Project Intern – Agriculture at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Mbeya, November 2024
Location: Mbeya
Duration: 1st January – 30th September 2025 (Fixed Term)
Reports To: Project Manager
Deadline for Applications: 23rd November 2024
About Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, working in over 100 countries to help those in need through emergency response, development programs, and advocacy. CRS Tanzania has been dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities through various initiatives in agriculture, health, education, microfinance, and more since 1962.
Project Overview:
The Leveraging Community Systems to Optimize Maternal-Child Nutrition project focuses on addressing childhood stunting and improving adolescent nutrition in Mbeya and Njombe regions. CRS seeks to strengthen community systems to ensure access to diverse diets, quality nutrition services, and promote optimal nutrition behaviors. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in agricultural interventions designed to support maternal-child nutrition.
Role Summary:
The Project Intern – Agriculture will assist in implementing agricultural interventions that support the project’s objectives, working closely with local farmers, community workers, and government authorities. The intern will also contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and documentation processes to ensure that activities are reported accurately and on time.
Key Responsibilities:
- Agricultural Interventions: Collaborate with the project team to implement agricultural activities with Local Government Authorities at regional and council levels, focusing on modern farming techniques, crop rotation, pest management, and irrigation methods.
- Capacity Building: Support workshops, training sessions, and demonstrations for farmers on best agricultural practices and how these practices impact maternal-child nutrition.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of agricultural activities, ensuring that reporting is accurate and timely.
- Support for Farmers: Help farmers access agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and tools to improve productivity and nutrition outcomes.
- Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Encourage and support the adoption of sustainable agricultural techniques that optimize maternal and child nutrition outcomes.
- Supervision and Follow-ups: Assist with supportive supervision and follow-up visits to ensure the effective implementation of project activities.
- Reporting: Prepare field reports and assist with data compilation for timely submission.
- Community Engagement: Maintain strong communication with community leaders, extension officers, and local stakeholders to ensure smooth project implementation.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Economics, or a related field, with graduation between 2022 and 2024.
- Experience in community-based health or nutrition programs is a plus.
- Proficiency in Swahili and good working knowledge of English.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting.
- Proficiency in relevant software applications and data analysis tools.
- Willingness to travel frequently to rural project sites.
Key Competencies:
- Personal Accountability: Takes responsibility for actions and outcomes.
- Integrity: Consistently adheres to CRS guiding principles and demonstrates honesty.
- Collaboration: Works effectively in diverse teams and with external stakeholders.
- Learning and Growth: Actively seeks opportunities to learn and grow in a professional setting.
How to Apply:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their letter of application and CV in PDF or Word format as a single attachment to TZ_HR@crs.org by 23rd November 2024. Please ensure to clearly indicate the job title in the subject line of the email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.
This internship provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in agriculture and maternal-child nutrition, while making a significant contribution to community development. Apply today to be part of this impactful initiative!