FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SUB-SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: PROJECT MANAGER

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites immediate applications for a four year contract as Project Manager for the Fruit and Vegetable Sub Sector Development Project in Tajikistan. MEDA is an association of Christians, in business and the professions who share their faith, abilities, and resources to address human needs through economic development. MEDA brings hope, opportunity and economic well being to low-income people around the world, through a business-oriented approach to development.

Project Manager
The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall success of the Fruit and Vegetable Sub Sector Development Project in Tajikistan in a manner consistent with the project implementation plan and MEDA’s philosophy and development methodology. This is a four year multi-million dollar project funded through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The initiative seeks to develop a robust fruit and vegetable sub-sector in the Sogd region through: agricultural technical assistance and training; provision of credit for agricultural development; and development of small and medium sized businesses that process and market agricultural products.

The position exists to provide overall project management to the Fruit and Vegetable Sub Sector Development Project in Tajikistan, including: acting as liaison with CIDA and local organizations; financial planning and monitoring, and human resource management. In addition, the Project Manager will undertake the business development of the fruit and vegetable processing sector, and work to establish new and expanded markets for the agricultural goods produced in the region. While all aspects of the project are important and inter-related, the Project Manager should possess a unique entrepreneurial capacity that will drive the development of this sub sector. This four-year posting in the remote city of Khojand, Tajikistan starts in May 2004.

Qualifications:

• Five to ten years demonstrated experience in international business and/or agricultural development.
• Creative, entrepreneurial and resourceful approach to developing and marketing small businesses.
• Post secondary education in a related discipline: business, marketing, economic development, etc.
• Proven track record of successful multi-year project implementation and staff management.
• Fluency in English is required; working capacity of Tajik and/or Russian is preferred.
• An understanding of and respect for MEDA’s organizational culture, goals and objectives and the desire to integrate faith into work, business and development.

Please send your resume immediately.

Attention: Jennifer Helmuth, HR Administrator

fax: (519) 725-9083
e-mail: jhelmuth@meda.org