Programme Coordinator at Adam Smith International

Background

• The project, funded under the RISA programme, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem by scaling local Technology Delivery Systems (TDS), fostering Participatory Technology Development (PTD), and enabling distributed manufacturing at a national scale. This includes facilitating networking and partnerships, advancing Research-to-Commercialization (R2C), and promoting research development and impact. 
• The Programme Coordinator – North/South will play a critical role in ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, fostering strategic partnerships, and facilitating collaboration among key actors in the research, innovation, and industrial ecosystems. 
• The Programme Coordinator will lead and coordinate project implementation across designated zones in northern and southern Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities
Project Implementation & Coordination:

• Oversee the execution of technology demonstration initiatives that connect technical training with real-world applications.
• Facilitate the implementation of industry-driven technology demonstration and showcase initiatives with private sectors in Southern/Northern Nigeria.
• Ensure effective resource allocation, compliance, and reporting in alignment with project objectives and funding requirements.
• Support the planning and execution of NAMIS 2025, ensuring alignment with key stakeholders and institutional partners.
• Support the demonstration of co-creation and alignment approaches to showcase the impact of collaboration between research institutions and industry.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure activities contribute to system-level impact, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development:

• Build and manage partnerships between CONESAM and relevant Federal Government MDAs to promote NAMIS 2025.
• Strengthen cross-stakeholder engagement to improve research quality and foster technology uptake through co-creation and alignment.
• Lead strategic engagements with research institutions, private sector partners, and industry stakeholders to secure buy-in and support.
• Establish and manage industry partnerships for policy development and technology transfer in agricultural mechanization.

Performance Monitoring, Learning & Reporting:

• Ensure all project milestones, deliverables, and timelines are met, adhering to agreed-upon work plans and budgets.
• Develop monitoring frameworks to assess the effectiveness of partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and technology adoption.
• Track and document the progress of co-creation and alignment projects to ensure impact-driven implementation.
• Develop and submit periodic progress reports, including success stories, case studies, and best practices.
• Support the publication of policy briefs, reviews, journal papers, and case studies to inform decision-making and policy advocacy.

Capacity Building & Sustainability Planning:

• Facilitate knowledge transfer and training initiatives to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders in research commercialization and technology adoption.
• Support the development of a framework for sustainable collaboration between research institutes, government agencies, and private sector actors.
• Assist in defining long-term strategies for scaling up mechanization innovations and strengthening local manufacturing capacity.
• Encourage continuous learning and adaptive planning to enhance the sustainability of agricultural mechanization initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Networking and Partnerships:

• Number of technology partnership agreements signed between CONESAM and private sector actors.
• Number of engagements with Federal MDAs to secure policy alignment and support for NAMIS 2025.
• Convening of NAMIS 2025 with active participation from stakeholders in Southern/Northern Nigeria.

Research Development and Impact:

• Development and approval of frameworks for co-creation and alignment in agricultural mechanization research.
• Number of co-created research-to-commercialization projects implemented through stakeholder collaboration.
• Support towards the demonstration of successful industry-driven technology adoption case in Southern/Northern Nigeria.

Reporting & Knowledge Dissemination:

• Publication of policy briefs, journal articles, and case studies showcasing successful mechanization models.
• Documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned from implemented projects.
• Submission of quarterly progress reports highlighting key milestones, challenges, and recommendations.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management, Technical, workforce development, and implementation for donor-funded programs.
• Strong expertise in innovation management, and research commercialization.
• Proven ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder collaborations, public-private partnerships, and policy engagements in skills development and industrial innovation.
• Experience working with FCDO or similar donor-funded initiatives, managing grant facilities and large-scale training programs.
• Proficiency in project management software, digital collaboration tools and data analysis tools will be of added advantage.
• Strong reporting and communication skills, with experience developing policy papers, research reports, and strategic program documents.
• Expertise in curriculum development, training frameworks, and skills gap analysis, particularly in the agriculture, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
• Experience coordinating partnerships with government agencies, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders to drive sustainable employment and innovation.
• Knowledge of Nigeria’s STI ecosystem, agricultural mechanization policies, and technical education frameworks.
• Background in economic development, MSME support, and market-driven skills training programs.