Project Crop Specialists at WAAPP Nigeria - (2 Positions)

The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) is a World Bank assisted Programme for member-countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), designed to make agriculture more productive and sustainable and also to enhance sub-regional integration. In Nigeria, WAAPP works towards achieving its objective of increasing agricultural productivity while promoting sub-regional integration along the value chains of its targeted commodities (aquaculture, cassava, maize; rice, sorghum, yam, poultry and fruit processing); while assisting in the realization of the Nation's Agricultural Transformation Agenda, this it does via four (4) components, which are:

• Enabling conditions for sub-regional cooperation in technology generation, dissemination and adoption;
• National Centre of Specialization and Excellence in Aquaculture;
• Funding of demand-driven technology generation and adoption;
• Project coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.

WAAPP is coordinated at the sub-regional level by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD). In Nigeria WAAPP is implemented by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD) through a Project Coordination Office (PCO). WAAPP-Nigeria became effective in January 2012 and the first phase will close in 2016. The Project requires the services of exceptional and highly motivated professionals to fill the vacant position:

Job Title: Project Crop Specialist

Location: Abuja
Slot: 2

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator, and working in collaboration with other members of the Technical Team, the incumbent will contribute technical expertise to the Project’s operational activities, especially relating to the planning, implementation and evaluation of appropriate agronomic interventions in all the priority commodities of the Project. The major duties and responsibilities will include:

• Planning and carrying out agronomic field operations to achieve the mandates of the Project;
• Contribute technical inputs in the preparation of the Project’s national strategy documents, and portfolio reviews, baseline studies, quarterly and annual analytical reports, and technical monographs on the Project;
• Lead a team approach in planning and implementation of Project activities to provide appropriate technical/agronomic assistance that enable the participating farmers to increase their farm productivity;
• Recommending and promoting the appropriate application of germplasm in roots and tuber crop (Cassava and Yam) in target environments.
• Designing, planning, testing and disseminating integrated crop, soil and pest management strategies for the Project’s priority crop systems that address farmers’ needs along different intensification levels within the Project;
• Providing technical assistance to the Project’ partner-farmers to enable them apply appropriate agronomic practices;
• Serve as a technical specialist on agronomic activities, working within a multi-disciplinary team approach to identify, prepare, appraise, launch, monitor, follow-up, supervise, and complete all missions that contribute to the delivery of the Project’s mandates;
• Work with partner national agricultural research institutes (NARIs), universities and other partner organizations on executing the mandates of the Project;
• Represent the National Project Coordinator, whenever delegated, at meetings with partner agencies within and outside Nigeria;
• Perform other duties assigned by the National Project Coordinator.

Preferred qualifications
Candidates for the Crop Specialist position should possess:

• Nigerian citizenship;
• A doctorate in any area of Crop Science, plus at least 7 years of professional experience in a relevant position in major donor-funded agricultural or economic development programme or project; the candidate should have a versatile knowledge of, and practical experience in, the following commodity value chains: Aquaculture, Cassava, Yam, Sorghum, Maize, Mice and Poultry.
• Evidence of previous relevant experience in a donor-funded aquaculture value chain development project;
• Previous experience working in multi-lateral, financial institutions or similar large organisations, and performing such roles as project preparing, appraising, supervising or implementing donor funded projects;
• A broad knowledge of all agriculture sub- sectors, and with specific experience in implementation and management of donor funded projects in an African setting;
• Full understanding of the principles of project cycle and project implementation;
• Proven planning and organizational skills Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills, with ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations;
• Strong knowledge of social, cultural, gender and other development issues related to aquaculture in Nigeria;
• Ability to interact competently with the staff of Project partner-organizations, government and donor agencies to implement the Project; Competence in the application of various software (Word, Excel, Access, MS Projects, SPSS or other statistical packages, and PowerPoint);
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in English. A good working knowledge of French will be an advantage;

Duration of Employment Contract
Duration of the employment contract will be 2 (Two) years for all positions (renewable, but based upon the incumbent’s performance and if the relevant project activities are continuing)

Remuneration
Package will be commensurate with professional experience and qualifications

Application Closing Date
13th November, 2014

Method of Application
Interested candidates should forward Ten hard copies of application letters together with ten copies of the their credentials to:

The Office of the National Project Coordinator,
WAAPP-Nigeria,
Project Coordination Office (PCO),
No. 2, Franca Afegbua Crescent,
Off Samuel Jereton Mariere Road,
Apo, Abuja.