Senior Project Manager, Extension Services at Ikore International Development Limited

Background

• Ikore International Development in partnership with a private sector partner, implementing development projects in the North East (NE) of Nigeria is working with smallholder farmers to alleviate the effect of the economic downturn from the shock encountered by poor access to finance and technology resources by smallholder farmers and processors that have become compounded by various economic situation.

Project Overview and Role

• The project covers mobilized and existing smallholders’ youths’farmersand female processors in Adamawa State, building the capacity of agricultural extension workers, lead farmers and private sector-led Agro-allied partners to increase the flow of timely agronomic extension messages for improved farming and processing techniques, thereby increasing productivity, quality of farm produce and reducing the hardship.

Responsibilities 
Ultimately, the project will

• Enable youth, especially young women to engage in sustainable livelihoods.
• Create an enabling environment for smallholder/rural farmers to access markets where they achieved improved yields within a single cropping cycle and were thereafter able to, on their own, carry out more successful production and processing activities.
• Support for smallholder farmers to complete dry and wet season production, through the provision of in-kind input grants, capacity building (in farm production, processing, and waste management);
• Foster access to critical resources for vulnerable rural groups (young women and unemployed youth) that are financially excluded and lacked the capacity to procure the needed inputs for farming to stimulate increased productivity and income.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• The Senior project Manager will ensure the timely provision of quality information through capacity building of smallholder/rural farmers. The project associates will report to the state project manager.

Responsibilities

• Support in coordinating the activities of the smallholder/rural farmers and extension officers.
• Give support in ensuring the availability of technical resources and integrate their efforts into overall project management.
• Keep track of the project performance and provide regular updates to the State Project Manager on the implementation.
• Remain informed on the program implementations by ensuring strict adherence to the current best practices.
• Work with other extension officers to oversee capacity-building activities for the farmers in focus locations in Adamawa.
• Capacity development and knowledge management for enhancing market-oriented agriculture for smallholder farmers.
• Prepare and revise training materials for farmers and TOTs.
• Follow-up on implementation of farmer training
• Mobilize farmers into groups for the delivery of extension services.
• Identify farmers’ needs and provide responses as appropriate.
• Carry out agronomic demonstrations, training, or exposure of farmers to best agronomic practices.
• Conduct in-field training sessions on the correct use and application of fertilizers and crop protection products.
• Support the Farmer Loan Application Process.
• Ensuring timely and accurate reporting of all activities to the Project Leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A Degree in Business Development, (Agric) Economics, and Agronomy or any field in Agriculture
• A Master’s Degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage
• Over 15 years Experience with providing extension services,
• Living and working in YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE will be an added advantage as well as a knowledge of the terrain.
• Liaise with multiple players, coordinate activities, and avoid duplication in the implementation of the programs.
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, farmers, and extension officers.