Company Profile

The International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance—as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.

At Abt Associates, we are committed to creating a lasting culture of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that in order to achieve full participation, our practices must be free of prejudice, discrimination, and bias that result in inequitable outcomes. We are actively working to advance equity for everyone, and while we still have much work to do, we know that racial and cultural diversity are an asset to our business and the communities where we live and serve. Our ongoing commitment is focused on creating business practices that advance racial and social equity, investments in community impact programs for the benefit of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and expand upon project work related to racial equity and social justice.

Job Description

Overview

• Abt Associates seeks candidates for a Management Information Systems (MIS) Specialist position on its USAID-funded West Africa Trade and Investment Hub project.
• The MIS Specialist, will manage the implementation of four MIS systems existing or currently being developed by Trade Hub in collaboration with project partners: African Cashew
• Alliance, RESIMAO, COFENABVI, and Conseil Burkinabe des Chargeurs.
• Working under the supervision of Trade Hub's Value Chain Component Lead (based in Accra, Ghana), he/she will have responsibility for the successful implementation of all Trade Hub's MIS activities in West Africa.
• The Trade Hub's MIS efforts have two objectives to:
  • Improve the quality of services offered through the project partners' market information systems, and
  • Through marketing and promotion, expand the number of users of the market information systems.
• The candidate must be highly motivated with a history of dynamic performance, and ability to network.
• He/She must possess excellent project management skills with a, proven track record of achievement in challenging situations.
• He/She must be willing and be able to travel in West Africa as required.     

Specific Responsibilities:

• Finalise the COFENABVI's MIS platform and promote its usage by livestock market actors.     
• The main activities under this strategy will focus on the training of national administrators and data collectors, the launching ceremony of the platform, and the sensitisation of market actors on the usage of market information in their business. .
• Build upon and enhance the quality of the information services provided through RESIMAO's web platform, and identify new cereals market players in the region to expand the visibility and reach of RESIMAO's market information.
• Improve the African Cashew Alliance (ACA)'s market information platform and expand the number of users.
• Scale up the usage of the Burkinabe Shippers Council's freight platform among truckers and carriers through mobile solutions.
• Collaborate with program partners and regional mobile operators to promote the usage of Mobile Money in cross-border trade in the region.

Other Responsibilities:

• Building good and continuous relationships with existing partners.
• Supporting Trade Hub's operations team in procuring consultants and service providers for MIS activities by drafting TORs, defining outputs and timelines.
• Coordinating and regularly following upon work of consultants and service providers.
• Planning, organising, and leading various MIS workshops and trainings.
• Maintaining communication, and monitoring on-going activities.

Required Skills or Experience

• An advanced degree in Management Information Systems or related field.
• 8-10 years' experience managing MIS development lifecycles (analysing, designing, implementing,monitoring) and mobile information dissemination technologies.
• Previous experience designing and implementing MIS training
• Previous West Africa work experience.
• Fluency in English and French.
• Experience with mobile money in West Africa a plus.
• Familiarity with agriculture, agribusiness and commodity trade a plus.