Project Officer Senior at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary:  

CRS Nigeria is implementing the Development of Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (DCSE) component of Building Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) in Benue and Kogi State. BASICS-II is being implemented by a consortium of organizations led by IITA and covers the entire cassava seed value chain, ranging from breeder to farmer seed. The project’s vision is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of the cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain operating across breeder, foundation, and commercial seed levels. This value chain will enable more efficient dissemination and adoption of new varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity, and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation in Nigeria and Tanzania.

The DCSE component of the BASICS-II project which is being implemented by CRS will include the aggregation of Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs (CSEs) and cover production and marketing of certified planting materials of improved cassava varieties to farmers within and outside of Kogi and Benue states. In implementing the component, CRS will identify, train and work with the Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs (CSEs) to plan and organize their seed production and marketing activities. They will be supported to be organized as formidable Seed Entrepreneurs Networks (SENs) operational in the implementation states.

The strategic objective of the DCSE component for Nigeria is to more than double the number of decentralized, commercially viable seed enterprises in Nigeria, while they increase in average size and aggregate into associations to facilitate marketing, quality control, and other services.

As a lead for the Building an Economically Sustainable and Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) project team, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable.

Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Conduct monitoring visits to partners and provide hands-on support in project implementation including development of regular work-plans and budgeting.
• Ensure partner use standard quarterly narrative and monthly financial reporting formats and submit their reports in a timely manner.
• Ensure partners’ advances/liquidations are submitted in a timely manner.
• Support the drafting of comprehensive progress reports (monthly, quarterly and/or annual) in accordance with expectations and requirements.
• Support partners in the use of the Project M&E system, ensuring its results are analyzed and appropriate changes are incorporated into the program implementation.
• Provide necessary mentorship / leadership skills to help develop adequate agriculture capacity within project partners.
• Mobilize and document partners contributions (in cash and kind) to project development and implementation.
• Update agriculture and food security section of the CRS share point regularly with relevant program documents.
• Work with Senior Program Manager for Agriculture to ensure targets of projects are met and partners submit regular programmatic and financial reports as required.
• Contribute to periodic programmatic reports and other communications required by donors.
• Contribute to CRS strategic plan to expand the agriculture and food security portfolio.

Required Languages – English. Knowledge of local languages in the State preferred but not required. 

Travel- Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). 
• Good interpersonal skills including ability to work with multiple stakeholders successfully and to create linkages.

Supervisory Responsibilities: BASICS II Project field support personnel

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Manager for Agriculture, Program Manager for Economic Strengthening and Food Security, Finance, Administration, M&E, Audit, DCR Programs, DCR Operations, Country Representative, RTA/Agriculture as well as other relevant regional and HQ Technical staff.

External: Justice,Peace and Development Commissions of the Catholic Church (JDPCs), other implementing Partner Organizations (National Root Crop Research Institute – NRCI, National Agricultural Seeds Council – NASC, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture -IITA, IITA GoSeed, Umudike Seed, Sahel Consulting, Agricultural Development Program – ADP, Seed Entrepreneur Networks, representative of other NGOs, Donors, Researchers, and Private Sector.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Agriculture related field or development studies required.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of Agriculture and for an NGO.
• Experience in the cassava value chain and public and private donor relations