Capacity Building and Dissemination Specialist – Soil Values at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Position Summary

• The Capacity Building and Dissemination Specialist will be the driving force behind strengthening the capabilities of our to ensure the widespread adoption of proven soil fertility and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies. He will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to strengthen the capabilities of local implementing partners and drive the widespread adoption of proven Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies. This involves conducting training needs assessments, designing and overseeing cascade training programs, and creating effective dissemination channels to ensure that innovative practices reach and are adopted by small-scale food producers, market actors, and policymakers across the Sahel, thereby directly contributing to the program's core goals of enhancing soil health, agricultural productivity, and farmer resilience.

Responsibilities

Specific task

• Develop, implement, and regularly update the program’s comprehensive Capacity Building Strategy and Dissemination Strategy for technologies and approaches;
• Conduct iterative capacity needs assessments for different Soil Values stakeholders and link this to tailored approaches per type of stakeholder;
• Strengthen the capacity of partners in participatory co-design methods and Inclusive Landscape Management approach;
• Design and oversee the delivery of tailored training programs, including cascade training models, and learning sites within selected watersheds, for partners on ISFM technologies, such as: Production and use of organic amendments, Soil and water conservation techniques and Use of improved seeds and agroforestry;
• Facilitate the large-scale dissemination of proven technologies and practices from the program’s inventory of innovations to farmers and value chain actors through facilitate workshops, field days, and learning events to promote the adoption of ISFM practices;
• Lead the use of context-specific, user-friendly dissemination materials and digital support tools (manuals, fact sheets, audio-visual tools) for identified innovations;
• Collaborate with knowledge partners (e.g. WUR, ISRIC, IWMI, ICRAF, IITA) to integrate the latest research and best practices into program activities;
• Include youth training on decision support tools to support youth business led development on DST for soil fertility management;
• Ensure all strategies are aligned with the program's objectives of social inclusiveness, gender equality (GESI), and resilience to climate change;
• Establish and manage a Community of Practice for partners to share lessons learned, challenges, and successes;
• Document and share success stories, case studies, and best practices for internal learning and external communication.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Agronomy, Rural Development, Extension Services, Natural Resource Management, or a related field;
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in capacity building, agricultural extension, technology dissemination, or rural development, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa (experience in the Sahel is a strong advantage);
• Proven experience in developing and implementing capacity-building strategies and training programs for diverse audiences;
• Strong understanding of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), climate-smart agriculture, and agroecology;
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation skills in French and English (proficiency in both is highly desirable);
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including national governments, NGOs, research institutions, and farmer organizations.