Cocoa Sustainability Consultant - South West, Nigeria at Lutheran World Relief, Nigeria

LWR is implementing a food for Progress Program to launch a cocoa productivity and marketing project in Nigeria Known as, the Traceability and Resilience in Agriculture and Cocoa Ecosystems of Nigeria (TRACE) under the sponsorship of USDA. The five-year project is to increases productivity in the cocoa value chain by applying climate smart agriculture and expands the cocoamarket through traceability back to its source.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Cocoa Sustainability Consultant - South West, Nigeria

Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Contract

Terms of Reference (ToR)

• LWR Seeks to engage the services of a Cocoa Sustainability Consultant in the Southwest of Nigeria to Support LWR Partner(s); the National Cocoa Stakeholders Umbrella body, the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) by providing technical supports and backstopping through co-facilitation of activities implementation to achieve set goals under the LWR - Corus International implemented TRACE Project in the zone.

Objectives
The USDA TRACE project is intended to achieve the following objectives:

• Provide training in improved agricultural production techniques.
• Develop business solutions to improve farmers’ access to inputs and services
• Strengthen farmer groups' business development capacity
• Promote traceability in buyer-seller relationships
• Improve policy advocacy frameworks affecting sustainable cocoa development and
• Disseminate better market information through a multi-channel communications campaign.

Role and Responsibilities

• The Cocoa Sustainability Consultant - SW Nigeria will have specific role and responsibilities to provide technical support, mentoring and back stopping to CFAN leadership and function as a Co-facilitator for smooth collaboration with LWR USDA-TRACE project by supporting and guiding CFAN leadership and ranks to diligently and efficiently carry out its specified roles and responsibilities as stated and regarding implementation of actionable plan of activities in Southwest Nigeria.

Role of LWR
LWR is expected to:

• Provide training material and facilitation for training to CFAN leadership and agricultural extension agents on (1) Group Organization and management, (2) Financial Management,
• Provide trainer for Training of Trainers and technical support and advice. LWR will provide accommodation, transportation, and per diem for its staff during travel and training periods.
• Support in M&E tool development and monitoring of step-down training.
• Organize regular meetings and a final review meeting at the expiry of this agreement.
• Facilitate the distribution and monitoring of improved planting material, which includes both hybrid and clonal material, using IT solutions to track and forecast annual planting material demand, production of hybrids, reported use of seeds and seedlings, and to link to national and state levels to meet demand.
• Provide overall coordination for the project implementation.
• Organize Training of Trainers (ToT) to CFAN agriculture extension agents in climate-smart agriculture and good agronomic practices.
• Provide consultations with technical specialists to help determine areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration.
• Train CFAN agriculture extension agents and CFAN members to establish and manage cocoa and shade tree seedling nurseries and management.
• To promote fermentation center business planning with CFAN and financing of fermentation center infrastructure. Fermentation centers located in similar geographic areas may choose to cluster multiple centers and consolidate their fermented cacao volume to sell to larger buyers.
• Help design collaborative programs or, activities mutually beneficial to all Participants.
• Provide access for the organization to LWR leadership and management, can make decisions on how to move forward with projects and activities of mutual benefit to all Participants;
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the community nurseries on cocoa and shade tree seedlings and distribution of cocoa seedlings to farmers using the seed tracker technology.

Role of Farmer Group
The farmer group is expected to:

• Allocate at least 1 Ha cocoa farm to implement an irrigation pilot to assess the impact of irrigation on cocoa production.
• Prepare cost estimates for the establishment of 40,000 cocoa seedlings production capacity in Ondo and Cross River states.
• Work with the TRACE team to facilitate the establishment of 40,000 cocoa seedling capacity nurseries and distribution to cocoa farmers in the project locations.
• Facilitate sensitization, registration, and mapping of farms of 5,000 Cocoa Farmers in Project Locations.
• Assign CFAN extension agents to work with the farmer groups.
• Facilitate cascade training by CFAN agricultural extension agents in climate-smart agriculture and good agronomic practices for sustainable production practices for 5,000 cocoa farmers in project locations.
• Mobilize CFAN farmers for training activities.
• Make logistical arrangements for training activities planned under this MoU. This may include providing the training venue, and staff time to participate.
• Provide the fermentation aggregation center and access to LWR to provide technical to develop farmers' capacity in high-quality cocoa fermentation, drying, and storage.
• Preparing and revising, as necessary, a schedule for the implementation of the works.
• Preparing monthly reports on the progress of works, indicating any difficulties affecting efficient and timely execution.
• Participate in quarterly review meetings with LWR to discuss the progress of implementation and learning.

Scope, Level of Effort (LoE) and Duration of Assignment:

• The successful bidder would be expected to provide technical support and backstopping services to the Partner(s) (stakeholders group/farmer organization) in the Southwestern States of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States for the entire 4-year life of the project with maximum expected LoE of 8 days per month (at 2 working days per week) within the period of engagement. Field travels and weekend activities are envisaged to occur up to 40% and 20% respectively.

Evaluation Criteria, Desired Qualifications and Experience

• The ideal candidate is expected to hold a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics, General Agriculture, Agronomy, or Agribusiness related course with a minimum of 15 years working experience with specific roles in Agricultural Development Projects especially with Smallholder Cocoa Farmers and Stakeholders engagement.
• Experience working under international donor (USDA/USAID or other) funded project for a minimum of 10 years consistent summed up engagements in their career time would be an added advantage.
• Experience in business development services and management
• Demonstrated ability to produce professional level activities report monthly and quarterly or as may be required.

Application Closing Date
13th February, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.