the
responsibilities.

The incumbent will work closely with AGRA IT department, and other providers to
ensure that the database is always functional, and raise any arising issues
immediately.

Follow up on reports: One-third of PASS grantees are required to submit reports
quarterly, while the rest report half-yearly. All grantee payments are
dependent on receipt and approval of the reports. The incumbent will work with
the respective program assistants and the PASS program coordinator to ensure
timely grantee reporting, approvals and disbursements.

Travel grants: PASS makes approximately 20 travel grants that need to be
generated, approved, paid out and accounted for. This will be handled by the
incumbent.

GIFTS entries: The incumbent will be expected to update grant and grantee
records as need arises.

Meeting assistance: The incumbent will be required to assist in arranging
program meetings as required.

Backstop support to Program Officers and any other related duties.

Qualifications: First degree from a recognized university in computer systems,
or related field.

Experience: 2 years’ working with databases including direct data entry,
sorting, cleaning and generation of reports.

Special Attributes: Thorough, accurate, attention to detail, ability to work
under minimal supervision, ability to work under tight deadlines.

Reporting: This position reports to the Program Coordinator PASS, and has
secondary reporting to the M&E Program Officer assigned to the PASS
program.

Applicants should submit their applications with a detailed CV, stating their
current position, remuneration, e-mail and telephone contacts, quoting
reference number DMA/09-11 on both the application letter and envelope.


To be considered your application must be received
by 7 October, 2011 addressed to:



The Director
Executive Selection Division
Deloitte Consulting Limited
Deloitte Place, Waiyaki Way Muthangari, Westlands
P O Box 40092 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

or by email: agra@deloitte.co.ke

Tel: +254 20 423 0000

Fax: +254 20 444 8966

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