Agriculture Expert with Irrigation Background at International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI)

job Description

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S.-based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 120 countries and implemented over 350 projects worldwide. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several international organizations. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, learning (MERL), and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture and food security, economic growth, environment, global health, democracy and governance, conflict and crisis.

Job Title: Agriculture Expert with Irrigation Background
Department/Location: Harare/Zimbabwe
Reports To: Evaluation Team Leader
Type: Short-Term
Classification: Consultant

Overview: IBTCI is in search of a qualified Agriculture Expert with background in Irrigation to join our evaluation team for the anticipated USAID/Zimbabwe Evaluation of Community Gardens' Contribution to Household Income and Nutrition in Zimbabwe. The selected candidate will be integral in assessing the impact of community gardens on household income and nutrition in Zimbabwe. This evaluation will provide essential insights into the effectiveness and sustainability of community gardens, particularly focusing on water supply, production, and market factors. Community gardens and water supply infrastructure are the most common type of assets created by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)'s Early Recovery, Risk Reduction and Resilience (ER4) awards in Zimbabwe. The ideal Agriculture Expert should possess prior experience in similar evaluations, including proficiency in data collection and analysis. The period of engagement spans six months, commencing in August 2024 and concluding in February 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of community gardens' impact on household income and nutrition.
Evaluate the significance of irrigation systems in ensuring the success and sustainability of community gardens.

Assess how water supply influences garden productivity and household nutrition.
Determine the minimum plot size required for gardens to effectively enhance nutrition and income.
Analyze various irrigation methods and their efficiency within community garden settings.
Participate in designing the evaluation methodology, instruments, and the overall evaluation work plan.
Conduct site visits, facilitate key informant interviews, and lead other data collection activities.
Perform secondary data analysis and synthesize existing data and evidence.
Process both quantitative and qualitative data, including coding qualitative data as part of the analysis.
Review and analyze qualitative and quantitative data comprehensively.
Prepare a detailed report on the evaluation findings.
Develop recommendations and best practices for establishing community gardens, drawing from identified best practices during the review.
Contribute to the development of a dissemination plan for the evaluation findings.
Deliver a presentation of the main findings and recommendations.
Engage in meetings with relevant USAID staff to discuss the assignment and present findings, providing regular updates on the evaluation's progress.
Ensure all tasks are executed to the highest professional standards, meeting both USAID and IBTCI requirements.
Guarantee the delivery of high-quality deliverables within set deadlines. ePz3gwn ChjWHz
Maintain effective communication with the evaluation team and relevant stakeholders.
Ensure compliance with all USAID, IBTCI, and program-specific policies and regulations.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

At least five years of experience in Agriculture.
A minimum of five years of experience in conducting evaluations, particularly within agricultural development programs.
No conflicts of interest related to the project or activity under evaluation.
Ability to travel to Zimbabwe and conduct necessary field visits.
Fluency in spoken and written English.

Education: A degree in Agriculture, Irrigation Engineering, Water Resources Management, or a related field. Additional certifications or training in evaluation methodologies is an advantage.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Expertise in Agriculture with a focus on irrigation systems.
Experience in conducting evaluations for USAID or similar organizations.
Familiarity with the socio-economic and agricultural context of Zimbabwe or the region.
Strong skills in both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
Experience with community garden projects and irrigation systems, either through prior evaluation or implementation.
Ability to analyze the functionality and sustainability of irrigation systems in community gardens.
Excellent report writing and communication skills.
Knowledge of USAID evaluation policies and procedures.
Familiarity with ethical considerations in data collection and research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy.
Gender experience/expertise is preferred.
Strong time-management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.