ICT Programme Coordinator, Madagascar

Position Title: ICT Programme Coordinator, Madagascar

Closing date for applications: 17th June 2015                                                                  

Contract duration: Full time position

Start date: mid-July 2015

Remuneration and benefits:  Competitive salary based on experience

Rebuilding tropical fisheries with coastal communities

Blue Ventures develops transformative approaches for nurturing and sustaining locally led marine conservation.  We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures and economies, and we are committed to protecting marine biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people.

Summary Job Description

We are currently recruiting an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Programme Coordinator within our Madagascar team. The ICT Programme Coordinator will report to the Sustainable Fisheries Programme Manager, with technical support and guidance from the ICT Programme Manager.

Since 2013, Blue Ventures has been trialling the use of mobile phone technology for fisheries data collection in SW Madagascar, to find new solutions for data deficiency in small-scale fisheries in Madagascar.  The project has so far focussed on the monitoring the traditional shark fishery on the west coast of Madagascar using smartphones, with over 15 data collectors at three of Blue Ventures’ sites. The use of smartphones to improve data collection and dissemination is now also being tested within Blue Ventures’ health, Blue Forests and octopus fisheries projects.

Blue Ventures are seeking an ICT Programme Coordinator to coordinate ICT development in Madagascar, and provide technical support across Blue Ventures’ programmes and sites.

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Project management and support

• Coordinate and plan project activities within the shark fisheries monitoring project, in line with the strategic plan of the project, in conjunction with the ICT Programme Manager.
• Coordinate development of ICT activities across Blue Ventures’ other programmes with their respective managers and team members.
• Oversee hiring and training of new data collectors as required.
• Lead on improving, trouble-shooting and problem solving any technical or field data collection issues.
• Ensure any technical problems or issues are reported in a timely fashion to the ICT Programmes Manager.
• Provide recommendations for improvements within the project as necessary.
• Identify data collection needs in a timely fashion, coordinating the purchasing and distribution of all necessary materials.
• Coordinate training/retraining events for data collectors.

Technical support and development

• Keep up to date with changes in software being used (Open Data Kit) and any changes to systems architecture.
• Assist with system set up for current and new ICT projects, including production of xls and xml forms for use with ODK Collect and setting up new appspots.
• Ensure that system of mobile phones, websites and appspots are organised across projects.
• Assist with identifying gaps with the current system of data collection, and how these could be overcome.

Data management

• Ensure that data submitted online are accurate through cross-checking with relevant project managers.
• Manage all shark fisheries data collection, entry and checking in a timely fashion.
• Monitor data collector performance to ensure their full understanding of programme aims and objectives, as well as rigorous data collection.

Communicate and disseminate research information to relevant parties.

• Ensure excellent internal communication within and across BV projects, ensuring that any issues experienced/perceived in the field are reported directly to your line manager and the ICT Programme Manager, and others as appropriate.
• Report progress and disseminate results to communities, management committees and other stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Assist with preparation of any grant reports to funders as required.
• Prepare, present and update lectures to volunteers on the project as relevant within Blue Ventures’ science training programme (in English).
• Work with other conservation staff on site to produce regular research updates, blogs and social media updates, summarising efforts, findings and results.

Additional duties shared by all staff on site

• Support logistical staff on site with the day-to-day running of the project.
• Ensure that site rules and regulations are respected and adhered to by all personnel.
• Liaise with UK staff in the preparation of funding bids and proposals to support the research programme on site.

Requirements

Essential

• Either graduate level qualification in Information Communication Technology, Computer Science, or similar, with a strong interest and enthusiasm for marine ecology and conservation.

OR

A graduate level qualification in either Marine Ecology, Marine biology or Conservation

with demonstrable IT skills and professional experience working with new technologies.

• Good knowledge of mobile phones systems and apps.
• Highly organised with an eye for detail.
• Ability to problem solve quickly.
• Ability to work well as part of a multi-cultural team (the role will involve working with English, French and Malagasy staff and some translation may be required).
• Enthusiasm and interest in marine conservation.
• Fluency in English and Malagasy (French also desirable).
• Willingness to work in a relatively remote environment.

Desirable:

• Experience of developing partnerships with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector
• Experience in financial management and budget preparation
• Significant work experience in Madagascar including knowledge of the environment and related policy issues.
• Experience of field research in fisheries or a related field
• Experience of mobile data collection

Application Details

Applicants should send a cover letter and a recent copy of their CV (with full address, telephone and e-mail contact details of three professional referees), along with the application form to jobs@blueventures.org.  Please include the reference “ICT Programmes Coordinator” in the subject line. The closing date for applications is 12^th June.