INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

GGGI is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the implementation of the project “Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in El Salvador”.

Based in San Salvador, the Project Manager will lead project implementation, taking responsibility for the full project management cycle including but not limited to implementation of agreed workstreams, stakeholder engagement, donor reporting, budget management and team management. The Project Manager reports to GGGI Regional Director based in GGGI Regional Office in Mexico City.

CONTEXT

GGGI is the implementing partner for the Korea funded project in Central America, Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). The project, funded by Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs aims to identify, demonstrate, and disseminate sustainable agricultural systems that enhance productive potential and address the interconnected drivers of poverty and climate vulnerability in El Salvador. Opportunities to address this situation include dissemination of best practices and technical capacity building in Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA), strengthening value chain integration, availing and training on the use of and capacity building for the use of IT technologies with application in the agriculture sector. Cooperative/associative arrangements are an effective means to build capacity and enhancing the preparedness and resilience of women and youth in the agriculture sector, providing them with decent livelihoods and improved employability in the sector.

The project aims to strengthening the technical and entrepreneurial capacities and provide financial support to

vulnerable farmers under associative arrangements to improve sustainability of farming practices and value chain integration that contribute to the climate adaptation and resilience goals of El Salvador and net-zero goals of Republic of Korea (ROK).

The expected long-term impact of the program is to create a transformational change that will improve climate resilience, build socio-economic opportunities for vulnerable local communities, and protect the ecosystem services on which they rely. The program aims at increasing local people’s ability to cope with climate change and other external shocks in the medium and long term through ecosystem-based adaptation that is based on climate smart agriculture (CSA) techniques.

Sustainable CSA models (agroforestry and silvopasture systems) promoted, demonstrated, and disseminated with this project will generate short – medium – and long-term employment to strengthen post COVID-19 economic recovery from the bottom up: CSA management systems generate local employment, which in turn stimulates consumption and production, unlocking a positive feedback loop to create more jobs and support a transition towards green growth.

The approach proposed is human-centric, focusing on strengthening climate-vulnerable farmers, especially women and youth, to be integrated with CSA value chains, focusing on agriculture, agroforestry, and silvopastoral products:

• Raising awareness of ICT tools, such as early warning systems, to improve access to market information and climate adaptation of resource constrained and marginalized sector of the Salvadorian population.
• Providing technical training on CSA, entrepreneurship, business management and financial literacy, that will be delivered utilizing proven methods to reach final beneficiaries on the ground.
• Supporting Government of El Salvador in making ICT tools (early warning systems) available to a larger number of unserved farmers nationwide, to facilitate access to information that will allow them to prepare for climate-related hazards.
• Technical assistance on preparation of CSA project business plan will be delivered, focusing on de incubation of bankable associative business models with potential to aggregate and leverage additional funding from the private sector.
• Acceleration of bankable business models will be supported through provision of seed capital and matchmaking with private sector investors

PURPOSE

GGGI is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the implementation of the project “Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in El Salvador.” This will involve regular consultation with government and other stakeholders in country, regular communication and reporting to the donor in Korea, managing a team and providing guidance, feedback and coaching where needed, leading reporting processes internally and externally, managing project implementation and progress and taking corrective action as needed, identifying and measuring risks, and supporting the Regional Office and Central America Regional Lead to develop a sustainable program in El Salvador through opportunity identification and proposal development.

Based in San Salvador, the Project Manager will lead project implementation, taking responsibility for the full project management cycle including but not limited to implementation of agreed workstreams, stakeholder engagement, donor reporting, budget management and team management. The Project Manager reports to GGGI Regional Director based in GGGI Regional Office in Mexico City.

The Project Manager will:

• Manage a multi-disciplinary team of staff members, consultants, and firms.
• Build the capacity of staff and project partners; supervise, monitor, coach and provide regular backstopping.
• Be responsible for all project program reporting to GGGI and to the Korea Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, ensuring high quality, accurate, and on time reporting
• Assess effectiveness of program activities and recommend improvements to meet key milestones for program set up and implementation.
• Ensure synergy and alignment of the Project with the Government of El Salvador’s strategies and directions, as well GGGI’s organizational and Regional Strategy.
• Oversee the quality of the results as well be accountable for the effective and efficient delivery of results.
• Coordinate with GGGI experts and other departments (legal, HR, Procurement etc) to ensure high quality delivery and compliance with the rules and regulations of GGGI.

