Livelihood & Agriculture Officer at Africa Youth Growth Foundation

Position Summary

• The Livelihood & Agriculture Officer will support the implementation of livelihood and agriculture-related interventions aimed at improving income generation, food security, and resilience among targeted youth, women, and smallholder farmers.
• The officer will assist in field-level activities, community mobilization, technical training sessions, distribution of inputs, and day-to-day monitoring to ensure that livelihood interventions are market-driven, climate-smart, and inclusive.
• The role contributes to enabling beneficiaries to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and diversify income opportunities aligned with AYGF’s goals for economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.

Key Responsibilities
Program Design and Implementation: 

• Support the implementation of livelihood and agricultural activities targeting youth, women, and smallholder farmers.
• Participate in needs assessments, baseline studies, and simple market assessments to guide planning.
• Oversee the distribution of agricultural inputs, starter kits, and equipment to beneficiaries to enhance productivity and self-reliance.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of demonstration farms, savings groups, and micro-enterprises.
• Ensure integration of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), regenerative farming, and ecosystem restoration practices across interventions.

Capacity Building & Community Engagement: 

• Organize and facilitate training for farmers, pastoralists, and youth groups on sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, and value chains.
• Support financial literacy sessions, group formation, and community-led savings initiatives.
• Mobilize and engage community members, ensuring participation of women and youth (at least 50%).
• Foster inclusive participation ensuring at least 50% women and youth engagement in livelihood activities.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between farmers and pastoralists to promote peaceful coexistence and equitable resource use.

Partnership & Coordination: 

• Collaborate with relevant government institutions (Agricultural Extension Services, Ministries of Agriculture, Cooperatives) and development partners to strengthen linkages and sustainability.
• Liaise with local authorities, community leaders, and private-sector actors to enhance value chain connections and market access.
• Participate in local coordination meetings and joint field visits with partners as required.

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting:

• Conduct regular field visits to track progress, verify activities, and collect data using AYGF’s PTMAS system.
• Prepare routine field reports, document observations, and identify challenges requiring attention.
• Collect and analyze data using AYGF’s Project Tracking, Monitoring, and Accountability System (PTMAS).
• Document success stories, lessons learned, and case studies for internal and external learning.
• Contribute to monthly/quarterly and final project reports, highlighting outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for scaling up.

Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• University Degree (BSc or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in managing or implementing livelihood, agriculture, or economic empowerment projects, preferably within NGO or development settings.
• Proven experience in climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, and community-based programming.
• Demonstrated capacity in stakeholder engagement with smallholder farmers, women, youth, and government agencies.
• Experience working in Northern Nigeria or other semi-arid regions is an advantage.

Desired:

• Advanced university degree (BSc or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, or a related field
• Knowledge of Hausa language and familiarity with Katsina State context.
• Experience in integrating gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into migration or livelihood programs.