The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies in the Nigeria’s agricultural sector, to sufficiently provide food for an increasing population, adequate supply of raw materials to a growing industrial sector, effectively expand the market for crop, livestock, agro and agro-allied products, continually create employment opportunities, and to widely diversify the economy, for national development. The Ministry provides resources to the sector for the implementation of various projects and programmes. The efforts is complemented with the support and funding from donor partners in the implementation of various agricultural projects and programmes in the country.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are implementing a Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta states (LIFE-ND).
To facilitate implementation of the project, the partners want qualified and competent personnel from the region to fill the underlisted vacant position in Akwa Ibom State Project Coordinating Office in the capacities below:
Job Title: Knowledge Management and Communications Officer
Location: Akwa Ibom
Description
- The Knowledge Management and Communications Officer will be responsible for coordinating project implementation at the state level.
- The Officer will work closely with the KMC Coordinator at the RPCO and the KMC Advisor at the Central Communications Unit in implementing KMC activities.
Specific Duties
- Manage the implementation of the KMC strategy of the project at the state level.
- Develop KMC activities for the annual work plan and budget (AWPB).
- Prepare an annual KMC plan of actions for enhancing institutional culture of learning and knowledge-sharing.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing events and policy dialogues among project stakeholders.
- Ensure that innovative experiences, learning and good practices are captured, synthesized, documented and shared continuously within the project, within the relevant stakeholders.
- Play a leading role in knowledge capitalization, develop evidence based knowledge products and ensure wider dissemination.
- Develop and update project stakeholders contact list and mailing lists for dissemination of project knowledge products.
- Guide staff on information collection, processing, and information dissemination methods.
- Play a leading role in external relations, building relations with media and communications personnel, liaison and public relations.
- In close collaboration with the State M&E Officer, ensure results from various studies including quality management, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation are translated into evidence-based knowledge products.
- Establish information technology requirements for effective implementation of the KMC strategy using social media and internet tools.
- Plan and coordinate communication and advocacy campaigns through mass media, newsletters, stakeholder meetings, and other communication channels as appropriate.
- Assist in developing integrated information systems to enable M&E of project activities.
- Monitor and evaluate performance of the project’s KMC strategy at the state level.
- Contribute to the drafting of periodic project progress reports.
- Maintain updated cataloguing of the project’s knowledge assets/online resource materials.
- Undertake other KMC tasks as required.
Qualification and Experience
- Higher level University Degree or equivalent in a field related to Communications, Journalism, Development or a related discipline.
- Minimum of three years of experience in information, knowledge management and/or development communication, preferably in the agriculture and rural development sector.
- Experience in media relations, ICT and extension will be an advantage.
- Proven ability in documentation and advocacy; demonstrated capacity to develop and oversee implementation of documentation of programme results, presentations, communication and reporting skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills; experience of interacting with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
- High degree of motivation, initiative, independence, reliability, adaptability, and professional maturity; and places a premium on “getting things done”.
- Strong project management and coordination skills; able to handle multiple tasks and balance priorities with various stakeholders.
Job Title: Environment and Climate Change Officer
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Description
- The candidate will assist the project in ensuring that the environment and climate change is mainstreamed in project activities.
Specific Duties
- Assist to ensure that the inclusion of climate resilience and environmental data collection in the baseline Studies to be undertaken
- Assist in capacity building of incubators and incubatees in ECC mainstreaming areas and activities
- Support linkages with institutions and stakeholders involved in ECC issues.
- Support the preparation of Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Basic Climate Risk Analysis at the commodity cluster level.
- Assist in the application of manual for environmental training on sustainable agricultural enterprises.
- Assist in the documentation of baseline information for projects locations/clusters using GPS, Remote sensing and field surveys using GIS.
- Assist in developing crop agro-ecological suitability maps.
- Assist in General supervision, monitoring and certification of works of service providers engaged for physical climate change and environmental projects
- Assist in revising and update the draft project implementation manual to include climate change adaptation and environmental management.
