Gardener at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture

Position Description

Under the overall delegated authority of the Director of Finance and Operations, and direct supervision of the Administrative and Logistics Assistant, the Incumbent will perform the maintenance of the gardens all around CNFA Nigeria Abuja premises in order to ensure the gardens and green spaces are always healthy and beautiful. Specifically, the Incumbent will be responsible for undertaking regular maintenance and gardening, monitoring and ensuring the health of all plants and greenspaces, maintaining the landscapes while following health and safety regulations. CNFA

CNFA is a US-based nonprofit nongovernmental organization (NGO) that works to stimulate economic growth and improve rural livelihoods by empowering the private sector through five core capabilities: (1) Productivity, Food Security and Nutrition; (2) Input Supply and Farm Services; (3) Economic Resilience and Rapid Recovery; (4) Value Chain Development; and (5) Volunteer Technical Assistance. CNFA assists smallholders in increasing household-level food security and nutrition through improved agricultural practices, introduction of new varieties, diversification of crop production, food preservation and storage, development of farmer-based organizations (FBOs) and strengthened linkages to markets.

Program Description

The five-year USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity, implemented by CNFA as part of the United States Government’s Feed the Future Initiative, strengthens the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture. To achieve this goal, the activity focuses on three interrelated components: improving the ease of doing business in the agricultural sector; broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; and promoting investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations. In line with the U.S. and Nigerian Government’s commitment to growing the non-oil based economy, these efforts will increase the quality, quantity, market access, and diversification of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.

Beginning in December 2018 and closing in 2023, this $15.6 million project aims to integrate thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and producer organizations as high-performing commercial actors in the value chains for rice, maize, soy, aquaculture, and cowpeas. As a result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, improved production and processing practices, and significantly increased finance and investment flows, the project will increase the competitiveness and returns of both large and small sale agricultural enterprises. Employing a value chain approach, the Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to facilitate $100 million in new lending and $100 million in new investment across the 5 crops in the following 7 designated States: Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Cross River.  The USAID/Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity is a 5-year year, $15 million-dollar project implemented by CNFA as part of the United States Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.  The project’s goal is to strengthen the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture. Activities will encompass three broad but interrelated components. First, the Agribusiness Investment Activity will improve the ease of doing business in the agricultural sector; second, the Activity will expand access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; and third, the Activity will promote investment opportunities for agribusinesses to strengthen their readiness to expand and scale up their operations. Taken together, these efforts will increase the volume, added value, and diversification of agribusiness investments.

              Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties of the Gardener are the following:

• Proactively monitor and maintain the health of plants and promptly deal with pest problems that could damage plants.
• Maintain gardens by naturally fertilizing, soil cultivation, digging, forking, mulching, watering, raking, weeding, trimming, edging, pruning, thinning lotus leaves, seed sowing, bed preparation, planting and ensuring that trees, bushes, plants, flowers, and other green areas receive appropriate and adequate water.
• Maintain lawns, grass areas and other green spaces by mowing, trimming, soiling with natural fertilizers, or nourishing non-chemicals or minerals and keeping them in good condition.
• Prune trees and hedges in ways that help the plants' health are safe and look good and cut unwanted small naturally grown trees.
• Plant, nurture and transplant trees, bushes, flowers, shrubs, lawns, and all kinds of other greenery requirements that need to be replaced within a specified operation. Maintain and grow the garden to ensure it meets specific requirements and expectations. The designed landscapes must be maintained.
• Securely use and perform essential maintenance of hand tools, basic light machinery and gardening equipment, and report malfunctions as and when noticed.
• Ensure all tools, equipment and machinery are always cleaned after being used and stored safely and securely at all times.
• Tidy up, clean, and ensure the maintenance outside of the building to keep the gardens, thoroughfares, carparks, pond, steps, walls, footpaths, roofed pergolas, tables, chairs, benches, decorations, etc., clear, and free from debris, rubbish, and litter at all times.
• Keep tool sheds/storerooms clean and tidy.
• Perform basic maintenance such as emptying bins, managing weed control and organic/food waste, etc., as well as guide the supervisor in procuring required materials, such as soil, non-chemical fertilizers, pesticides, wood, cement, wood chippings and pebbles, etc. which are needed for the gardening.
• Ensure a safe environment by adhering to Health and Safety requirements noting that all duties must be carried out to comply with current Health & Safety regulations.
• Manage Garden maintenance with a clear work schedule, organize and follow the agreed schedule, provide daily work reports, and immediately report the issues found or problems incurred when performing the work and propose solutions.
• Pursue knowledge of regional plant life, knowledge of local pests and how to eliminate them appropriately, knowledge of non-chemical, organic and natural fertilizers, and knowledge of health and safety regulations. Keep abreast of good knowledge of general gardening maintenance and the organization’s requirements for the maintenance of the garden.
• Work in accordance with the environmental policy of the office and support the implementation of CNFA's Environmental Management System to achieve the office's environmental sustainability goals.
• Perform additional tasks that may be required to ensure the success of the work team.

Qualifications

At least 2 years of relevant, professional experience in similar role is required

Skills and competencies

• Good knowledge of plants and gardening techniques.
• Service-minded, polyvalent, eager to learn, flexible in the work.
• Ability to handle a range of horticultural machinery and powered hand tools.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, fit, and capable of heavy work, able to work in all weather conditions
• Friendly personality with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Having knowledge of regional plant life, knowledge of local pests and how to eliminate them appropriately, knowledge of non-chemical, organic and natural fertilizers, and knowledge of health and safety regulations.

Languages

Fluency in English is required.