Agronomist Assistant at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

Locations: Damaturu, Jakusko, Bade, Yusufari, Yunusari and Geidam LGA, Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time
Slot: 24
Project / Programme: Programs (all projects)
Reports to: Project Manager
Duration of the Project: 8 Months
Donors: Various
Duration of the contract: 7 months
Starting Date: ASAP

Overall Description of Role

• Under the direct supervision of the Agronomist Officer, The Agronomist assistant is responsible to support the component lead in the management and the proper implementation of Agriculture-related activities of COOPI’s Livelihoods project in Yobe State.
• He is responsible for qualitative and regular reporting on the Agriculture components of the project.
• The incumbent is responsible to provide support in price monitoring, farmer training, helping farmers with the brokering of marketing deals, implementing innovative actions for agriculture market systems development, and ensuring an enabling environment for pro-agriculture growth in the community.
• Support and work with the Program team to develop agriculture-related research and monitoring of agriculture market systems analyses, business cases, and intervention plans in the sorghum and millet value chains.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of project community mobilization strategies for targeting and needs identification in the community and work with traditional committees, Host, and IDPs to ensure the identification and selection of the most vulnerable beneficiaries for project activities
• Facilitate community mobilization towards smallholder farming/gardening.
• Organize Best Agronomic practice training (BAPs) and Good Agronomic Practice training (GAPs) assessment and the identification of the main chains in the targeted area.
• Support in the implementation of capacity-building training including field training and workshops for the target beneficiaries on vegetable production, seed conservation, farm management, and storage.
• Implement agricultural activities and strengthen nutrition-sensitive agriculture with support from relevant State, LGA, and community stakeholders at the LGA level.
• Act as a liaison with the local population and authorities in order to identify the needs, grievances, and major events that could have potential consequences for COOPI activity
• Ensure the proper training and supervision of the community’s volunteers and daily workers.
• Participate in the development of training curriculum and train beneficiaries.

Specific Responsibilities:

• The incumbent will provide support in the organization, implementation, and monitoring of farm and off-farm activities on a daily basis in keeping with COOPI procedures and standards.
• He/she will be responsible for the management and implementation of COOPI’s agribusiness-related activities including livelihood interventions, business management, technical training, and capacity-building events to improve skills or production in new/pre-existing sorghum and millet value chains.

Other Responsibilities include:

• Training farmers on food safety commodity quality for sorghum and millet
• Formation and strengthening of farmer associations and marketing committees
• Establishment and running of farmer field schools
• Establishment of Savings and Investment Groups
• Linking farmers to agro-dealers for input supply
• Training farmers on post-harvest handling of crops and certification for quality
• Facilitate the establishment of grain aggregation centers

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Collect information and data on Livelihoods and food security at the LGA level through surveys, assessments, and regular post-distribution monitoring of beneficiary households
• Support in food security and value chain assessments for the projects including monthly price and market assessment, regular post distribution monitoring, and field supervision visits of beneficiary households.
• Support to track the progress of activities, challenges encountered, lessons learned, and good practices and Compile collected data, pictures, and other information from the field.
• Pass on any information or problems to his direct and/or indirect supervisor concerning his task, COOPI programs, or safety aspects
• Keep monitoring tools and files archived at the COOPI office, ensuring their availability to his Livestock Officer and Deputy Project Manager.
• Compile information to ensure that the surveillance of the farming situation in the area of implementation of the program is achieving the expected result when required.
• Collate information and data on agricultural activities through surveys, assessments, regular post-distribution monitoring, and field supervision visits of beneficiary households.
• Participate in inter-agency coordination forums at LGA and State level as required.
• Provide feedback to the program team based on the field monitoring visits.
• Support the project team in developing high-quality project/program reports regarding the resilience perspective.
• Liaise with COOPI MEAL Team colleagues and some project partners to ensure timely submission of contributions. Support the M&E team in the analysis of beneficiary data collection through the various tools.
• Networking, Mobilization and Coordination Support
• Mobilization and awareness raising about the organization, program objectives and activities to local authorities and the population, and act as a link between the organization and the beneficiaries (at LGA level)
• Support the Supervisor to ensure that beneficiaries’ access to the service provider guarantees protection and gender sensitivity in the field key activities
• Work closely with community structures to follow up on implementation of on farm Income Generating Activities and support in the implementation of Livelihoods capacity building training for the target beneficiaries at the LGA level.
• Supervise the Implementation of sensitisation activities for targeted communities about strengthening livelihood restoration activities whilst collaborating with the State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA), Extension workers, Community Volunteers, traditional leaders and other key stakeholders in feasible livelihood restoration activities at LGA level.
• Represent COOPI in coordination meetings and conferences as requested by the Program Manager.
• Responsible for maintaining relationships with farmers and Institutions.

Logistic & Administration:

• Under the responsibility of the Agronomist Officer, Deputy Project Manager, Project Manager and Program Manager, contribute to logistical and administrative organization of the activities
• He contributes to the definition of the needs in materials and tools regarding the program and the planning of interventions.
• Ensure the safety and good condition of all materials provided by COOPI.
• Inform the Project Manager in case of security incidents, rumors, or any security information.
• Ensure the follow-up and the proper use of materials and tools used during on-site works.
• Analyse the security situation in the area and inform the Project manager and Head of Base in case of security incidents, rumors, or any security information.

Profile of the Candidate (Education, Training, Competences, Skills)
Minimum Requirements:

• Degree / Diploma in Agricultural, Nutrition, Economics, Rural Development, Development Studies or related academic disciplines, with previous experience working in developmental and emergency projects
• University Degree / HND / OND in any of the following disciplines: Agricultural Economics or related field.
• At least 1 year of experience in connection with project management in the food security and / or livelihood sector, and preferably in a non-governmental organization of humanitarian and international character.
• Previous experience in food distribution supervisory field is preferable.
• Ability to write reports.
• Able to work outside of regular working hours as required, including evenings and weekends if required.
• A good experience in supervision is required.
• Experience with survey methodologies, nutrition assessment and relevant data analysis
• Previous experience working with an INGO or a Development organization.

Skills & Experience:
Essential:

• Be professional, motivated, flexible, and culturally sensitive.
• Experience in agricultural extension and value chain activities from planting to the nitch market.
• Have excellent communication, writing and analytical skills.
• Be excellent in communication skills and proficient in report writing
• Be resident and familiar with the terrain in the Northeast Nigeria.
• Experience designing and leading capacity building and training for national teams.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office programming (Access, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, and Word).
• Knowledge and experience in using database specific software.
• Excellent communication, writing and analytical skills.
• Experience designing and leading capacity building and training for national teams
• Perform any other related duties or responsibilities that may be assigned by the supervisor
• Given the stressful nature of Yobe security situation, which remains fluid and unpredictable and its high interpersonal and communication skills demands, the Agronomist assistant will need to be able to fit easily into a complex and operative team of various cultural backgrounds.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of the local language (Hausa and Kanuri).
• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Strong level of autonomy to provide independent follow-through on processing issues and concerns
• Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills.

Basic Salary
COOPI Salary grid (according to experience).