Private Sector Inputs Specialist at IFDC

Background

• The United States Agency for International Development Nigeria (USAID NIGERIA) has contracted with International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), to implement the Agro-Input to Production Expansion (APEx) project in Nigeria to attain a private sector led agricultural input market in Nigeria supporting agricultural producers to secure improved availability, accessibility, and affordability of agricultural inputs.

Objectives
The objectives of the Project are:
Enhanced efficiency of the GES Scheme to better serve Nigerian smallholders
Increased availability of agricultural inputs by strengthening the role of the private sector in agro-input supply
Improved economic performance of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Position Summary

• The ideal candidate will have experience working with and coordinating public and private sector stakeholders to develop partnerships and facilitate service delivery of agriculture inputs to smallholder farmers.
• The candidate will have experience developing and improving agricultural input supply systems that include fertilizers, pesticides/fungicides, agricultural credit and improved planting material in Nigeria.
• In addition, an ideal candidate would have experience in the private sector agribusiness and agro-dealer capacity building development in Nigeria.
• The Private Sector Input Specialist will lead developing practical strategies for technical support, partnership development and representation for agriculture-input related activities and will focus on building partnerships with private sector companies, NGOs and national partners.
• He/she will work with a team of IFDC technical specialists in Nigeria and will frequently travel to project intervention states to collaborate with partners and oversee project implementation.
• Fluency in English and the ability to initiate and conduct foundation business is required.

Responsibilities

• Convene and facilitate private sector and government actors to broker partnerships to increase rural access to inputs
• Represent IFDC in various forums and provide technical assistance on supply chain management initiatives to improve input access
• Increase farmer access to improved inputs (seed, fertilizer, farm equipment and irrigation and crop protection quality products) by stimulating demand via market-friendly systems that also stimulate competitive input supply chain development
• Develop field-ready strategies to increase smallholder farmers’ knowledge and use of appropriate agricultural inputs in response to barriers
• Train and develop agro-input dealers and trade associations.
• Help establish farmer-based organizations and link them to credit and other service providers
• Help develop a market information system for key commodities.
• Assist in measuring progress of input-related activities through program M&E
• Manage the technical aspects of sub-grantee activities in relation to agricultural inputs
• Miscellaneous duties, as requested by APEx Management.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Master's degree in Agri-Business, Business Administration, Agronomy, Agro-Economy or a related field.
• At least 10 years of proven experience in private sector agribusiness development in Nigeria
• Solid knowledge of private sector development and actors in Nigeria (including the financial sector and the fertilizer sector) and preferably having worked in private agribusiness in Nigeria
• Demonstrated experience with gender mainstreaming in agriculture projects.
• Past experience leading and building the capacity of teams of agriculture-focused staff, including remote, field-based staff, to meet program needs and deliverables
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including demonstrated advanced ICT skills
• Previous experience on USAID-funded agricultural/agribusiness development programs will be an advantage, including contributing to M&E designing, implementing and reporting, and leading program activities.
• Duty location
• The Private Sector Inputs Specialist will be based in Abuja (Nigeria) but should be willing to travel within the country frequently.