Agro-forestry Programme Officer at Oxfam Nigeria

Oxfam in Nigeria and International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED: Improving Fuel Wood Balance Project

Oxfam is a confederation of 17 Affiliates committed to creating a just world without poverty. In Nigeria Oxfam works in the areas of Economic Justice/Livelihood, Basic Social Services, Humanitarian programming, Gender Justice / Female Leadership and Good governance, adopting a rights based approach. The International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development (ICEED) is a Nigerian think tank focused on addressing climate change and promoting clean energy through policy research, advocacy and communication on the low carbon economy.

Oxfam and ICEED, with funding support from the European Union and the National Planning Commission (NPC) as the contracting authority, are collaborating in the implementation of a four year project on renewable energy production, including Agro-forestry. The project is aimed at sustainably improving the fuel-wood balance and resilience of livelihoods of rural households in 7 LGAs in Katsina state by increasing wood supply through farmer managed natural regeneration whilst reducing fuel wood demand through dissemination and use of fire wood efficient stoves.

The position is open to suitably qualified personnel who will drive the implementation of the project:

Job Title: Agro-forestry Programme Officer

Location: Katsina State
Reports To: The Project Manager

Job Description
The Programme Officer is fully responsible for the delivery of the results of the Agro-forestry component in collaboration with the Programme Manager, the Project Officer Fuel Woodstoves and the project team.

Main Tasks:

• Develop annual work plans for the implementation of the project in collaboration with the project team
• Design a draft project implementation manual to guide implementation of the agro-forestry component.
• Ensure a comprehensive baseline is carried out to derive quality data needed for the implementation of the agro-forestry component of the project. Recruit Technical services for this and oversee conduct of the baseline study
• Ensure comprehensive promotion of natural regeneration and other Agro-forestry models in the target project areas to build widespread awareness on the project benefits and mobilize participation in the project
• Ensure effective capacity building of target beneficiaries for effective take off of the Agro-forestry segment of the project.
• Supervise the establishment of nurseries and distribution of seedlings,
• Work with the relevant members of the project team to establish public/private/CBO partnership platforms that plan and coordinate LGA level actions to create conducive legal/practical conditions that allow people to benefit from the trees they manage.
• Facilitate a review of financial mechanisms such as taxation on unsustainable use and loans for investments in Agro-forestry models and the development of an updated acceptable regime.
• Identify and engage applied research institutions for provision of specialised technical services and know/how such as GIS and Agro-forestry models development
• Support socially inclusive value chain development for Agro-forestry, rural entrepreneurship, markets and marketing working with the Project advisers and Private Sector Expert,
• Supervise the effective implementation of a Results Based Financing mechanism, whereby entrepreneurs are rewarded for their achievements to raise and supply seedlings to CBOs
• Contribute to results as relevant for both the Agro-forestry and Wood Stoves component.
• Develop and organise ToRs, Capacity Development plans, Implementation Plans, M&E routines, Documentation, TA support, in order to support Implementing Partners
• Elaborate and actively promote Project principles and results in the project area and inform sector policies of more efficient intervention based on results of the action.
• Facilitate the transfer of technology / participatory learning on the Agro-forestry supporting techniques such as water management, intercropping, improved pasture,
• Actively take part in PMU meetings and provide other services as may be delegated by the Project Manager.

Requirement

• A post-graduate degree in Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related fields
• Minimum 10 years extensive experience in Farmer-Managed Agroforestry Models in northern Nigeria
• Relevant work experience in project management preferably for an EU project
• Comprehensive understanding of project principles such as social justice, economy-based scaling up of agro-forestry models
• Excellent knowledge of donor processes in contract and project management
• Extensive experience in NGO/Service Provision, CBO capacity building
• Proven skills in community entry, mobilization and organization
• Ability to work well in diverse teams
• Excellent communication skills
• Verbal communications skills in English and Hausa

Application Closing Date
4th November, 2014

Method of Application
Qualified candidates should send their Curriculum Vitae and application to: [email protected]

Enquiries should be sent to: [email protected] Applications sent to the enquiry e-mail will be disqualified.