DEVELOPMENT EXCHANGE CENTRE
Advertisement for the position of Agricultural Livelihood Technical Officer, CASCADE, Nigeria Project
Development Exchange Centre (DEC) is a non-governmental, non-discriminating, women-focused organization improving the wellbeing of women groups and communities in Nigeria through socio-economic interventions for sustainable development.
DEC was established in November 1987 due to joint research conducted by the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) and the Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency (ANFEA) Bauchi State.
CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resilience (CASCADE) is a Nederland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Funded Multi Years and Multi-Countries ‘Driving nutrition Impact through implEmenting naTional policieS’ (DIETS) programme aimed at strengthening the implementation of national nutrition-related policies in sub-Saharan Africa from 2022 to 2027 cutting across Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. Cooperative Assistance for Relief Everywhere (CARE) International is the Lead implementer and is in partnership with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). CASCADE is designed to achieve the changes needed to deliver the objective of healthier diets and increased resilience to price-and climate-related shocks for women and children. The major focus of the program will be on improving the implementation of existing Food and Nutrition Policies policy (awareness, capacity, and funding) rather than amending or identifying new policies. CASCADE focuses on improved implementation of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN), National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition (NMPAFN), and the National Social Protection Policy.
Job Title: Agricultural Livelihood Technical Officer
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: July 11,2024
Closing Date: July 19,2024
Reports to: Program Coordinator
Oversees whom: N/A
Project Duration: 10 months
Location: Jigawa, Bauchi States, Nigeria
Summary of Position:
- The incumbent will be responsible for the overall implementation of the Agriculture and Livelihood activities under the CASCADE project component through partner staff in communities within the stated states.
- S/he will provide support in the implementation of CASCADE agriculture & livelihoods activities using DEC/CARE Nigeria approaches and methodologies as articulated in the project proposal documentation to improve household food security and resilience of targeted communities.
- S/he will carry out their duties with a focus on mentoring and coaching of partner staff, project agricultural field agents and beneficiaries.
- S/he will ensure that all activities related to Agriculture and Livelihood in the project are implemented accordingly by ensuring participatory, inclusive and qualitative programming with accountability to the project participants.
- Focus areas will include improved agricultural practices, increasing yields, promotion of nutrient rich crops of legumes and cereals, diversification of livelihoods, value addition to existing agricultural produce, improved storage techniques, strengthening of producer groups, Agro enterprise, collective marketing of focus crops, and vocational skills and entrepreneurial trainings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure that agriculture-based livelihoods related activities are implemented in accordance with DEC standards and approaches.
- Under the technical direction of the Head of Programs, lead the design and development of capacity strengthening strategies, approaches, and tools to support CASCADE partners and relevant government agencies in agricultural livelihoods and enterprise development.
- Provide technical support and guidance in the assessment, planning and implementation of agriculture / livelihoods activities of CASCADE in collaboration with CASCADE’s partners and relevant government agencies.
- Responsible for oversight of implementing partners on the day-to-day implementation of Agric and livelihood activities. Work with the local partners to provide technical assistance to smallholder farmers including assisting farmers in adopting new technologies and innovations for increased productivity, quality, efficiency, management, etc., through tailored trainings and demonstration trials where relevant.
- Lead the process of identifying and mentoring of community-based field agents (FAs) by ensuring good working relationship between FAs and government extension agents and mentoring FAs in becoming Private Agricultural Service Providers (Agro-inputs and seeds).
- Lead CASCADE capacity development of producer groups and marketing committees and lead private sector linkages as well engagement including farmers’ linkage to input and output markets, facilitate linkage with the local service providers like tractor operators etc.
- Work to deliver quality program and timely reporting of Agriculture & Livelihoods activities including ensuring the quality of Agriculture and Livelihood groups in target areas through regular field visits, technical backstopping, hand holding support to the Agric field agents and spot checks field implementation.
- Regularly brief the Head of Programs on progress, promptly alert to emerging issues, foreseen problems and constraints or delays in the timely implementation of activities or any other factors that could affect the quality of the services and recommend and implement approved corrective measures.
- Contribute to technical content of proposal design and development including budgeting for Agric and livelihood resilience interventions.
- Develop strong working relationships with communities and villages, local government institutions, and other existing projects within project locations.
- Work closely with partners to deliver project results.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by DEC’s Management.
Qualifications and Experience for the position:
- Bachelor’s Degree/HND in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Crop Science or relevant field or equivalent experience.
- At least 4 years of working experience in agriculture, development or food security programs including focus on at least one of the following sectors – agriculture, livelihoods, agriculture value-chain activities with experience in the agriculture sector in the selected states would be an added advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing agriculture projects in rural, peri-urban settings and post-conflict context.
- Excellent training facilitation skills with demonstrated experience in training design, development of training curriculum, delivery and mentoring in subject matter relevant to this position.
- Experience with the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable agriculture development and food security.
- Experience with market development approaches such as agricultural value-chain development (linking producers to markets) programming.
- Previous experience carrying out and using the results of technical capacity assessments in the areas of agricultural production, value-chain development, food security and related fields.
- Previous experience working with local partners (capacity building) and experience with participatory methods and partnerships.
Other requirements for the Job role:
- Good time management skills with ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
- Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
- Excellent communication, writing and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated strength in relationship management
- Experience in group development strengthening.
- Ability and desire to work well with diverse employees and customers in a cooperative and friendly manner
- Demonstrated progression in career with increasing responsibilities.
Method of Application:
DEC in partnership with CASCADE are asking suitably qualified candidates to forward their detailed resume/CV and cover letter in a single file to: [email protected] in a word document or PDF format (as any other format would not be considered) using the Job Title as the subject of the email.
