Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist at Connexus Corporation

Connexus Corporation is an international development consulting firm that provides consulting services in the areas of finance and enterprise development. Connexus’ mission is to provide high quality global consulting services to transform international development and build local capacity. Connexus is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Opportunity

• We are seeking qualified candidates for the position of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Specialist for the anticipated USAID/Nigeria Value Chain Activity.
• The CSA Specialist will be responsible for integrating climate-smart practices into project activities and leading efforts to enhance the adaptive capacity of farmers and value chain actors to climate impacts while promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Note: this is a preliminary position description and may be clarified further after solicitation release.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of climate-smart strategies and interventions within the Activity framework.
• Conduct climate vulnerability assessments and identify opportunities for integrating CSA practices throughout multiple agriculture value chains, including rice, maize, soya, aquaculture, cowpea, and horticulture crops.
• Provide technical guidance to Activity staff and partners on integrating climate-smart practices into agricultural production, processing, and marketing activities.
• Collaborate with smallholder farmers, agri-SMEs, research institutions, and government agencies to promote the adoption of CSA practices.
• Develop and deliver training programs and workshops to build the capacity of smallholder farmers and other value chain actors in CSA techniques, technologies, and practices.
• Contribute to knowledge management activities by documenting best practices, lessons learned, and success stories for the Activity’s CSA interventions.
• Coordinate with other technical specialists on the Activity to ensure the integration of CSA across all project components.
• Stay abreast of latest developments, research findings, techniques, and innovations in climate smart agriculture and adapt approaches, as necessary, to reflect newest and most relevant CSA innovations and technologies.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Sciences, or another relevant field with a minimum of 9 years of professional experience, preferably for USAID or another donor-funded project; or Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Sciences, or another relevant field with a minimum 11 years of experience, preferably for USAID or another donor-funded project.
• Strong understanding of climate smart agriculture adaptation and mitigation strategies and practices.
• Knowledge of agriculture value chain development and market systems approaches to international development projects, especially USAID funded activities.
• Excellent written communication skills, including ability to contribute to high-quality project reports.
• Fluency in English required and other local languages desired.
• Must be authorized to work in Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
15th March, 2024.