Jobs at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Description

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Head, Business Development Unit (BDU).
• As IITA implements its 2024–2030 Strategic Plan, the Institute is establishing a Business Development Unit (BDU) — a new institutional function designed to professionalize and coordinate the full continuum from funding intelligence and proposal development to portfolio performance and donor compliance. 
• This is a leadership role: the Head of BDU will build the unit from the ground up, integrating existing functions, establishing new systems, and positioning IITA as the partner of choice for the next generation of large-scale agricultural investment. 
• Increasing competition for funding and evolving donor requirements require a coordinated and strategic approach to resource mobilization, proposal development, and project oversight. The Business Development Unit (BDU) aims at strengthening institutional competitiveness, funding success, and delivery performance.
• The Head, Business Development Unit (BDU) will provide strategic leadership and operational management of the Unit, ensuring that IITA maintains a strong funding pipeline, secures high-value partnerships, develops competitive proposals, and delivers projects efficiently and in compliance with donor requirements.

Position Responsibilities

Resource Mobilization and Partnerships:

• Lead institutional resource mobilization efforts to secure diversified and sustainable funding.
• Develop and implement IITA’s institutional business development and resource mobilization strategies to access public and private sector funding.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with bilateral and multilateral funders, foundations, development finance institutions, private-sector partners, and philanthropic organizations.
• Establish and lead funder intelligence and funding opportunity tracking.
• Advise senior leadership on partnerships, funding strategies, donor intelligence

Project Development and Proposal Management:

• Develop value propositions and funder engagement materials.
• Lead negotiations and partnership discussions related to major funding opportunities.
• Oversee the development of high-quality concept notes, proposals, and business cases from identification to submission.
• Ensure high-quality and competitive proposals, their compliance, and alignment with donor requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and their contribution to proposal preparation
• Establish proposal review and quality assurance mechanisms.
• Support staff capacity building initiatives related to project development, donor compliance, and portfolio management.

Project Implementation and Portfolio Oversight:

• Oversee institutional project portfolio performance and implementation quality.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Monitor project performance, timelines, and budgets,
• Promote effective knowledge management and documentation of project achievements and lessons learned.
• Oversee reporting, documentation, audits and donor communications.
• Develop and maintain project performance dashboards and management information systems.
• Monitor proposal success rates and continuously improve proposal development.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• PhD or Master’s Degree in Agriculture, International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in international development, research-for-development, business development, resource mobilization, or program management.
• Demonstrated track record of securing and managing large-scale donor-funded programs.
• Proven experience in developing successful proposals for bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, and development finance institutions.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex project portfolios.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance, grants management, and project governance.

Core Competencies:

• Institutional Transformation: Proven ability to build and strengthen institutional functions.
• Strategic Influence: Drives alignment across decentralized, multi-country teams.
• Business Development: Skilled in proposal development, donor negotiations, and growth strategy.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Builds strong relationships with senior-level partners and funders.
• Portfolio Management: Experienced in managing complex multi-country programs and donor compliance.
• Execution & Adaptability: Delivers results under pressure across diverse cultural environments.

Benefits

• Duty Station: The position is based at IITA Headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. The role requires periodic travel to IITA's five regional Hubs and country offices across sub-Saharan Africa to support business development engagement, partnership building, and portfolio oversight.

General information:

• The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.

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• The Hub Director-Western Africa Hub & Sahel and Agricultural Policy Expert will serve as Hub Director for West Africa and Sahel Hubs (WASH) and lead its agricultural policy and advocacy activities. 
• The position is based in Abuja, Nigeria, so the incumbent will also be the Nigeria country representative for IITA and the officer in charge (OiC) of the Abuja station. (IITA has stations in Kano, Ibadan, Onne, Abuja).

Position Responsibilities

Hub Director:

• Management Oversight: Provide overall strategic, operational, and compliance oversight for Hub activities, including expansion into new countries.
• Internal Collaboration: Facilitate coordination with IITA HQ and Service Units, strengthen internal communication among scientists and specialists, support strategy implementation (including Impact Bundles and country programs), and oversee operational alignment across Hub, country, and station levels.
• Resource Mobilization: Lead and coordinate regional resource mobilization efforts aligned with country initiatives, with a focus on technical assistance programs. Support engagement with regional and national donors, facilitate investment programs and proposal development, and identify partnership opportunities to advance IITA and CGIAR objectives.
• Research for Development (R4D) & Partnership for Development (P4D) Leadership and Capacity: Guide and integrate Science Areas while strengthening talent pipelines and succession for R4D and P4D/S roles. Promote collaboration across programs, support mentoring and capacity development for R4D and P4D/S staff and enable integrated project delivery within the Hub.
• External Representation & Partnerships: Represent IITA in regional platforms; strengthen engagement with regional bodies (e.g., ECOWAS, CORAF, FARA).
• Communication & Visibility: Promote IITA and CGIAR work and visibility across Hub, country, and station levels, ensuring consistent external messaging and stakeholder engagement.

