Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist at Connexus Corporation

About the Opportunity

• We are seeking qualified candidates for the position of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Specialist for the anticipated USAID/Nigeria Value Chain Activity.
• The CSA Specialist will be responsible for integrating climate-smart practices into project activities and leading efforts to enhance the adaptive capacity of farmers and value chain actors to climate impacts while promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Note: this is a preliminary position description and may be clarified further after solicitation release.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of climate-smart strategies and interventions within the Activity framework.
• Conduct climate vulnerability assessments and identify opportunities for integrating CSA practices throughout multiple agriculture value chains, including rice, maize, soya, aquaculture, cowpea, and horticulture crops.
• Provide technical guidance to Activity staff and partners on integrating climate-smart practices into agricultural production, processing, and marketing activities.
• Collaborate with smallholder farmers, agri-SMEs, research institutions, and government agencies to promote the adoption of CSA practices.
• Develop and deliver training programs and workshops to build the capacity of smallholder farmers and other value chain actors in CSA techniques, technologies, and practices.
• Contribute to knowledge management activities by documenting best practices, lessons learned, and success stories for the Activity’s CSA interventions.
• Coordinate with other technical specialists on the Activity to ensure the integration of CSA across all project components.
• Stay abreast of latest developments, research findings, techniques, and innovations in climate smart agriculture and adapt approaches, as necessary, to reflect newest and most relevant CSA innovations and technologies.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Sciences, or another relevant field with a minimum of 9 years of professional experience, preferably for USAID or another donor-funded project; or Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy, Agriculture Economics, Environmental Sciences, or another relevant field with a minimum 11 years of experience, preferably for USAID or another donor-funded project.
• Strong understanding of climate smart agriculture adaptation and mitigation strategies and practices.
• Knowledge of agriculture value chain development and market systems approaches to international development projects, especially USAID funded activities.
• Excellent written communication skills, including ability to contribute to high-quality project reports.
• Fluency in English required and other local languages desired.
• Must be authorized to work in Nigeria.