Project Coordinator at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Project Coordinator

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-026
Location: Jos, Plateau
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

International Potato Center (CIP)
CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a network of 15 Research Centers and 16 Research Programs mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on behalf of CIP seeks suitable Nigerian for the position of: Project Coordinator at the CIP project location in Jos. The project aims to support Irish potato seed system in Nigeria by building local capacity of the public and private sector to supply adequate amounts of quality seed, while supporting smallholder farmers in maximizing their investments in seed through building capacity in on-farm seed quality management, good agricultural practices for improving soil health and fertility, and storage.

Duties
Project Management:

• Learn the project proposal to fully understand and internalize the entire project mission and be ready to contribute as an important member of the team towards meeting the set goals at scale in an effective, sustainable and cost-effective manner.
• Develop and maintain plans to support the project including analyses of task, schedules and resources needed’.
• Under the guidance of your supervisors develop a detailed work plan for yourself and diligently implement it to achieve the set goals and targets by identifying, enrolling, handholding and monitoring suitable project partners for various activities in the potato value chain.
• Liaise with the supervisor to ensure that activities are completed on time within budget and meet quality standard which will include developing and implementing plans for monitoring project progress as well as scheduling project meetings.
• Oversee day-to-day management and implementation of the project activities in close collaboration with Green innovation centers for the agriculture and food sector (GIAE) teams and project partners.
• Facilitate the implementation of project activities in the project area and participate in the monitoring of progress made towards achieving project set goals and outputs.
• Provide support to public and private sector partners and ensure that they are fully and actively engaged.
• Establish good linkages with CIP and IITA Nigeria to ensure that administrative support is provided for fiduciary services such as procurement and financial management.
• Establish and maintain good working relationship with government extension service, research stations, NGO partners, and farmer groups.
• In close consultation and collaboration with the Green innovation centers for the agriculture and food sector (GIAE) teams ensure that capacity is developed in all needed areas for various stakeholders within the potato value chain.
• Ensure that quarterly and annual consolidated technical and financial project reports are prepared and submitted to the program management office on schedule.
• Present the activities, results, impacts and outcomes of the project at professional, donor and other stakeholders’ meetings.
• Document lessons learned and best practices on the project development, implementation, and oversight activities.
• Proactively take responsibility to ensure safety of humans and property at all times and implement the project activities in timely manner in keeping with the budgets allocated.
• Be entrepreneurial and proactive in identifying new opportunities, partners and strategies towards enhancing the overall project deliverables towards meeting the organizational and donor expectations.
• Carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor to meet the objectives of the value chain.
• Apart from working towards achieving this project goals, be an ambassador for CIP and strive to position CIP as a GoTo partner for GIZ, other donors and for the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) partners in all things related to potato.

Technical Competencies:

• Capacity building of public and private partners on early generation seed potato production to field multiplication and bulking using rapid multiplication technologies such as aeroponics, sand hydroponics and apical rooted cuttings.
• Demonstration and training of potato on-farm seed management, soil fertility and other key agronomic practices and innovations.
• Field bulking, testing, and identification of candidate CIP late-blight resistant varieties for Nigerian national registration.
• Providing technical assistance to the national program, when requested and within the limits of available resources, in disease detection for seed certification schemes, in tissue culture for early generation seed production.
• Development and advocacy for locally adapted protocols and schemes for seed quality assurance to the federal and state level agency.
• Design and implement wide-scale farmer extension materials, briefs, scripts for cartoons and videos, including through innovative use of ICTs platform.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Country Team Leader or senior members of the organizations.

Qualifications

• M.Sc in Agriculture or Agricultural related discipline with minimum of ten (10) years’ related experience in project coordination, implementation and management and six years (6) of practical experience on Irish potato seed system, good agricultural practices, seed storage, potato pest and disease are must.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must have:

• Excellent and demonstrated ability to write, publish, and disseminate technical reports, success stories, and promotional materials.
• Excellent project management, leadership, interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Experience in project coordination with stakeholder engagement.
• Organizational, planning and budget management experience.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work in resource-poor, rural areas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Application Closing Date
10th December, 2020.