Technical Product Management Consultant (AgTech / NGO / 6-month Contract) – Kigali, Rwanda

Reference Number: SFFDS04

 

Job Description:

Our client within the NPO space is seeking a Technical Product Management Consultant who will lead the technical aspects of strategy, design and delivery of an Farmer Management and Information System (FMIS) and sector insights platform that will have a positive impact on smallholder farmers and wider agricultural stakeholders, while informing the Government of Rwanda and leading sector stakeholders.

 

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Government of Rwanda to develop a robust, secure and scalable farmer-facing agricultural data and information system plus stakeholder insights platform to interface with wider ag-system actors (government, agribusinesses, banks, donors, NGOs, etc.).
  • Complete an in-depth evaluation and assessment of gaps and opportunities (including from a technical perspective) of Government of Rwanda’s existing Agtech initiatives and plans.
  • Lead a detailed technical design phase for the FMIS with specific consideration of the small holder farmer as the target beneficially group.
  • Develop technical designs, delivery budgets, timelines and project plans.
• Engage with a diverse set of stakeholders from the Government of Rwanda, technology providers and other sector relevant delivery partners.
• Lead the technical direction of the project, while understanding and quantifying Government of Rwanda system desires and how it will benefit the targeted farmers; helping to deliver their vision from a technical and data point of view.
• Work closely with and quality assuring the work of technical teams to facilitate timely and relevant product delivery designed for users and to deliver on outcome targets.
• Regularly inform both the company country-level and central colleagues of progress through reporting and engagement sessions and proactively escalating issues for further support as needed.
• Support the definition and reporting of success metrics to help evaluate the efficiency and impact of implemented solutions.
• Existing technology evaluation of MINAGRI systems:
  • Help the company to better understand MINAGRI’s current Data Warehouse system and see what can be reused in FMIS development
    • In-depth technical survey of the current Data Warehouse that is in development
    • Baseline data being collected
    • SWOT analysis of current infrastructure
  • Wider Ag facing Government of Rwanda system evaluation
    • What data is currently being collected and how can the company help improve on it?
    • What data consolidation would be valuable within the FMIS?

 

• Support users / stakeholder mapping:

• • Attend design workshops, led by the company’s Rwanda’s AgTech Advisor, with the company’s Rwanda T4D team
  • Develop detailed understanding of user needs, wants and challenges for the Government of Rwanda, SHFs, Digital Farmer Promoters and Private / Public sector system users

 

• Design research: OTS vs Custom technology build:
  • Begin developing a scope for a suitable FMIS solution, including functionality and UX/UI needs
  • OTS vs Custom Design feasibility study
    • What products and services have been delivered domestically / regionally?
    • What products and services would be suitable?
    • What further technical or product innovation is required to fill gaps in what can be delivered by technical service providers?

 

• FMIS technical design:
  • Develop a requirements document (combination of user stories, user journeys, wire-frames and low fidelity mock-ups)
    • Based on the requirements, evaluate and recommend an approach (customised ‘off the shelf’ vs custom built or hybrid offerings). Consider cost / complexity / skillsets needed for adapting existing vs building a new system vs semi-bespoke route
  • Develop a detailed cost analysis
  • Present solution to the company / Government of Rwanda for inputs and decision making

 

• Shortlist, advise on and support onboarding of Tech Solution Provider (TSP):
  • Once approach has been concluded on design, develop a shortlist of suitable TSPs
  • Support the company and the Government of Rwanda in the hiring and onboarding of a TSP. Including:
    • Developing a ToR
    • Support with evaluating proposals

 

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

• Experience in delivering a wide range of technologically complex and impactful digital solutions on the continent.
• Experience in East Africa’s Agtech sector, and specifically farmer information systems being a plus.
• A minimum of 5 years’ technical product delivery experience including exposure to a range of technical areas, for example: system architecture, data architecture, middleware/APIs, systems integration, applications, etc.
• Ability to extract, analyse, and present complex datasets in ways that tell a concise and understandable story about solution performance and the case for future improvements.
• Experience or familiarity with advanced Agridata analytics, for example, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive and/or cognitive analysis of weather, climate, agronomic, farm and farmer data preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure, and to coordinate with teams and multi-disciplinary advisors.
• Who can work flexibly and be adaptable, open to changing approaches in response to changing situations on the ground.
• Understanding of Rwanda’s technology policy and regulatory landscape, and the discretion and judgment needed to navigate a complex environment.
• Fluency in English required.

 

Contractual Information:

• Based in Kigali, Rwanda
• This is a 6-month contract

 

If you wish to apply for the position directly, please send your CV to Fabio Da Silva Faria at fdasilvafaria@caglobalint.com

Please visit www.banking-recruitment-jobs.com for more exciting opportunities.

 

Fabio Da Silva Faria

Recruitment Consultant   

Banking, Finance & Information Technology

CA Global Finance will respond to short-listed candidates only. If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful, however your CV will be kept on our database for any other suitable positions.