- Support the development of a framework for measuring resilience among the target beneficiaries including indicators to be monitored within the M&E system for climate change.
- Support the development of a technical manual for environmental training on sustainable agricultural enterprise as needed.
Reporting and Location:
- The position will be in the National Project Coordinating Office located in Port Harcourt.
- The Environment and Climate Change Assistant will report directly to Rural Infrastructure Coordinator.
Qualification and Experience
- A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering/Sciences, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management. A higher degree in relevant discipline will be added advantage.
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Integrity and confidentiality.
- Demonstrate team spirit, good interpersonal and conflict management skills.
- Interpersonal and time management skills
- Display of knowledge of climate change adaptation and environmental safeguards and familiarity with government policies and that of other critical stake holders
- Conversant with the Niger Delta region working environment.
- Good writing skills and good computer skills.
Job Title: State Financial Inclusion Specialist (SFIS)
Location: Akwa Ibom
Main Responsibilities
- The State Financial Inclusion Specialist will be responsible for promoting financial inclusion among Project beneficiaries (Incubatees);
- Ensuring access to financial services, account opening, Savings, remittances, payment systems, Insurance, providing financial literacy education as well as Off-taker, and Pre-financier arrangements.
- The Specialist will work closely with the National Financial Inclusion Specialist at the National Project Coordinating Office (NPCO), and relevant stakeholders in implementing financial inclusion activities.
Specific Duties
- Facilitate access to credit through partnerships with financial institutions and non- bank institutions
- Encourage Savings and the use of digital savings platform, for the Incubatees
- Assist incubatees in opening bank accounts or other financial accounts.
- Promote and facilitate the use of mobile wallets for financial transactions.
- Develop and keep record of financial incluusion metrics of the incubatees, number of accounts opened, and transaction volume of Incubatees business.
- Provide financial literacy education and trainings to incubatees on topics such as entrepreneurship mindset, Insurance, budgeting, saving, digital literacy, financial goal setting, risk management strategies, right time to obtain loans, loan management, loans repayment procedures, calculation of interest rate on loans, investing, retirement plan etc.
- Develop financial education materials for literacy education.
- Offer one-on-one financial counseling to incubatees
- Promote and facilitate access to insurance products for incubatees by linkage to NAIC, and other private Insurance firms
- Facilitate access to remittance and payment systems for incubatees
- Ensure Incubatees understands and maintains accurate and proper record/book keeping
- Develop partnerships, support engagements and collaborate with public and private sector institutions involved in financial inclusion services to provide such to LIFE-ND beneficiaries-e.g NIRSAL PLC, NIRSAL MFB, NAIC, BOA, Bol, SMEDAN, Nicert, NEPC, NIPC, MFB’s, Sterling Bank, Wema Bank, NDE, Federal Ministry Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and FMAFS
- Prepare and submit monthly and quarterly reports on financial incluusion activities to the State Project Coordinator and the NFIS.
- Develop partnerships with off-takers and pre-financiers.
- Offer one-on-one financial counseling to incubatees
- Advocate for policies and regulations that promote financial inclusion.
- Develop Fl activities for the annual work plan and budget (AWPB).
- Offer one-on-one financial counseling to incubatees.
- Prepare an annual Fl action plan for FI implementation, enhancing Fl learning and knowledge-sharing.
- Conduct research on financial inclusion trends, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring innovative approaches, experiences and learnings are reported and shared constantly within the project, and relevant stakeholders to enhance Financial Inclusion.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of financial inclusion interventions and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Undertake other Fl tasks as required.
Qualification and Experience
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Agribusiness, or a related discipline.
- At least 3 years of experience in financial inclusion, banking, microfinance or other financial institutions, preferably in roles related to financial inclusion.
- Experience in promoting financial indusion among rural communities, smallholder farmers, or low-income households.
- Experience in managing projects related to financial inclusion, including financial action planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Ability to analyze financial data, identify trends, and make recommendations.
