Zonal Irrigation/Rural Infrastructure Engineer at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - 4 Positions

The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a loan front the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the implementation of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase-I (ATASP-I). The ATASP-I will contribute to the objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government by addressing the constraints of Rice. Sorghum and Cassava value chains in four staple crop processing zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi, Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto. The Program comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components viz: Infrastructure Development; Commodity Value Chain Development; and Program Management. The specific objective of the program is to contribute to food and nutrition security, employment generation, and wealth creation along the priority commodity value chains.

The Program will be implemented through four (4) Zonal Offices. The Zones are: Adani-Omor with Head Office at Awka: Bida-Badeggi with Head Office at Bida; Kano-Jigawa with Head Office at Kano and Kebbi-Sokoto with Head Officer at Birnin Kebbi.

For effective Zonal Program take-off the ATASP-I is constituting a Zonal Program Coordination ream (ZPCT) at each of the 4Nos Zonal Program Head Offices. Consequently, part of the proceeds of the ATASP-I loan will be applied to engage the services of Officers at each of the four (4) Zonal Program Head Offices:

Job Title: Zonal Irrigation/Rural Infrastructure Engineer

Location: Nigeria
Slots: 4

Main Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Zonal Program Coordinator, the Irrigation/Rural Infrastructure Engineer will be responsible for all irrigation and rural infrastructure engineering activities relating to the Program at the Zone.

Specific Duties
The litigation and Infrastructure Engineer would be responsible for activities relating to rehabilitation/development of irrigation, micro-hydropower, potable water supply infrastructure under the Program at the Zone. He/she will report to the Zonal Program Coordinator and work in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and other external implementation partners. The specific rcsponsibi1ties of the Engineer will include hut not limited to the following:

• Be responsible for the implementation of irrigation, potable water supply and associated energy infrastructure.
• Follow-up on procurement of goods and services for all infrastructure projects. In liaison with the Procurement officer, prepare and or assist implementing agencies in the preparation of TOR, bidding documents, request for proposals and hid evaluation reports for procurement of civil works, goods and technical assistance services tinder the agricultural infrastructure rehabilitation and development component in accordance with standards and requirements of AfDB;
• Undertake inspection of works to verify quality, quantity and timeliness of work done and prepare and/or verify pavement certificates for service providers engaged on project irrigation and other infrastructure related activities.
• Identify the various infrastructure activities fur which short-term expertise is required: prepare detailed TOR for the required specialist input.
• Ensure that the maintenance program of irrigation and related infrastructure is properly designed and put in place appropriate mechanisms for its execution during and after the project, in accordance with the stipulation of the appraisal report.
• In liaison with the Ministry of Environment, ensure that environmental mitigation measures are implemented as part of infrastructure rehabilitation and development, as well as conducting regular environmental monitoring activities.
• Contribute relevant consent to Project Progress Reports. Liaise with the Zonal and Local Government Agriculture Offices as well as the Program Monitoring Officer to prepare quarterly, bi-annual and annual progress reports, as well as mid-term review report for infrastructure development and management.
• Participate actively in AfDB supervision missions by collecting amid providing infrastructure implementation progress data and information required by the missions.
• Assist with preparing water management training modules and course requirements for the Communities. Zonal and Local Government staff in liaison with training service providers and provide technical support to the trainers.
• Liaise with program stakeholders and other relevant projects, programs, state agencies. NGO’s, private sector, and other parties in order to facilitate program implementation.
• Assist in organizing Zonal Steering Committee meetings and preparing records.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least a Bachelors Degree in Irrigation, Water and/or Hydraulic Engineering.
• At least 8 years proven work experience in rural infrastructure development including rural water supply/irritation amid energy infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate, and monitor his or her own work plan and to collaborate with colleagues across operating units.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Results focused and self motivated professional with proven ability to work under minimum guidance.
• Computer literate with excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, especially Microsoft Protect, Excel, Word, AUTOCAD in addition to other water/hydraulic engineering design software.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of design and construction of irrigation infrastructure, particularly for rice production (upland and swamp) and potable water supply facilities.
• Knowledge of renewable/alternative energy systems such as micro-hydro power, solar amid biogas is desirable.

Terms of Appointment
Maximum of five years, renewable every year subject to satisfactory performance. The performance criteria will be the indicator for assessing every officer.

Application Closing Date
13th August, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit ten (10) copies of his/her application. All application should be addressed to the following addresses, depending on the State and Stable Crop Processing Zone of Interest:

Adani-Omor Stable Crop Processing Zone
Enugu State:
The Permanent Secretary,
Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture,
No 1, Garden Avenue,
Enugu State.

Anambra State:
The Hon. Commissioner,
Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development,
ADP Compound, Kwata Junction,
Km 41 Enugu, Onitsha Express Road,
Awka,
Anambra State.

Bida-Badeggi Staple Crop Processing Zone
Niger State:
The Permanent Secretary,
Niger State Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development,
Abdulkarim Lafene Secretariat,
Minna,
Niger State.

Kano-Jigawa Stable Crop Processing Zone
Kano State:
The Permanent Secretary,
Kano State Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources,
No 1, Bida Road, Off Post Office road, by Civic centre road,
Kano State.

Jigawa State:
The Permanent Secretary,
Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources,
Block B, New State Secretariat Complex,
Dutse,
Jigawa State.

Kebbi-Sokoto Stable Crop Processing Zone
Kebbi State:
The Permanent Secretary,
Kebbi State Ministry of Agriculture,
Gwadan Gwaji State Secretariat Complex,
Birnin Kebbi,
Kebbi State.

Sokoto State:
The IFAD-CBARDP Coordinator,
ADP Premisis,
Abdullahi Fodio Road,
Sokoto State.

All application must be addressed and delivered to the above address. Applicants should ensure that the position applied for as well as State and the Zones are clearly written on the top right hand corner of the envelope.

Note: Only Short listed candidates will be contacted.