Sorghum Commodity Specialists at ICRISAT Nigeria

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi-arid tropics is home to over 2 billion people, with 650 million of these being the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower those living in the semi-arid tropics, especially smallholder farmers, to overcome poverty, hunger, malnutrition and a degraded environment through more efficient and profitable agriculture. ICRISAT, established in 1972, and is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Sorghum Commodity Specialist

Location: Kano

Job Description

• The Sorghum commodity specialist will drive the implementation of Sorghum related activities under the African Development Bank (AfDB) funded ATASP-1 project and take responsibility for coordination of all Sorghum related activities in a manner that is efficient and timely.
• He/she will provide oversight to all project activities working with other commodity specialists and staff including senior government officials to ensure result-oriented implementation of all project activities in accordance with the overall project implementation plan for the five-year period or revised Annual Work Plans and Budgets and Procurement Plans, in compliance with the relevant Protocols of Agreement as well as AfDB Rules and Procedures.
• The successful candidate will be based at ICRISAT Office in Kano, Nigeria and will work under the supervision of the ICRISAT Country Representative.

Coordination of Sorghum Project Implementation under ATASP:

• Coordinate development of Sorghum-related annual work plans in conformity with the overall project implementation plan for the four-year period of the ATASP-1 project or as revised annually and ensure that the budgets  and procurement plans are executed conform AfDB rules and procedures
• Oversee and drive the implementation of all Sorghum activities with stakeholders and with a focus on timely delivery of targets set and proactively seek linkages with the other non-Sorghum related components of the project
• Organize annual work review and work planning workshops specific to Sorghum sector development for government officials and NARS stakeholders
• Organize and oversee capacity-building activities for facilitators and staff members involved in program implementation
• Develop and promote crop and options that lead to higher nutritional and food security for poor smallholder framers and particularly targeting women
• Find farm level agronomic interventions that improve the performance of existing cropping systems or test and introduce improved systems or varieties
• Scale up and out promising interventions
• Liaise with relevant national research and development institutions, private sector actors in ensuring appropriate backward and forward linkages in the Sorghum value chain
• Oversee the selection of key project implementation areas (‘Sorghum sector development hubs’) and Sorghum value chain actors and in particular ensure mobilization of farmer groups for effective implementation of Sorghum project activities in the ‘Hubs’
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation in the Sorghum sector and ensure measurement of achievements towards project goals
• Ensure preparation of real-time progress reports of project implementation, defining progress, problems and solutions
• Supervise Sorghum project staff and, where necessary, participate in the recruitment, orientation, supervision and mentoring of new staff, including promoting capacity development of staff in accordance with the needs of the project
• Ensure that performance appraisals are carried out annually for all project staff
• Ensure proper record keeping for the intervention and ensure that appropriate and accurate documentation is provided to the program administrator within specified deadlines
• In coordination with the project finance officer, supervise the maintenance of the Sorghum budget, including accounting of all project expenditures incurred under the project
• Represent the project to relevant local authorities and organizations and support ICRISAT Sorghum in policy engagement
• Develop an appropriate and clear relationship with local and state governments on implementation of the Sorghum activities particularly with respect to their investments in irrigation infrastructure as part of the rural Sorghum development plans
• Participate in local, regional or international information exchange fora or exposures related to the project as may be deemed necessary by ICRISAT
• Undertake any other duties as required by the needs of the Center

Desired Skills and Experience
The Person:

• PhD in Agriculture or related science, together with Agriculture Sector development implementation experience at international or national level with considerable expertise in project management.
• A minimum of 10 years' experience of which at least five years at a managerial level in donor-funded (preferably multilateral) projects/programs in agriculture research & development activities. Experience in community-based projects implementation and/or small-holder-oriented development initiatives with a track record in Africa is desirable.
• Thorough knowledge of Sorghum Value Chain Development including linkages with government and private sector institutions in general and particular experience within Nigeria is important.
• Working knowledge of the operational modalities of national and international NGOs is desirable.

Remuneration
This is an internationally recruited staff position with an attractive and competitive salary and benefits package payable in US dollars. The position is initially for two years, and extendable depending on performance of the incumbent and funding availability. An attractive compensation will be offered for the right candidate.

Application Closing Date
25th May 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online