Project Officer for Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Livelihoods Job Vacancies at CRS – 2 Positions

Job Title: Project Officer for Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Livelihoods – 2 positions

Reports to: Project Manager for Markets and Private Sector Engagement

Department:  Programming

Salary Grade: 7

Location: Muheza, Tanga and Same, Kilimanjaro

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS in Tanzania works in close collaboration with the Catholic Church and implements programs through both local Caritas’s, and local secular partners, collaborates very closely with the Government and private sector engagement. CRS has been assisting poor, vulnerable families improve their livelihoods through agriculture, nutrition, early childhood development, WASH, and health since 1962.

Job Summary:

CRS Tanzania seeks qualified candidates for the position of Officer for Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Livelihoods on the SPICES project (Securing and Protecting Investments and Capacities for Environmental Sustainability) in Kilimanjaro and Tanga Regions.  This project aims to provide farming families with opportunities to rebuild their farming methods and use sustainable farming practices linked to growth and diversified markets to drive positive changes to their lives, livelihoods and landscapes. In partnership with smallholder farmers and selected private sector companies, the SPICES team will co-create, co-invest and provide technical assistance to generate inclusive high return business models in Tanzania to adapt the approach to local knowledge, local needs and to ensure local leadership which builds on experience in Madagascar. CRS will also work in close collaboration with the Catholic Church via diocese and parishes to leverage some of its underutilized resources and assets to promote enterprise opportunities that both serve the mission of the Church and ensure income generation for youth.

As a member of the SPICES project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. You will focus on working across target value chains and linking farmers with buyers and processors to introduce new business practices, including organic agriculture, certification using accepted standards for spices and agro-forestry integration including crop diversification, soil and water management practices. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or agriculture economics or relevant field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support. Experience in the field of market systems development and for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – English and Swahili

Travel – The positions will be based in Muheza and Same. Must be willing and able to travel up to 40 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Supervisory Responsibilities None

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal Head of Programming, Operations Manager, Finance Manager, Senior Project Officer for MEAL,

Regional Technical Advisor for Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Market Systems Development External Local authorities (LGA), private sector companies and church partners

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

HOW TO APPLY: 

• Interested qualified candidates should submit their letter of application together with their enclosed CV in PDF or Word format in a single attachment which outlines their experience and sustainability of the position applied to email address TZ_HR@crs.org not later than 19^th April 2025.
• The applicants should clearly state the Job title applied for in the subject line of the email.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Female candidates, people with disability and people from other recognized marginalized backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. CRS Tanzania recognizes many people do not have access to university education, limited capacity to travel, women take career breaks to care for family, and physical access for people with disability is limited in some workplaces including in the field. In all recruitments, CRS Tanzania uses a competency-based selection process. This ensures that if a candidate does not have a university degree or many years of experience, their competencies and existing expertise is assessed and valued