Head of Component at GIZ Nigeria

As a central innovation, new methodologies for the accreditation of carbon credits for low emission rice farming practices will be outlined and assessed for their scientific validity, scope and potential for acceptance. Methodologies with a positive assessment outcome will be submitted to a carbon accounting standard organization. The pool of carbon-mitigating methods to boost credit generation will thereby be widened, contributing to resilient cropping systems to hedge against further greenhouse gas emissions. Based on this, a project design document with required evidence for the generation of emission certificates under a carbon accreditation methodology will be developed and submitted to an official standard-setting organization. This forms the basis for the subsequent generation of emission certificates by smallholders.

Tasks

• Conceptual and managerial set up of the CORE Nigeria component including partner structure jointly with OLAM Agri as the main partner
• Liaise and coordinate with senior stakeholders in Nigeria their effective participation and contribution like JICA; ERO, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Africa Rice and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as at state level) stakeholders to successful implementation of CORE project interventions
• Ensure implementation and Coordination of the Nigeria Component of CORE project as a component of GIZ Move within the GIZ Agric Cluster
• Set up and manage the team under CORE and ensure project execution including two technical advisors and one knowledge and M&E expert plus two F&A staff.
• Human resources and administrative management as required under the project
• Manage and steer the finances of the Nigeria component of CORE project in consultation with project DV
• Ensure productive and synergetic exchanges with other GIZ project in Nigeria, in particular with MOVE

Responsibilities

Management responsibility

• is responsible for the orders and measures in CORE Nigeria project that are assigned to him/her and for managing all staff members who report to him/her (management responsibility for staff in bands 1-4) manages staff in accordance with management principles and guidelines to promote a sense of corporate identity, enable employees to carry out tasks independently and create scope for developing creativity and innovation.
• is responsible for recruiting, selecting, grading, planning the assignment of and professional development of staff members who report to him/her
• is also responsible for monitoring, managing staff and ensuring that they provide cost-effective services
• carries out the annual staff assessment and development talk for staff members who report to him/her
• Professional advisory services and implementation of technical priority areas
• Preparation and implementation of operational plans and budgets for effective engagements CORE private and public partners, beneficiaries and stakeholders with the view to ensuring that all parties work together seamlessly to deliver the program’s objectives
• Contributes to preparing and implementing the coordination process, joint project activities and work in the field
• Formulates job descriptions, terms of reference, selects and supervises third parties in the course of carrying out project activities, including performance evaluation
• Monitors the development and implementation of CORE project plans and activities in close consultation with counterparts.
• Deals with the design, preparation and implementation of workshops, seminars and other events on issues related to the programme’s area of activity
• Develops and organizes quality assurance measures and suggests necessary changes, improvements and initiatives

Networking

• Preparation and negotiation of memoranda of understanding, agreements of contracts on project implementation and collaborative
• Establish and maintain collaborative ties with CORE partners, stakeholders and delegations from different backgrounds
• Preparation and negotiation of collaborative ties with CORE partners, stakeholders and delegations from different background
• Ensures alignment and cooperation with MOVE and other GIZ agric projects in Nigeria and beyond.

Management and Coordination Tasks

• Design and support the implementation of specific studies
• Country specific contributions to monitoring, reporting (to biannual and annual progress reports) and evaluation of program activities
• Synthesize achievements and conceptualize project approaches for institutions in the rice sectors
• Communicates findings and shares lessons learnt during project delivery/implementation

Knowledge management

• Compiles information on project implementation and ensures knowledge transfer
• Develops ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals and procedures
• Draws up reports and presentation documents

Other duties/additional tasks

• Provide all documentation related to program activities for accounting in line with requirements from co-financing partners
• Receive and accompany consultants/ recourses persons
• Coordinate the work of consultants /recourses persons
• Liaises with country coordinators and MOVE colleagues in other countries on subject matter topics and procedures. Contributes to and shares learnings and innovations within MOVE
• Any other instructions given in furtherance of project operations and management

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in sustainable agriculture/agronomy/agricultural economics
• Additional training in the areas of value chain approach: banking and finance, grant fund management, policy formulation and advocacy, ICT will be an advantage

Professional experience

• 5-7 years’ professional experience, with at least 3 years’ professional experience in a comparable position
• Experience in agricultural values chai development / agricultural banking / agricultural consulting & advisory services / farmer training /  policy formulation & advisory / partnership brokering sustained by corresponding references
• Experience in project management
• knowledge, additional competencies
• Ability to lead and work with a team
• Ability to work independently and without supervision
• Experience of working with political stakeholders
• Ability to manage project timelines, processes and tasks effectively
• Demonstrated ability to design, manage and implement value chain, agricultural financial services, agribusiness development support activities, farmer organization & training, financial grant services, policy & advocacy support activities in agriculture/agribusiness, use of ICT in agriculture/ agribusiness etc. 
• Proven first hand knowledge of the actors landscape in the Nigeria Rice sector
• Knowledge of agri-food support polices for Nigeria and of corresponding markets; local knowledge of pilot project areas will be an advantage.
• Self-motivated, pro-active approach in identifying and promoting innovative approaches
• Capacity to analysis and constructive evaluation combined with the ability to translate evaluation findings on beneficences in optimization of curricula and implementation.
• Facilities of discussion and workshops (preparation, implementation and documentation)
• Presentation techniques and concepts for the marketing of project achievements.
• Very good computer skills in contemporary MS office (Word Excel Powrpoint, Outlook)
• A proven track record in a leadership position