Cooperative Assistants at Nuru Nigeria (2 Openings)

Nuru Nigeria is a local NGO with affiliates in the US, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghanaand Ethiopia. Our mission is to build resilience corridors of farmer-owned and farmer-led agribusinesses and profitable rural livelihoods in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of northern Nigeria proximate to conflict-vulnerable areas by 2030. Nuru Nigeria prioritises the smallholder farmers it serves and works to cultivate lasting meaningful choices through a community led, community driven and community sustained livelihood programs across the agriculture value chain.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Cooperative Assistant

Locations: Toungo, Adamawa and Borno
Employment Type: Full-time

Position Summary

• The Cooperative Assistant will support the coordination and implementation of impact programs activities.
• She/He will focus on Cooperative development and management, market systems, value chains, financial inclusion, climate smart agriculture and also support in the implementation of other impact programs intervention.
• While working with cooperatives to coordinate and implement impact programs, she/he shall ensure integration and promotion of do-no-harm principles, conflict sensitivity, social cohesion and trust building, trauma awareness and inclusivity.
• She/he will have a strong understanding and experience in cooperative management, agricultural marketing system, innovative agriculture techniques, value chain approach and significant experience working in multi-sector activities as well as knowledge and experience in sustainable rural livelihoods, food security, LGA, livestock production, value chains and nutrition- sensitive agriculture.

Key Responsibilities

• He/She will be responsible for the setting up of farmers cooperatives by leading the cooperatives established in the intervention communities.
• Lead the establishment of leadership structure among established cooperative as well as providing coaching and mentorship to cooperative executives.
• Lead the field team to support the cooperatives in setting up of all internal processes such as legal systems(constitution/bye-law), Accounting (Record keeping) & financial systems, Marketing among others.
• Set up all financial inclusion systems among the established cooperatives ensuring savings and loan activities are carried out consistently.
• Work closely with the field office coordinator to drive the registration process of established farmers’ cooperative with appropriate government authorities.
• Drive business engagements among established cooperatives through commercialization of farm enterprises and setting up of group income generating activities to ensure profitability of the cooperative enterprise.
• Support in the development of cooperative management training curriculum together with the curriculum designing team to ensure the build out of a well structured farmer organization training curriculum.
• Provide training to farmer cooperatives on group dynamics, enterprise management, marketing basics and support other key technical areas such as GAP to ensure profitability of cooperative enterprise and strengthening of social cohesion among cooperative members.
• Work closely with the agriculture team to deliver agricultural extension services to farmers groups as well as other on-farm advisory support services through the established demo plots to ensure farmers adopt technologies and processes that will guarantee increase in yield and income.
• Lead the establishment mobile money service point and use of mobile money system in all established cooperative for group financial activities to increase access to safe and affordable financial services in the local communities.
• Work closely with the M&E team to monitor and assess the performance of the farmers’ cooperative using various platforms as well as supporting the team in conducting surveys, and other monitoring activities to ensure intervention is on-track for increased impact.
• Maintain successful relationships between theproject and farmer cooperatives, community leaders, and other key stakeholders in the intervention communities.
• Provide weekly field reports, contribute to monthly Activity Progress Reports, document and share lessons learned, success stories as well as general situation and community feedbacks.
• Perform any other tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Cooperative Studies and Management, Agribusiness, Rural Development or any related studies.
• 2 - 3 years of professional experience in similar role of managing farmers cooperatives under an agricultural intervention preferably in a Non profit Organization.
• Strong knowledge and experience in establishment and management of small farmers groups as well as registration of cooperative is highly desirable.
• Must possess excellent communication skills and farmer training capacity with strong knowledge in Group Dynamics/farmer organization management, Marketing basics, community business enterprise development.
• Demonstrate expertise in agronomic practices, financial inclusion (savings and loans systems), on-farm technologies and non-farm agriculture-based livelihood trainings.
• Experience in working with women and youth is highly desirable
• Candidates fluent in English, Hausa, Chamba and Kamwe are preferred with good working experience in rural communities.
• Perform any other tasks that may be assigned/instructed by the Supervisor.

Application Closing Date
18th January, 2025.