Program Management and Coordinator at Corus International

Job Brief:

• In collaboration with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), S/he will provide strategic guidance for effective implementation and coordinate with implementing partners, Agriculture Extension Officers, and leads to ensure management of the farmer groups, intermediaries (Factors, LBAs, and Cooperative), developing SMEs across a range of sectors, including in market system development and cooperative development aspects of the project are impactful. S/he will provide continuous backstopping to project partners, the Program Technical Advisor, Agriculture Extension Officers, and manage all stakeholders for optimum project results. The Program Management & Coordinator will provide technical support, training, and monitoring support.

Position Summary:

• The Program Officer will report to and be supervised by the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP). The Program Management Coordinator position will be based at the Ikom office, Cross River State.

Job Description:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance in the planning and implementation of TRACE activities of the project location in collaboration with project partners and relevant government agencies.
• Provide technical support to project beneficiaries, specifically cocoa intermediaries, to help them access financing from financial institutions. Additionally, lead training, coaching, and mentoring sessions focused on business development services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cocoa intermediaries in the project communities. Collaborate closely with financial institutions to facilitate financing access, expand business services, and enhance trading opportunities.
• Provide technical expertise in all aspects of the value chain (linkages with public and private sector, technical trainings to farmers, cocoa production, cocoa agroforestry, post-harvest handling, marketing, etc.) to solve technical problems that inhibit production and productivity.
• Mobilize farmer groups to get into & the cocoa production/traceability system and ensure group social cohesion, organization, and management.
• Provide technical support to Program Technical Advisors and Agriculture Extension Officers, lead farmers to cascade training using the developed curriculum package of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) for Cocoa cropping/agronomy, and advise/ train the growers to adopt the same to ensure increased yield & productivity.
• Provide technical support to Program Technical Advisors and Agricultural Extension Officers, Partners staff, and support cocoa producer groups to self-organize, increase their financial, technical, and organizational skills, access financial services, and establish Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and products.
• Provide technical support, coaching, and mentoring to cocoa intermediaries (Factors, License buying agents, cooperatives) on enterprise business services to provide Input distribution/supplies to farmer groups and credit accounting, if needed.
• Coordinate and promote demonstrations, field trials, field days, exposure visits, etc., on the quality cocoa seedlings production through commercial seedling producers (youth & women enterprises) and participating farmers.
• Link project participants with public and private sector extension service providers, market actors, food processors, financial institutions, and follow up to establish the required linkages.
• In coordination with the MEL Director and MEL analysts, ensure timely and quality capturing of MEAL data on TRACE activities, learning agenda, and writing the semi-annual report and project components.
• Prepare monthly updates, quarterly, and annual work plans, budgets, and technical reports on project activities as part of the overall program planning and reporting cycle.
• Represent LWR in cocoa forums.
• Provide effective management, coaching, and support to Agriculture Extension Officers, Project lead farmers, LWR Producer Enterprise Agents, Producer groups, and intermediaries (input suppliers, distributors, transporters, and Licensed Buying Agents (LBA)).
• Facilitate and implement a schedule of post-training field inspections to monitor training quality and adoption of training.
• Monitor Child Labor Remediation activities and compliance by farmers, cooperatives, industry partners, and communities in project locations.
• Ensure that TRACE-related activities are implemented following LWR standards and approaches.

Key Deliverables

• Enhanced productivity and increased production volumes for farmers.
• Management and coaching of cooperatives and cocoa intermediaries, including Licensed Buying Agents (LBAs), agro-dealers, and nursery operators, to help them access revolving loans (finance from financial institutions) and provide services in their communities.
• Facilitate the distribution of, and monitor the use of, improved planting materials and shade trees, including both hybrid and clonal varieties.
• Support the development of a sustainability plan for the cocoa intermediaries, cooperatives, government institutions, and other project activities for continuity after the project exit.

Requirements And Key Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree from a recognized university in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Rural Sociology, Development Studies, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience with an international organization in donor funding or a similar context.
• Experience in providing business development services to SMEs within the cocoa value chain.
• A clear understanding of the cocoa value chain and the ability to innovate, analyze, and develop solutions to facilitate access to agricultural finance. This includes a familiarity with financial institutions and their products in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of business and enterprise development services and the ability to establish market linkages with market actors and facilitate trade.
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills, along with excellent oral and written communication abilities.
• Expertise in the agricultural value chain, natural resource management, cocoa traceability systems, and certification processes, as well as experience managing farmer groups, cooperatives, business development services, and agricultural extension services.
• Understanding of agro-climatic conditions, soil fertility, disease, and pest control, and strengthening farmer organizations.
• Experience with market development approaches related to cocoa and agricultural value chain development, particularly in linking producers to markets.
• Previous experience in youth and women's enterprise projects and related fields is preferred.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (preferably Microsoft Office), and internet usage.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both spoken and written.
• Significant experience in building public/private partnerships.
• Excellent report writing, analysis, and presentation skills, particularly with Word, Excel, and

PowerPoint.

• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Sensitivity to working with diverse cultures and beliefs, and a commitment to gender equity.
• A high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Willingness to work flexibly outside of normal working hours.
• Ability to foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork, and cooperation.

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular attendance of at least 5 days/week. The employee must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required. Corus has a hybrid work policy, allowing 50 percent of work to be done remotely.
• This position must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes.