Environmental and Climate Change Experts at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited

Project Scope 

• The RISE (Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable Economies) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), is a five-year initiative aimed at promoting climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. The project will be implemented by MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) in partnership with Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Ltd. Together, the two organizations will work to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs within the Rice, Maize, Groundnut and Soybean value chains, particularly women and youth in Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano states. The initiative aligns with Canada’s aim to address gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability throughout its implementation.

Overview

• The Environmental and Climate Change Expert will provide strategic and technical leadership on environmental sustainability and climate-resilient agriculture interventions within the RISE Program. This role will focus on integrating climate-smart practices into program design and implementation, supporting environmental assessments, and ensuring compliance with donor and national environmental guidelines.

Role Responsibilities

Program Design and Integration

• Lead the integration of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and environmental sustainability strategies into program planning and implementation.
• Identify and promote context-specific climate adaptation and mitigation measures for smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and related safeguards.

Technical Advisory and Capacity Building

• Provide ongoing technical guidance to the program team, partners, and beneficiaries on sustainable land use, natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation.
• Support the design and delivery of training modules and capacity-building sessions on CSA, environmental conservation, and climate risk management.
• Advise on environmental impact considerations across agricultural practices, agro-input use, waste management, and infrastructure.

Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with environmental and climate-related donor requirements, including those of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
• Develop and implement tools to monitor the project's environmental indicators and climate-related risks.
• Prepare timely and high-quality reports on environmental and climate activities, outcomes, and lessons learned.

Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Support

• Engage with national and sub-national environmental agencies, climate experts, and technical working groups.
• Support policy advocacy efforts related to climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and green financing.
• Represent Sahel in climate-related forums and contribute to building strategic partnerships in the climate and environment space.

Role Requirements

• Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Sciences, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in implementing environmental or climate-related programs, preferably within the agriculture or rural development sectors.
• Strong understanding of climate-smart agriculture, ESG standards, and environmental compliance frameworks 
• Demonstrated experience conducting environmental risk assessments and developing mitigation plans.
• Excellent report writing, stakeholder coordination, and facilitation skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working with donor-funded projects.
• Familiarity with gender-sensitive climate resilience approaches and inclusive environmental programming.
• Experience with tools like GIS, remote sensing, or climate risk modelling is an asset.