Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) - Project Officer

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): Recruitment of an Individual Consultant

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on behalf of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is seeking to engage the services of a consultant to serve as Project Officer (ICRISAT) for the ACReSAL Project. The Project Officer will support the effective planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities across assigned states, communities, and other project locations, in alignment with approved workplans, project objectives, and expected outputs.

As part of IITA’s commitment to strengthening project delivery and promoting impactful field-level interventions, the Project Officer will provide technical and operational support to the Project Principal Investigator (PI) in implementing activities related to climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, agroecology, conservation agriculture, soil health, improved crop varieties, seed systems, value chains, and other relevant areas. The role will involve coordinating field activities, supporting stakeholder engagement and community-level interventions, facilitating capacity-building and knowledge-sharing activities, and monitoring implementation progress to ensure timely and quality delivery of project outputs.

The Project Officer will support the ICRISAT Project’s Principal Investigator (PI) in the overall planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of ACReSAL project activities.

Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

·       Support project planning and implementation by assisting the Project PI in developing and implementing workplans, activity schedules and strategies to ensure timely delivery of project activities and outputs.

·       Coordinate day-to-day project activities across assigned states, communities and other project locations, ensuring effective implementation in line with approved workplans and project objectives.

·       Provide technical and operational support for the implementation of project interventions related to climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, agroecology, conservation agriculture, soil health, improved crop varieties, seed systems and other relevant areas.

·       Support field-based assessments and community engagement activities, including surveys, stakeholder consultations, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and other data collection and participatory processes.

·       Facilitate collaboration and engagement with relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, research and extension organizations, communities, farmer groups, NGOs, seed enterprises, private-sector actors and other project partners.

·       Support the establishment, implementation and monitoring of field interventions, including demonstration plots, training plots, nurseries and other project-supported activities.

·       Coordinate and support capacity-building and knowledge dissemination activities, including Training of Trainers (ToTs), stakeholder trainings, farmer trainings, field days, agricultural shows and other project events.

·       Support project activities related to value chains and seed systems, including the identification and prioritization of marketable Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), engagement with seed companies and community seed enterprises, and other relevant capacity-strengthening interventions.

·       Any other duties assigned by PI and ICRISAT’s Country Representative to Nigeria

·       Conduct regular field monitoring and follow-up to assess implementation progress, identify challenges and risks, document lessons learned and provide timely feedback to the Project PI.

·       Collect, compile and maintain project data and documentation, including activity reports, monitoring data, attendance records, photographs, field observations and other supporting evidence required for effective project management and reporting.

·       Prepare regular progress updates and contribute to project reporting and knowledge products, including technical reports, presentations, briefs, success stories and other documentation required by ICRISAT and project partners.

·       Ensure compliance and effective communication by supporting implementation in accordance with approved workplans, budgets, institutional policies, ethical and safeguard requirements, maintaining regular communication with the Project PI, and performing other relevant duties assigned in support of the successful implementation of the ACReSAL project.