VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.
Role overview
VSO – Tanzania (Tz) has more than 50 years of operations delivering livelihoods projects supporting vulnerable people via promoting of small to medium business enterprise; supporting vocational training and skills development in local trades; and strengthening structures and networks of community-based organisations that are involved in economic development.
The VSO Secure Livelihoods program would like to recruit dynamic and qualified personnel to fill a vacancy position of Post-Harvest Handling (PHH) and agro-processing adviser. The adviser will work in a project named Commercial agriculture for Smallholder Farmers (CASH) in Zanzibar, Tanzania that aims to contribute to strengthening value chain linking smallholder farmers to markets, in view of increased productivity, competitiveness and income in the horticulture sector in Zanzibar.
The adviser will work closely with the project team and the main goal of the role is to provide technical assistance to local partner organizations in strengthening farmers’ technical capacity on best practices in post-harvest handling; storage; packaging and value addition. More specifically, the adviser will:
-Provide technical advice on set-up of smallholder agro-processing incubation centre at partner organization
-Provide technical advice on the development of Train of Trainer (TOT) training curriculum and program on Post harvest handling to be delivered to partner staff members
-Carry out a TOT on post-harvest concepts and principles to partners staff, with subjects including: appropriate pre harvest techniques; maturity and quality indices; sorting; losses; handling practices; cooling; storage temperature and relative humidity; post-harvest physiological and pathological disorders; mechanical injuries; best practices in loss reduction
-Coordinate with partner staff members to adapt the TOT on PHH at the producer farm level;
- Coordinate and provide technical advice on the delivering training on sorting and best practices in post-harvest handling; storage, packaging and value addition at producers farm level
-Develop assessment tool for partner staff to determine mastery of PHH training materials
Skills, qualifications and experience required
Essential
- Qualified graduate (degree or above) in agricultural engineering specialising in postharvest technology.
- Industry relevant production experience
- Knowledge and experience in organizational effectiveness and operations management
- Knowledge of business and management principles and practices
- Knowledge of Food industry and Safety systems
Desirable
- Previous experience of working on similar project in developing countries, particularly East Africa
- Health and safety qualification
- Planning and organizing
- Able to demonstrate excellent coaching and influencing skills and the ability to motivate by Persuasiveness, Influencing and leading
- Must have a hands on approach and get involved with duties
How to apply
If you’re interested in applying for this role, please download the job description to read more details about the position and the skills and experience we’re looking for.
Click here to download the job description in PDF format
To submit your application, click on ‘Apply now’ and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.
Application closing date
26 Jan 2015
Interview/Assessment date(s)
To be confirmed
Start date
8th May, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Volunteer Job: Post Harvest Handling and Agro - processing Adviser - CASH Project
