Project Manager - Networks & Alliances

The Committee Linking Entrepreneurship\-Agriculture\-Development (COLEAD)\nis a non\-profit inter\-professional association founded in 1973 whose purpose is\nto contribute to the sustainable transformation of food value chains,\nparticularly horticultural value chains, especially in countries and regions\nwhere development needs are greatest, by strengthening their economic\nviability, resilience, and positive social and environmental impact.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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COLEAD is a network of companies, professional organisations, experts,\nprivate and public partners working in the agricultural sector and development\nfield and committed to sustainable and inclusive food production and trade.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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COLEAD manages programmes and projects in the agricultural and agrifood\nsectors, financed by development partners aimed at supporting producers,\nprocessors, exporters and organisations supporting the entrepreneurial\necosystem (public sector organisations, research, academia, finance and\nothers), all committed to inclusive and sustainable production and trade in low\nand lower\-middle income countries.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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COLEAD draws on more than 50 years\u2019 experience of partnerships and\nsupport to both private and public stakeholders from the agrifood sector. More\ninformation is available on our website \- <\/span><\/span><\/span>https://colead.link/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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The Networks\n& Alliances Department<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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N&A advances sustainable practices in the agrifood sector through\npolicy and private sector dialogues, entrepreneurship development, and\noutreach. We prioritize innovative partnerships and capacity development. Our\ninitiatives include regular agrifood online sessions in collaboration with the\nPan\-African Farmers Organization (PAFO), the Inter\-American Institute for\nCooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Organisation for Economic\nCo\-operation and Development (OECD).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Anchored in the COLEAD 2030 Strategy, N&A drives COLEAD\u2019s evolution\nfrom a structured network towards a \u201clocal\u201d movement.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Position Overview<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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We are seeking an experienced and proactive Project Manager (PM) to join\nour Networks & Alliances team in The Gambia (COLEAD SPRING Programme).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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The Project Manager will play a central role in the coordination and\ndelivery of N&A programmes and activities, the management of key strategic\npartnerships, and the strengthening of COLEAD\u2019s community and membership\noutreach at global and in The Gambia contexts. The role requires both strategic\nthinking and operational excellence, combining project management rigour with\nrelationship\-building skills and a genuine passion for agrifood systems\ntransformation.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Head\nof Networks & Alliances (based in Brussels) and in close collaboration with\nthe Gambia / SPRING Programme coordinator.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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The PM will also collaborate with the N&A team and other COLEAD\ndepartments (Technical Assistance, Research & Innovation, Access to\nFinance, Market Intelligence, Training Unit).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Key\nResponsibilities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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1.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Programme & Project Coordination<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Lead or co\-coordinate N&A\-entrusted programmes and\nprojects, ensuring timely delivery against workplans, budgets and contractual\nobligations.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Coordinate with implementing partners, service\nproviders and beneficiaries for the smooth execution of programme activities.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Contribute to programme reporting, monitoring,\nevaluation and learning (MEL) processes, including the documentation of impact\nand success stories.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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2. Partnership & Alliance Management<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Manage day\-to\-day relationships with key N&A\npartners (that will be specifically assigned to the PM), ensuring active\nfollow\-up and concrete joint outputs.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Review partnership documents for coherence and\nalignment with SPRING objectives and key output indicators<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Support the formalisation and tracking of MoUs, MoAs\nand partnership agreements; maintain and update the N&A partnership\ndatabase.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Contribute to the identification of prospective\nstrategic partners within the Gambia context and at regional \- global levels to advance COLEAD\u2019s\nobjectives, strengthen programme implementation, and attract sustainable\ninvestments in priority sectors and areas of intervention.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Represent COLEAD in external meetings, events and\nworking groups as required.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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3. Agrifood Partnership Sessions & Community Engagement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Coordinate the organisation and delivery of Agrifood\nPartnership Sessions including logistics, content, speakers and follow\-up.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Manage and animate COLEAD\u2019s digital community\nplatforms (Agrinnovators, member groups, newsletters); ensure regular content\nproduction and outreach.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Contribute to the development and publication of\nentrepreneur business profiles and knowledge products at scale.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Support the membership growth and engagement plan,\ntracking diversity and geographic reach of COLEAD\u2019s community.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Promote and share nutrition sensitive initiatives\nacross the programme with and among implementing partners<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Encourage partnership building between members and knowledge\ntransfer on new technologies through field days, mentorship and B2B platforms<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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4.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Women, Youth &\nEntrepreneurship Inclusion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure systematic integration of the gender and youth\nlens across N&A activities, sessions and partnership outputs and along with\nthe SPRING (Gambia) Programme.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Identify and promote women\-led and youth\-led\nenterprises across the SPRING programme.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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5.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Operational &\nAdministrative Support<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Support the operationalisation of N&A\u2019s internal\nmanagement systems (partner database, MoU tracking, activity reporting).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Contribute to the preparation of departmental\nreporting, presentations and communication materials.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Provide administrative support for the selection and\ncontracting of service providers as needed.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Requirements<\/h3>
·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>A degree in business management, economics, agribusiness,\nproject management, international relations, business communication or a\nrelated field; a master\u2019s degree is an asset.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Minimum 5\-6 years of relevant professional experience,\nincluding demonstrated experience in project or programme management in an\ninternational development or agrifood context.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Understanding of agrifood value chains, the Gambia\ndevelopment context and COLEAD\u2019s key geography (Sub\-Saharan Africa).<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Experience in partnership management, stakeholder\nengagement and/or alliance building in a local \- regional \- international\ncontext.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Knowledge in gender, youth mainstreaming and\nentrepreneurship in development programmes is valued.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Strong organisational and project management skills;\nability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously and meet deadlines.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Excellent written and oral communication skills in\nEnglish; command of French or Spanish or Portuguese is a strong asset.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);\nexperience with CRM tools, online webinar platforms (Zoom, Teams) and digital\ncommunity management is an asset.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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·<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Ability to work both independently and collaboratively\nin a multicultural, fast\-paced environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Benefits<\/h3>

<\/span><\/span>This is a full\-time role based in Banjul, offered under an\nindependent consultancy agreement for an initial period of one (1) year,\nwith the possibility of renewal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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You\nwill be based in The Gambia, but travel within The Gambia or to other ACP\ncountries and Belgium for short\-term missions, might be required.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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The position is to be filled as soon as possible.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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Joining COLEAD means becoming part of a passionate multicultural team.\nIt\u2019s also an opportunity to enjoy an enriching experience within a civil\nsociety organisation working for cooperation and development in the agri\-food\nindustry. COLEAD\u2019s values are commitment, difference, humanity, performance and\ncontinuous improvement.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all\nqualified individuals. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an\ninclusive environment for all employees.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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This position is based in our office in the Gambia and is open only to\ncandidates with the required work permit.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
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To apply, please send your CV + cover letter + references\nby Wednesday 15<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup> of July at noon (12pm) CET<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>
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