Policy and Partnerships Officer at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited

Description

• 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 Policy and Partnerships Advisor will lead engagement with government and private stakeholders, and relevant partners to shape and influence policy dialogues on the RISE program.
• The Advisor will ensure alignment between project objectives and national/regional priorities, and champion evidence-based advocacy to enhance systemic impact and sustainability.

Role Responsibilities
Policy Analysis and Strategic Engagement:

• Analyze national and sub-national policies, frameworks, and institutional landscapes relevant to agriculture (in focus value chains), trade, gender, and climate change.
• Identify policy opportunities and constraints affecting smallholder farmers, agri-SMEs, women, and youth.
• Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement strategy to advance enabling policy environments.

Stakeholder Relations and Partnership:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government ministries, regulatory bodies, regional institutions, and civil society actors.
• Represent the RISE project in policy forums, working groups, and multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Coordinate with MEDA and other consortium partners to ensure unified and strategic external positioning.

Advocacy and Influence:

• Lead the design and execution of advocacy campaigns to promote evidence-based recommendations from project learnings.
• Prepare and disseminate policy briefs, position papers, and stakeholder communication materials.
• Facilitate dialogue between grassroots stakeholders and policy actors to ensure inclusive policymaking.

Knowledge Translation and Learning:

• Translate research and MEL findings into actionable policy insights and influence strategies.
• Organize learning events, policy roundtables, and knowledge-sharing workshops.
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learned, case studies, and policy impact narratives.

Role Requirements

• Master’s degree in public policy, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, International Relations, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in policy engagement, advocacy, or stakeholder relations in development or public sector settings.
• Proven track record of influencing public policies and coordinating multi-stakeholder advocacy efforts.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s policy environment in agriculture, trade, gender, and climate resilience.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with political acumen and diplomacy.
• Experience working on donor-funded projects is desirable
• Proficiency in producing high-quality policy content (briefs, reports, talking points).
• Knowledge of participatory and inclusive policy development processes.