Canadian Co-operative Association

Volunteer Opportunity

Agricultural Co-operative Development Advisor-  Malawi

WHERE:  Lilongwe, Malawi

WHEN: October 2016 to March 2017

DURATION: Two, two-week missions (October and February) with 3 travel days plus curriculum design and development, preparatory work, as well as ongoing correspondence and support from Canada. (flexible)

REPORTING TO: Heather Hale, Program Manager and Innocent Muhereza, Regional Field Manager, Africa

DEADLINE: September 15, 2016

Note: This is a voluntary assignment. Domestic and international airfare, ground transport, visa, travel insurance, out of country accommodation and a meal/incidental allowance will be covered by CCA.  

BACKGROUND:

CCA is working with its partners - the Malawi Union of Saving and Credit Co-operatives (MUSCCO) and the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) through a project, Increasing Wealth and Food Security Through the Integrated Co-operative Business Model (INVEST Co-op). This four-year project will focus on dietary staples - groundnuts, maize and beans - and nutrient rich soybeans which are used as a fortifier and has commercial value as livestock feed. Key features of the Malawi project include:
 

·       Network small scale farmer clubs together to form producer co-ops to reach economic scale

·       Develop new marketing co-ops in three districts and train implementing partner staff in co-op development

·       Establish demonstration plots to introduce new agricultural techniques, promote conservation farming practices, and minimal-loss post harvest handling

·       Form and link farmer savings groups to Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) for expanded services, provide financial literacy training to group members, and modify the group cash-out cycle to coincide with farmer input requirements

·       Initiate a youth savings program, including sponsoring school based savings clubs, linking these to SACCOs, and providing financial literacy and entrepreneurship training to school age youth

·       Strengthen an SMS platform for disseminating market information to co-ops and farmer members

·       Train government extension workers, co-operative leaders and farmers on the role of women in agriculture

FUM is an umbrella body of farmers and farmer organizations in Malawi which was established in 2003 under the Trustees Incorporation with the aim of creating a conducive policy environment for farmers in Malawi. It is founded on three key operational areas namely; institutional development, policy and advocacy, and agribusiness and market access.

ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT:

The agricultural sector employs nearly 90% of Malawi’s working age population and contributes 30% of GDP. The majority engage in small scale agriculture which suffers from low productivity resulting from a reliance on rain fed irrigation, low quality inputs, insufficient agricultural extension services, limited access to market, and inadequate financial services, exacerbated by increasingly erratic weather conditions due to climate change.

This assignment will support the strengthening and development of agricultural co-operative and co-operative development practitioners in Malawi. Currently, the agricultural co-operative movement in Malawi is weak and there is no national federation of agricultural co-operatives. The credit union (SACCO) system is quite strong but to date harmonized efforts have been ad hoc. There are no national institutes dedicated to co-operative education or training. Co-operative knowledge and training is dispersed, no-standardized ad hoc and takes place as piece meal activities initiative by various organizations which do not coordinate with each other.

This assignment is part of a capacity building program to strengthen the capacity of FUM staff to be co-operative developers for agricultural co-operatives in Malawi.

OBJECTIVE:

The goal of this assignment is to support the implementation of a co-op developer training program which will strengthen the capacity of FUM to act as co-op developers for both agriculture co-operatives and marketing cooperatives in Malawi.

ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES:

Activities in the assignment include the following:

1. Coordinate and provide support for various activities of the co-op developer training program. This includes coordinating and providing support for the following activities:
   
   1. Preparation: Production of co-ops training materials for agricultural co-operatives and marketing co-operatives. The development and production of these materials will involve:
      
      1. Compiling, reviewing and systematizing existing training materials from CCA, FUM and MUSCCO.
      2. Modifying and revising existing materials.
      3. Generating new training materials through the documentation of existing good practices for training on co-operative organizational development not yet document by CCA and FUM. Training material would include, for example, modules on pre development, establishing the co-operative, governance, marketing, value addition, policy influence.
   2. Mission 1: The facilitation of a 5-day co-op developer leaning workshop on agricultural co-ops for FUM staff in Malawi.
   3. Ongoing Support and Mentorship: Continue to work virtually with FUM staff to further adapt the training material for leaders of agricultural co-operative in Malawi.
   4. Mission 2: On the ground support and mentorship for FUM staff in workshop facilitation for agricultural co-operative leaders in Malawi.
   5. Follow Up: Debrief with INVEST project staff after each mission (2) and prepare a brief mission report including recommendations lessons learned for co-operative, the INVEST Co-op Malawi and on the training program.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful applicant must possess the following skills, experiences and personal characteristics:

·       Proven experience in co-operative development in a developing country context.

·       Experience creating and facilitating group learning/training sessions.

·       Knowledge in community participation methodologies.

·       Excellent technical writing skills.

·       Demonstrated experience with agricultural co-operatives or member-based business enterprises.

·       Experience and knowledge of co-operatives principles, preferably in a developing context.

·       Excellent capacity to analyze, develop recommendations and capture lessons learned.

·       Demonstrated ability and interest in communicating and interacting effectively with people of a different culture.

·       Ability to be multi-functional and work in dynamic situations; be flexible and adapt to change.

·        Must be able to handle difficult situations with patience, tact and professionalism.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please submit a resume and letter of intent by end of business day September 15, 2016, to Laurie Tennian, Volunteer Manager, laurie.tennian@coopscanada.coop.

You must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada.  Successful candidates will be required to obtain a police check from their local police/RCMP detachment.   No phone calls please.  While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

CANADIAN CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION:

The Canadian Co-operative Association is a not-for-profit co-operative which establishes and strengthens co-operatives, credit unions and community-based organizations to reduce poverty, build sustainable livelihoods and improve civil society in less developed countries. www.coopscanada.coop