Farmer Support Agent: Project Officer - Opportunity International

The Farmer Support Agent (FSA) Project Officer will manage groups of FSAs in Ghana, delivering capacity-building training to rural client groups, including Village Savings & Loans Associations (VSLAs), facilitate linkages for these clients to Opportunity International’s financial institution partners, and support the collection of client surveys to measure impact.

This role is also responsible for developing and maintaining partner relationships, conducting value chain assessments, identifying key risks, ensuring project deliverables, and proposing recommended solutions to implementation hurdles.

RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Provide Management Support

• Assist the Agriculture Finance team with overall management and administration support of the FSA network with various project partners.
• Take a lead role to ensure cordial working relationships with all stakeholders, including farmers, financial institution partners, private sector partners, and Ghanaian government staff.
• Monitor the data collection activities of the FSAs & provide technical support where necessary.
• Provide troubleshooting and systems support to the partners & FSAs utilizing the client management system (CommCare)
• Facilitate the regular FSA training of trainer sessions in coordination with the project partners.
• Ensure the effective delivery of the FSA-led training at the farmer group level.
• Identify hurdles & bottlenecks to the success of the model and where possible, suggest and implement solutions.

   

Partner Coordination

• Develop a clear understanding of the aims and objectives of project partners. Determine if the model can be improved to accommodate partner objectives better.
• Lead on effective use of data, ensuring value addition for Opportunity and all partners, and work with financial institution partner staff to pursue common goals in developing and growing business through the project.
• Develop a good working relationship with financial institution partner agricultural finance staff and a good working knowledge of the financial products offered.
• Coordinate with financial institution partner branches to ensure seamless communication regarding on-the-ground factors that may affect project success.
• Liaise between financial institution partner staff and Opportunity, ensuring alignment in project purpose and goals.

   

Reporting

• Support data collection for the development of internal and external narrative reports. Regularly monitor data integrity and output metrics; identify data needs and produce monthly reports to share with relevant partners.
• Work with the Opportunity Agriculture Finance team to develop effective management reporting systems & procedures.
• Weekly update reports to Opportunity Agriculture Finance management noting progress on project deliverables and challenges faced.

   

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Assist Opportunity in conducting impact assessments using monitoring and evaluation tools developed by Opportunity.
• Monitor progress against logical framework indicators.
• Track client success stories.
• Report into Opportunity with data on impact, to assess the effectiveness, scalability, and impact of the new products and to recommend any further refinement.

   

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Supervising Farmer Support Agents

   

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or Diploma in agriculture, community development, finance or related fields.
• Experience working with rural communities.
• Practical experience working with community-based financial organizations (VSLAs, etc.)
• Project management skills to effectively perform activities/tasks in a manner that consistently achieves high standards.
• Proficiency in use of MS Office applications, and Android Apps. Must be able to demonstrate competency.
• Self-empowerment to enable the development of open communication, teamwork and trust that are needed to support performance and customer-service-oriented culture in agriculture.
• Relevant professional qualifications in agriculture, microfinance, banking, ICT, extension services, finance, or marketing provide an added advantage.
• An understanding of and a commitment to advancing the mission and core values of Opportunity International.

   

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Written and verbal fluency in English and one Ghanaian language required. Must be able to attend & fully participate in meetings conducted in English.

   

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Position to be based in Aburi with frequent domestic travel, up to 70% throughout project areas.
• International travel may be required 1-2 times per year for team meetings or cross-learning trips.