Project Officer - Agriculture at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary: 

You will support the implementation of the agriculture activities at the field level in Kaga and Magumeri LGA. You will directly work with project participants, agriculture extension workers, village and local stakeholders in ensuring implementation of robust agriculture activities as per Improved ALERTS proposal. You will work collaboratively as a team member with the other CRS staffs under the leadership of the Livelihood and Resilience PM to sequence and layer all sector interventions to achieve optimal integration and impact for the poor and vulnerable. You will support the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, program quality and reporting for agriculture and livelihood activities. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that Improved ALERTS implement high-quality, cost effective and locally appropriate agriculture activities in the target communities of Magumeri and Kaga LGA as per proposal and contribute to program improvements and adaptations.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In consultation and partnership with the implementing partner, develop agriculture implementation plans and lead in the implementation of agricultural activities in the intervention communities in Kaga and Magumeri LGA.
• Work with the agriculture extension workers in building the technical capacity of project participants on crop production, through field level demonstration-based trainings.
• Support organization of participants into learning groups for ease of agricultural information sharing and dissemination. 
• Coordinate and implement participants seed and tools needs identification to guide provision of the farming inputs to the participants.
• Work closely with housing lands and property department in ensuring project participants have recognized access to safe farmland.
• Support implementation of agriculture activities as envisioned in the proposal, including working closely.
• Ensure robust timely reporting and field level documentation of all agriculture activities.
• Work closely with all other project sector staffs, IMPROVED ALERTS implementing partners and area-based committees in the implementation and monitoring of the agriculture activities. 
• Assist the agriculture and livelihood PM in context analysis, optimistic gap identification and proposing of feasible intervention solutions to identified programming gaps.
• Assist the livelihood PM in implementation of MEAL systems, including but not limited to identification of project participants, monitoring and evaluation of the sector activities.
• Assist in farmers training and monitor the practical application of the knowledge, skills and techniques acquired and adapted by farmers.
• Report weekly and monthly on project progress to the agriculture and livelihoods PM.
• Actualize any duties assigned for the overall success of the IMPROVED ALERTS project. 

Required Languages -English and Hausa are essential. Knowledge of one or more of the languages spoken in Kaga and Magumeri , such as Kanuri or Shuwa Arabic is an advantage 

Travel -The post is based in Maiduguri, with field level work in Kaga and Magumeri LGA. Includes 80% travel to field locations. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated skills in working with subsistence crop farmers. 
• Basic Agriculture Extension skills
• Ability to work closely with government agriculture extension workers and Ministry of agriculture.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize and organize community groups for project implementation.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work in insecure and physically and mentally challenging environment.
• Good physical health and fitness.
• Project management experience in agriculture and livelihood is essential.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Demonstrable capacities in team working and   cross-sectoral planning and implementation.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups 
• Experience in managing relationships and performance with partner organizations and representing programs to   local stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports and make presentations.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of emergency agriculture, vegetable farming and cereal crops under both rainfed and irrigated systems is desirable.
• Program management experience in North- East Nigeria is desirable.
• Experience in working with IDPs in agriculture projects.
• Experience of using market-based mechanisms and CVA modalities, including the RedRose platform, for provision of agriculture inputs to project participants.

Basic Qualifications

• Diploma in general agriculture or related field.Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• At least 3-year experience in the implementation of similar projects with IDPS, host communities and returnees.
•  Experience in the field of Agriculture and for an NGO would be a plus.