ENGAGEMENT

• Lead the day-to-day communication, supported by the team members, with El Salvador counterparts such as (but not limited to) the Ministry of Agriculture and Livelihoods, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, CENTA, Regional, Departamental, District and Municipal Governments where applicable.
• Lead the day-to-day communication with the donor and other development partners to ensure alignment and complementarity and identify opportunities for synergies and cooperation.
• Represent GGGI in the project Steering Committee.
• Originate and develop additional projects, including identifying resource mobilization opportunities and engaging with the donor community in El Salvador
• Engage regularly with project team members, developing a culture aligned with GGGI’s values, and ensuring respect, accountability and excellence are at the core of project delivery in the country

DELIVERY

• Organize project execution consistent with the Project objectives engaging national counterparts and building reputation for quality design and reliable delivery.
• Adapt project cycle and enhance project implementation process to ensure project outcomes are delivered as planned.
• Ensure successful completion of the project deliverables detailed in the Project Agreement.
• Identify, manage and report risks and execute mitigation measures
• Provide successful team management, ensuring GGGI’s core values are integrated into the team and that staff wellbeing is ensured.
• Mainstream and apply Safeguards, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion which are key for this Project and need to be mainstreamed and/or applied in all deliverables, outputs and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with national legal frameworks and alignment with national strategies and action plans under the Agenda 2030 and NDC frameworks.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• An advanced degree (Masters) in Project Management, Finance, Business, Economics, International Relations, Engineering, Forestry or comparable relevant field (additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a post graduate degree)
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience, preferably in developing countries in Latin America, managing climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and leading teams
• Demonstrated experience in financial management and report writing (in English).
• At least 2 years of international professional work experience in climate change mitigation and adaption projects
• Demonstrated experience in Central America including government engagement and project planning is an asset
• Proven success building productive working relationships with donors and other development partners.
• Exceptional skills in building productive working relationships with colleagues, multiple stakeholders, donors and other development partners.
• Proven team and customer care skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff, including field staff in several locations.
• Good knowledge of monitoring and evaluation systems within a performance-based management context.
• Project Management certifications such as PMP or Prince would be a strong asset
• Fluent in Spanish and English, knowledge of the Korean Language – (speaking, reading and writing) – is an advantage.
• Experience with the management of projects funded by the Korean government is an advantage.
• Experience in mobilization of resources from financial institutions and development partners is an advantage.
• Due to the nature of the donor and need to communicate in Korean, this position will prioritize Korean Nationals who speak fluent Spanish and meet the other requirements of the position
• Please note that in the selection of the candidate, GGGI will prioritize project management experience

FUNCTIONAL

• Strong project management skills and the ability to quickly understand guidelines, policies, and procedures and to plan for their implementation is essential.
• Strong people skills, including the ability to manage the needs and requests of a diverse set of stakeholders, and to understand team strengths and weakness are essential.
• Able to think strategically and in close collaboration with others.
• Detail-oriented striving for quality and consistency in all outputs and communications.
• Able to perform analysis of management and administrative matters in tandem and under time constraints.
• Output-oriented, demonstrating creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial drive.
• Highly organized and able to effectively and efficiently multi-task and prioritize.
• Comfortable working both in a team and independently.
• Excellent organizational and management understanding and demonstrated experience with successful mainstreaming of safeguards, gender, poverty reduction and social inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience in managing activities and deliverables that are supported and/or implemented by both international and local consultants.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values.
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership.
• Excels at problem solving, ask key questions and seeks support when needed, shares easily information and knowledge with others both internally as externally.
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily.
• Strong ability to work independently and/or remotely, while maintaining productivity.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills; including public speaking.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Project Manager is an X9 grade level in GGGI’s International salary scale. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.