Job Title: Market Enterprise and Development Officer
Location: Akwa Ibom
Description
- The main duty of the Market Enterprise Development Officer is to support the implementation of marketing strategy in the state.
Specific Duties
- Carry out market research and analysis for the products of the Agribusiness value chain engaged by LIFE-ND beneficiaries in the states.
- Develop business strategies that can help in expanding market reach, increasing sales, and fostering business growth.
- Identify new business opportunities and partnership that align with the agribusiness goals of the project.
- Design and implement effective marketing campaigns to promote the products produced by LIFE-ND beneficiaries. This will include digital marketing, and advertising tailored to the agribusiness products promoted by the project.
- Build strong relationships with customers of the project beneficiaries and gather feedback that will lead to improved products, customers satisfaction and loyalty.
- Understand and plan for fluctuations in market prices, changes in consumer demand and potential supply chain disruptions with the aim of Identifying market risks and develop strategies to mitigate them
- Ensure that marketing agreements between LIFE-ND beneficiaries and Off- takers are perfected and understood by the parties concerned.
- Negotiate with off-takers to get best prices for LIFE-ND beneficiaries.
- Advise on best marketing Strategies to achieve maximum sales in terms of when, how, and where to market their products.
- Facilitate prompt payment from Off-takers to LIFE-ND beneficiaries.
- Submit monthly report on activities undertaken.
Qualification and Experience
Educational qualification:
- University Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or any related field.
Experience:
- Minimum of five years experience in:
- Market analysis and business development
- Extensive knowledge of marketing strategies, policies, and procedures.
- High level of communication, and interpersonal skills
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Proven work experience in sales and marketing of Agricultural products
- Must be highly innovative and persuasive.
- Being a team player.
Job Title: Nutrition Officer
Location: Uyo, Akwa Ibom
Description
- The Nutrition Officer will be responsible for the facilitation of nutrition mainstreaming in project interventions in the Niger Delta region.
Specific Duties
- Facilitate the analysis of nutrition gaps along the supply chain of priority commodities in the project locations.
- Facilitate the periodic food survey and report dissemination on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP).
- In collaboration with selected relevant institutes and/or private sector, facilitate the promotion of value added products development and consumption among project beneficiaries.
- Organize nutrition publicity on project nutrition activities; facilitate the development and testing of appropriate campaign messages, tools and materials to promote nutrition education, social and behavioural change communication.
- Facilitate capacity building and training sessions on nutrition-sensitive agriculture for project staff, implementers, nutrition officers, ADPs and extension workers.
- In collaboration with other stakeholders and partners, facilitate the activities on Home Grown School Feeding Initiative, vegetable garden and integrated homestead food production.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with the line ministries (such as health, gender, education) to build synergy in nutrition-sensitive interventions in LIFE-ND.
- Track and document substantive data and information on nutrition-sensitive activities and maintain regular technical reports on nutrition outcomes, nutrition indicators and food security as linked to project interventions.
- Work collaboratively with the technical specialists on gender and climate in documenting interface on nutrition outcomes.
Reporting and Location:
- The officer will report directly to the State Project Coordinator. The position will be in the State Project Coordinating Office located in Uyo.
Qualifications and Experience
- Advanced University Degree from an accredited institution in the field of Human Nutrition, Food Science or equivalent in a field related to Food Security.
- At least 3 years’ experience in, and demonstrated understanding of food and nutrition initiatives in rural development. Knowledge of the Niger Delta region is an advantage.
- Experience in previous food survey and/or nutrition programme is required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of another local language in Niger Delta region is essential and desirable.
- Experience of interacting with a variety of internal and external stakeholders is desirable.
- Strong project coordination skills; and basic knowledge on gender and climate change issues is desirable.
Job Tenure:
- The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years in the first instance, renewable subject to satisfactory performance.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their Applications with detailed CV to: info@life-nd.org.ng using the Job Title as the subject of the email.
Application Deadline 28th January, 2025.
