Manager, Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) Ghana

Job Description

The Role

The Manager, CARP Ghana serves as the chief executive of the CARP Secretariat and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, operational management, partnership development, and resource mobilization for the Platform.

The Manager reports directly to the CARP Governing Board and serves as the principal representative of CARP Ghana before Government, development partners, private sector organizations, financial institutions, and international stakeholders.

What We Are Looking For

We seek a dynamic and visionary leader who is:

• A strategic leader capable of driving Ghana's rice competitiveness agenda.
• A partnership builder with proven ability to mobilize diverse stakeholders around shared objectives.
• A resource mobilizer with experience securing grants, investments, and strategic partnerships.
• A policy advocate capable of engaging government institutions and influencing agricultural policy.
• A results-oriented manager able to translate strategy into measurable outcomes.
• An effective communicator who can represent CARP nationally, regionally, and internationally.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Provide strategic leadership for CARP Ghana and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Secretariat.
• Coordinate implementation of CARP's Strategic Plan and annual work programmes.
• Organize and facilitate meetings of the CARP Board, Technical Working Groups, and General Assembly.
• Ensure effective coordination among stakeholders across the rice value chain.
• Develop annual operational plans, budgets, and performance reports.

Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Advocacy

• Strengthen collaboration among government agencies, private sector actors, development partners, farmer organizations, financial institutions, and research institutions.
• Facilitate policy dialogue to improve the enabling environment for Ghana's rice sector.
• Promote evidence-based policy recommendations that enhance competitiveness and investment.
• Represent CARP Ghana at events, conferences, and workshop meetings.

Investment Promotion and Partnership Development

• Lead resource mobilization efforts for CARP programmes and initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships with donors, investors, financial institutions, and private sector organizations.
• Promote investment opportunities across the rice value chain.
• Facilitate public-private partnerships that improve productivity, processing, value addition, and market access.

Knowledge Management and Communications

• Promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and best practices within the rice sector.
• Coordinate publication of technical reports, policy briefs, market intelligence, and annual sector performance reports.
• Strengthen CARP's visibility through effective communication and stakeholder engagement.

Programme and Secretariat Management

• Supervise Secretariat staff and consultants.
• Ensure effective financial, administrative, procurement, and operational systems.
• Monitor programme implementation and ensure timely delivery of results.
• Coordinate monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting systems.
• Ensure compliance with donor and governance requirements.

Required Skills or Experience

Qualifications and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Policy, International Development, or a related discipline.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in agriculture, agribusiness, development, investment promotion, or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder platforms, programmes, or institutions.
• Proven ability to mobilize partnerships and resources.
• Experience working with government, private sector, development partners, and producer organizations.
• Good understanding of Ghana's rice value chain and agricultural policy environment.
• Experience in project management and donor-funded programmes is highly desirable.

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Strong strategic planning and leadership skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation abilities.
• Knowledge of agricultural value chain development and investment promotion.
• Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
• Strong financial and programme management capabilities.

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

Terms and Conditions

Contract

• The successful candidate will be engaged on an initial one-year renewable contract, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Duty Station

• The position is based in Accra, Ghana, with regular travel across rice-producing regions in Ghana and participation in regional and international fora as required.

Conflict of Interest

• The successful candidate shall avoid any situation that may create actual or perceived conflicts of interest in the performance of assigned responsibilities.