Country Representative:

• Management Oversight: Coordinate IITA’s engagement and partnerships with external stakeholders at the country level.
• IITA Strategy Implementation: Support the execution of IITA strategy through investment planning and operationalization of Impact Bundles within the country.
• Research for Development (R4D) & Partnership for Development (P4D Partnership: Facilitate and formalize collaborative partnerships and agreements between IITA and R4D and P4D/S stakeholders. (NARS and universities, national development agencies, private sector, NGOs, and community-based organizations)
• External Representation & Partnerships: Represent IITA in national platforms, strengthen engagement with governments, CGIAR, donors, private sector, and development partners, and ensure alignment with national and regional priorities.

Officer in Charge:

• Management Oversight: Provide overall oversight of station administration, financial operations, infrastructure, and support services, including coordination with relevant stakeholders and approval of staff handovers.
• Research for Development (R4D) & Partnership for Development Leadership & Capacity: Provide oversight R4D support services at the stations (e.g., farms, lab maintenance).
• Station & CGIAR Support: Provide operational and administrative support to CGIAR centres at station level and lead local outreach and promotional activities.

Policy and Advocacy:

• Provide strategic leadership for CGIAR policy engagement, advocacy, and partnerships in Nigeria, ensuring alignment with national development and agrifood priorities.
• Serve as the primary CGIAR policy focal point, leading the design and implementation of country-level policy engagement strategies.
• Drive the development and dissemination of evidence-based policy products (briefs, papers, technical notes) to influence decision-making.
• Promote the uptake of CGIAR research and identify emerging policy opportunities for engagement and advocacy.
• Strengthen stakeholder collaboration across government, research, private sector, and development partners.
• Advance inclusive policy processes by integrating youth perspectives and facilitating their participation in policy dialogues.
• Strengthen partnerships with ministries, research institutions, private sector, and youth organizations; support youth-responsive policies; and promote youth participation in agrifood systems and policy platforms.

Country Convener for CGIAR in Nigeria:

• Internal  Coordination: Organize regular internal CGIAR coordination events (seminars, interactions) to build relationships and efficiencies among Centres and Program/ Accelerator focal points.
• External Partnership and Visibility: Organize and facilitate CGIAR Partnership event(s) that highlight the portfolio and Centres’ and Programs’/ Accelerators’ contributions to national priorities and solicit and communicate demand from partners into the Portfolio.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• The candidate should possess an Advanced Degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in Agricultural Science or a related field from a reputable institution
• Minimum of at least 20 years of relevant professional experience, including a minimum of five years in a senior leadership role.
• Extensive experience working in multicultural and international environments, with a strong understanding of Africa's agricultural, rural, and economic development landscape.
• Proven ability in resource mobilization and engagement with key agricultural sector financiers and partners.
• Strong Project Management experience including managing donor-funded programs and compliance processes.
• Extensive experience in multicultural and international environments, with strong understanding of Africa’s agricultural, rural, and economic development landscape.

Core Competencies:

• Operational Excellence: Delivers efficient, accurate, and results-driven outcomes.
• Systems & Process Optimization: Improves workflows and drives operational efficiency.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Integrity & Confidentiality: Maintains high ethical standards and discretion.
• Leadership & Communication: Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Strategic Thinking: Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability.

General information: 

• The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.

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Description

• We are seeking motivated graduate intern to work in our Medical facility situated within IITA campus.

Terms of Reference

• Manage common medical, surgical, OB-GYN and pediatric conditions.
• Provide first aid for emergencies in trauma, communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases 
• Patient health education on hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle, family planning, disease prevention, etc.
• Arrange referrals to external health facilities in liaison with the Family Physician
• Assist with scheduling and coordination of specialist clinics
• Engage in relevant follow-up on patients in line with their clinical conditions
• Investigate clinical problems with the use of medical laboratory, and other diagnostic equipment
• Perform relevant point of care diagnostic testing
• Collaborate with the Family Physician & unit head in the discharge of clinical duties
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor/Management.

Requirements

• MBBS OR MBCHB Degree
• Completion of NYSC medical practice
• Up-to-date annual medical practicing license 
• Strong attention to detail, willingness to learn and ability to follow through on assigned tasks
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

• More practical experience and exposure to real world medical cases and issues in patient care
• Mentorship and opportunity to contribute to patient care management.