Farmer Organization Advisor at TechnoServe

Requisition Number: ADVIS01841

Job Category: Operations

Description

• TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital, and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs, and wealth for their families and communities. With 50 years of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

About the Program

• TechnoServe is currently looking for one (2) Farmer Organization Advisors for a dairy development program in Nigeria. The program seeks to catalyze the Nigerian dairy sector in an inclusive way that improves the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition and empowerment of smallholder women dairy farmers and the communities in which they live in. More specifically, the program will seek to:
• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.
• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and right inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through food systems entry points.

TechnoServe’s Role as an Implementing Partner in this Program will Include:

• Identification of dairy households in targeted states
• Organizing farmers into Self-Help Groups (SHG) and strengthening these groups
• Provision of financial inclusion & income diversification.

Primary Purpose and Fuctions:

• The Farmer Organization Advisor will be responsible for overseeing the SHG and cooperative formation, as well as manage the extension agents and cooperative consultants. The Farmer Organization Advisor will work with the Farmer Organization Managers to recruit, train and provide technical assistance to the dairy SHGs and cooperatives, provide timely and accurate data collection, and monitor performance.
• It should be understood that the tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities, but the employee is expected to perform any tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with state ADPs, private extension agents and local communities to recruit and select farmers to be integrated into the formal dairy value chain
• Support recruitment and training of the program’s extension agents to ensure sufficient female representation
• Support Farmer Organization Managers in the assessment and mapping of farmer organizations in the program States
• Set up, register and operationalize new SHGs, and formalize existing SHGs in to cooperatives
• Manage a team of extension agents and cooperative consultants to provide training and follow-up support to participating dairy farmers once optimal training model has been established
• Record-keeping of activities, data collection of information required for monthly report and analysis
• Formulate recommendations and solutions with attention to the needs of the dairy farmers, capabilities and limitations
• Assist in implementing that helps resolve any occasional discrepancies and irregularities
• Strict adherence to time frame of assignments in the life-scope of the program
• Any other tasks that may be assigned.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration and other relevant fields;
• At least 2 years’ experience in capacities relating to either Agribusiness, Training, Marketing, Business development or advisory services;
• Ability to actively engage with community leaders and cooperatives;
• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports;
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills
• Excellent communication and strategy skills
• Fluency in Hausa and Fulfulde preferred
• Strong skills in business software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Desired Skills:

• Self-starter, energetic, and friendly
• Comfortable with new ways of thinking and working
• Engages people and empowers them to deliver on promises
• Maintains integrity and personal reputation
• Ability to analyze complex issues and propose solutions
• Reviews information quickly and does not hesitate to try out solutions
• Passionate about learning and sharing