The joint team of Digital Development and Agriculture Global Practice of the World Bank is recruiting a Short-Term Consultant based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The candidate will work closely with the Agricultural TTL, assisting the team with the preparation of the new project. The candidate will primarily work under the supervision of the Agricultural TTL based in Washington DC. The candidate will also help and receive guidance from the Agricultural team in Cameroon.

Digital Rural Transformation Project

The World Bank has existing ongoing investments worth more than 200 million USD with the Ministry of Agriculture in Cameroon. Besides, two major operations are under preparation with a combined envelop of 400 million USD lending, focusing on the value addition of agricultural practices through improved infrastructural investment and water infrastructure rehabilitation.

Cameroon’s agricultural sector has great potential to capitalize on digital technologies and innovations to achieve agricultural transformation. Systematic investment in knowledge, innovation and incubation ecosystem for Disruptive Ag technologies is needed.

The Bank team in Cameroon is providing intensive technical support to the Ministry on scaling up all the above initiatives, leveraging disruptive agricultural technology (DAT) in the region.

Successful scale-up of DATs will complement and enhance the effectiveness of the existing analog investments in the sector. The new project under preparation in this context embodies the digital transformation approach, using a co-TTLship format and targeting a strategic sector of agriculture in Cameroon while proposing to reform the ICT sector.

The e-agricultural component under this new project, with its investment in connectivity and digital skills, will support interventions that leverage digital technology to drive agricultural growth, innovation and rural job creation to ultimately contribute to the improved quality of rural livelihood.

Key to the success of the above ambitious investment in the sector will be the ability of the Ministry to scale up the use of digitization and data analytics within the Ministry.

The objective of this recruitment is to support, technically and administratively, the agricultural team in preparation for the new project.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide technical support to ensure proper preparation support for the project. This will entail regular contact with the designated officials of the relevant ministries (MINADER, MINEPA, and CAMTEL among others) and drafting of relevant project-related documents. Specific technical assistance issues include:

• Contribute to project design and quality improvement initiatives
• Draft the Project Appraisal Document and implementation plan documents in consultation with teams, ensuring clarity and highest standard
• Work iteratively with teams until the documents meet the required standard and are ready to be submitted for internal clearance
• Carry out periodical stakeholder consultations and participate on behalf of the TTL in discussions with wider stakeholder groups

• Act as a liaison among members of the project preparation team, government representatives, local stakeholders, and other locally hired field staff to promote understanding of and support for the project.
• Participate in meetings and events on behalf of the task team;
• Coordinate data collection activities and compile data as appropriate (e.g. administrative data, community surveys, interviews, etc.
• Perform other related tasks, upon request.

Requirements:

• Advance degree in agricultural studies, economics, or related fields
• Extensive knowledge of and working experience in Cameroon’s agricultural sector.
• Exposure to international knowledge and experience on digital and e-agricultural policy, strategy, and institutions is a must.
• Proven strong leadership and ability to work cross-sectorally with inter-disciplinary teams, and to handle multiple deadlines. Ability to take personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Government officials and technical staff, as well as with other stakeholders.
• Highly developed communication and writing skills, including the ability to write concisely and translate technical knowledge and ideas into fluent, understandable English and French is required
• Previous experience in the implementation of development assistance projects, with a preference for experience with World Bank-financed Projects, is desirable.

Reporting Arrangements and Deadline:

The consultant will report to the Agricultural Task Team Leader based in Washington D.C..

The selected candidate will initially receive a short-term contract of 50 days with a possibility of extension at the end of the term.

This vacancy closes on February 26, 2020.

To apply please email Jeehye Kim, Agricultural Economist, jkim15@worldbank.org