Agronomy Specialist (Specialist in FSM and EDFS Background)

JOB SUMMARY

The consultant will work on the guidelines to use faecal matter after treatment as fertilizer for farming and the lessons learned from the initial pilot project will enable us to easily scale up and meet the objectives of the 2024 – 2029 country strategy.

Specific objectives of mission (objectives, scope and deliverables) Max 7 or less.

• Objective 1 Mobilize and onboard farmers, cooperatives, and trader associations and provide technical assistance during implementation of L2V project.
• Objective 2 Enhance organizational, governance and management capacity of farmer with the ministry of agriculture, define MoU with this ministry, farmer organizations and trader associations through training, mentorship, and exposure.
• Objective 3 Conduct training programs on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS), post-harvest management, food safety cold storage best practices, and efficient utilization of the cooling units.

Related to Objective 1 ,2, & 3:

• Identify and nurture business opportunities for smallholder horticulture farmers in alignment with project objectives.
• Provide tailored training programs and support to enhance the business skills of selected farmers and Farmer Organizations, enabling active engagement in the market.
• Facilitate market linkages and trade relationships between smallholder farmers and relevant markets.
• Assist in establishing strategic partnerships between farmers, cooperatives, and financial institutions to explore potential financing options.
• Facilitate effective business relationships between farmers and off-takers/exporters within targeted value chains.
• Cultivate robust partnerships with farmers, relevant County government departments, input suppliers, and other stakeholders to drive project objectives at the local level.

Project implementation and monitoring:

• Assist in the identification and setup process of cooling units through participatory approaches.
• Provide regular progress reports, data collection, and documentation of field activities.
• Contribute to project monitoring and evaluation, identifying challenges and proposing solutions.

Communication and Representation:

• Represent the project at relevant meetings, workshops, and conferences to promote project objectives.
• Document and share key achievements / impact created by implementation of the project.
• Collaborate with project partners and stakeholders to raise awareness about the project and its benefits.

Qualifications, skills & experience

• 4-5 years of relevant experience in community development, business development or related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, or a related field.
• Proven experience in cooperative development and agricultural extension services, preferably in horticultural GAP training, agroecology, post-harvest management and cold chain systems.
• Sound knowledge of smallholder farming practices, management of out-grower schemes, value chains/market system development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with farmers, cooperatives, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to deliver training programs and facilitate workshops to build capacity and knowledge among project beneficiaries.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently in remote field locations with limited supervision.
• Proficiency in computer applications and data management software.
• Fluency in English, Swahili and local languages is a requirement.
• Must be a licensed motorbike rider (or willing to learn) & be willing to reside in the Sub-County of placement.

Reporting

The Agrologist specialist Consultant reports to the respective WASH program Manager, or to the person with this responsibility.

S/he provides regular status reports from own area of responsibilities as per NCA Nigeria internal procedures.