Deputy Project Manager
Expertise France | Post type: jobs February 6, 2025 - Deadline 21/02/2025 | NumberOfPosition [1]

Terms of Reference / Job Description

Deputy Project Manager for Expertise France

 “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project

Job title: Deputy Project Manager

Reports to: Project Manager

Location: Kigali, Rwanda, with regular travel to other regions in Rwanda

Type of contract: full-time, fixed-term contract

Contract duration: 1 year, renewable (local contract)

Job Level: senior level

Overview

Expertise France is the French agency for international cooperation, under the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The agency develops and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in low- and middle-income countries and focuses on four priority areas:

• Democratic, economic and financial governance;
• Stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations and security;
• Combating climate change and favoring sustainable urban development;
• Strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France engineers and implements capacity-building projects, mobilises technical expertise and acts as a project coordinator, bringing together public expertise and private know-how. With an annual business volume of 390 million euros and over 400 projects in 145 countries, Expertise France's activities are part of France's international cooperation policy and official development assistance.

Project description

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project aims to contribute to the National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050 established by the Government of Rwanda to guide the socio-economic development of the country towards a prosperous and high-income economy by 2050. Representing 25% of GDP and 70% of Rwanda’s active population, agriculture is a key sector targeted in order to boost the country’s economy and create jobs. The development of agricultural skills is one of the priorities for the sector’s transformation, with the national objective of establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence for technical and vocational education and training in agriculture. These centres will help develop a new generation of qualified workforce, capable of stimulating sustainable agricultural development, contributing to food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods for rural communities in Rwanda.

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project is implemented by Expertise France to support the national agency Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) in the establishment of Centres of Excellence in agriculture. In line with national priorities, the project aims to increase the sustainability, climate resilience and inclusion of agricultural practices by strengthening the skills of women and youth in Rwanda.

The project is structured around two specific objectives:

1. Improve access of women and youth to quality skills and formal certification in agricultural practices.
2. Improve the effectiveness of mechanisms for integrating women and youth into the agricultural labour market, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture.

In Rwanda, 77% of farmers are women, mainly in subsistence agriculture, vulnerable to climate change. Gender is a key cross-cutting theme for the project which aims to implement transformative and sustainable actions for women, young girls and their communities.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years, with a budget of +16 million euros financed by the European Union and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It will include technical assistance at the national level in support of RTB, and two TVET schools will also be supported with technical assistance, infrastructure rehabilitation and procurement of equipment. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the beneficiary partner RTB, as well as with donors and project partners, such as LuxDev.

The project will be led by the Project Manager, with direct support from the Deputy Project Manager, and the team will consist of 4 Technical Experts, a MEAL Officer, and 2 Project Advisors based in targeted TVET schools. The team will be supported by Expertise France’s Kigali-based Project Support Unit (PSU) for admin, finance, HR and procurement, as well as Paris-based HQ.

The role

The Deputy Project Manager will be based within the project team in Kigali, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. He/she will support the Project Manager in the overall management and coordination of the project, by managing administrative, financial, and operational tasks to ensure a smooth implementation of the project, in line with contractual objectives and timelines. The Deputy Project Manager will play a key role in the coordination of infrastructure activities and act as a focal point to the PSU team for procurement. He/she will work closely with the project and PSU teams, partners and donors, for the successful implementation of the project.

The main responsibilities of the Deputy Project Manager will be:

Support the operational management of the project

• Assist the Project Manager in the planning, implementation and monitoring of project activities, ensuring that milestones are met, assessing risks and redirecting actions if necessary,
• Contribute to establishing strong and effective partnerships with all project stakeholders and support the coordination of governance meetings,
• Support the identification, and lead on the contracting and coordination of external experts, ensuring high quality deliverables,
• Support the Project Manager in ensuring the effective coordination of the team and their tasks, by facilitating the smooth flow of information and fostering collaboration,
• Support the implementation of activities at school level, through regular visits to the two targeted TVET schools,
• Support the design and implementation of MEAL activities, as well as the communication and visibility plan for the project, together with the MEAL Officer.

Coordinate the infrastructure activities and procurement of equipment for the two targeted TVET schools

• Support the contracting of the Project Management Assistance (PMA) for infrastructure,
• Act as focal point to the PMA in infrastructure and provide them with a detailed understanding of project priorities, constraints, and intended outcomes,
• Coordinate the project’s infrastructure activities with the technical and management support of the PMA, and act as a link between the PMA, the project team, RTB and partners,
• Coordinate the procurement of equipment (agricultural, pedagogical and school furniture) in close collaboration with the project’s Experts and the PSU,
• Ensure that the execution of each operation involving the services, works and supply of goods, adheres to the required methods and quality standards, in compliance with donor and agency procedures, and within the set timelines.

Support the administrative and financial management of the project

• Prepare and manage project budgets and financial planning, ensuring alignment with project goals, and compliance with HQ and donor requirements, together with the Project Manager,
• Support the development and roll out of project management tools and procedures among the project team and partners,
• Lead project reporting activities by coordinating the collection and consolidation of information and data from the team, ensuring the quality, compliance and timely delivery of internal and external technical and financial reports,
• Actively participate in Expertise France's internal reporting instances (monthly progress reports, annual reviews, budget revisions, work plans),
• Support the Project Manager in risk assessments related to project operations and finances,
• Ensure adherence to organisational, legal, and donor regulations regarding admin and finance,
• Manage the project’s contracting and procurement processes, ensuring adherence to procurement policies and procedures, with the PSU and the Project Manager,
• Liaise and act as point of contact for the PSU, regarding admin, finance (including EU/internal audits), contracting and procurement.

Profile

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent university degree in project management, international development, business administration or any field relevant to the position.

Professional experience

• A minimum of 10 years of successful professional experience in the management and administration of multi-year technical assistance projects, preferably in Rwanda. Experience in education, TVET and/or agriculture would be an asset,
• Proven track record of managing budgets, procurement processes, and compliance,
• Experience in coordinating infrastructure works,
• Experience of managing EU-funding for international cooperation,
• Experience working with institutional actors and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

• Mastery of project management (project cycle, financial and legal rules, admin and financial follow-up),
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and sense of responsibility,
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills,
• Good understanding of the challenges in TVET and/or agriculture sectors, especially for women and youth,
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams and networks, with diverse stakeholders,
• Ability to adapt and react to unforeseen situations,
• Excellent communication and synthesis skills (orally and written),
• Proficiency in office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.),
• Perfect command of English; fluency in French is an asset.

Additional information

Desired start date: April 2025

Application deadline: February 21, 2025

Remuneration: competitive remuneration will be offered according to Expertise France’s salary scale and the candidate’s qualification and experience.

Please upload your CV and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages each), photocopies of diplomas and certificates of employment, as well as three professional references with contact details on this link only:

https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/apply/12627/1

Candidates are invited to submit their application as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to pre-select candidates before the application deadline.

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