Vacancy at UNDP

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Adviser, Food and Agricultural Policy will have the following terms of reference:

• Spearhead in-depth and critical review of the state of food and agricultural policy in Nigeria and advise the Honourable Minister on priority evidence-based food and agricultural policies, and institutional, legal and regulatory reforms needed to drive the agricultural transformation agenda and rural development.
• Coordinate the Food and Agricultural Policy Transformation Group - made up of leading policy experts from universities, economics and policy think tanks and public sector agencies across Nigeria - to develop an Agricultural Transformation Policy Action Plan to drive the agricultural transformation agenda.
• Provide analytical support for the determination of the impacts of agricultural policies on agricultural producers and consumers and how to sequence policy and institutional reforms to ensure successful implementation of the agricultural transformation action plan.
• Develop a clear policy advocacy action plan to effectively communicate the policy directions to drive the agricultural transformation agenda.
• Build strong policy advocacy networks for the successful implementation of agricultural policies, through creating awareness and effectively communicating the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) to non-state actors, and ensuring that stakeholders are adequately informed of the ATA programmes.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of food and agricultural policies.
• Preparation of policy briefs for the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, policy briefs for the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council.
• Develop and deepen the internal policy institutional capacity within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge Management and Learning
• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects
• Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration
• Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Business Administration, or Master’s /PHD in Agriculture or other relevant subject

Experience:

• 7 years in a senior management position in agricultural or related sector in Nigeria with a government, international or private sector agency
• Remarkable track record in developing and executing strategies plans and initiatives on agriculture development/transformation (or related sectors)
• Demonstrated track record in building, leading and managing high-performing organizations and teams.