Partnership Engagement Expert (Ref: DDG-R4D/TAAT/PEE/12/17)
Background:The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Partnership Engagement Expert.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.
The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is a program initiated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of its Feed Africa Initiative. The main objective of the program is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within 8 Priority Intervention Areas. The program will be implemented by IITA in close collaboration with other CGIAR Centers, FARA, AGRA, national agricultural research and extension systems and private sector partners. It will involve close partnership between the AfDB and other developmental partners such as the World Bank, BMGF, USAID and others. The Clearinghouse (CH) will be set up to operate as a semi-autonomous component of the Program. The objective of the CH will be to take proven agricultural technologies to scale in a commercially sustainable fashion through the establishment of a mechanism to facilitate partnerships and provide access to expertise required to design, implement, and monitor progress of crop, livestock, and aquaculture campaigns.
Position Responsibilities
The tasks of the Partnership Engagement Expert will include:
Main Responsibility
- Effectively engage stakeholders within the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES), NGOs, private sector and the CG centers to work together to achieve TAAT goals and objectives and identifying partnerships and proven technologies, and packaging them into potential loan portfolio project applications, to transform agriculture within target value chains of interest to the Regional Membership Country (RMC) governments.
- In close collaboration with national partners, develop integrated value chain out-scaling programs, to assist the RMCs to meet their transformational targets.
- Develop guidelines, procedures and criteria to be used in appraising partnerships in RMCs investment proposals taking into consideration the objectives and expected outcomes of the TAAT program.
- Make an assessment of available private partners within each value chain and RMC and agree on effective roles to ensure delivery on value chain outcomes.
- Provide technical support to the RMCs and the value chain Units within the CGIAR in the identification and selection of investment projects, country consultants, and any other project support to enable them to prepare and implement scaling out activities in line with TAAT program objectives.
- Provide guidance in the formulation of strategies, policies, procedures and programs relating to proposal development to attract funding from potential Donors.
- Encourage and assist in establishing strong linkages between the public and private sector within RMCs especially with focus on scaling out technologies within the different value chains.
- Actively contribute to the Clearinghouse (CH) reporting and progress updates, and documents on an RMC based on their Agricultural Transformation Agender performances.
- Work in close partnership with each of the value chains, TAAT Enablers and the PMU.”
- Undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the Head of the CH.
Educational Qualifications and Experience
- A post-graduate degree in Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development or any other related field within the agricultural R&D outreach.
- A minimum 10 years of professional experience in designing and implementing Agricultural Extension programs or strategies, 5 of which should have been within the African environment.
Core Competencies
- Good understanding of policy and regulatory issues around Public Private Partnership development in developing countries.
- An excellent knowledge of project development and marketing to diverse stakeholders.
- Proven ability to operate effectively in a multicultural team environment. Demonstrated strong analytical and communication (verbal and writing) skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English with a good working knowledge of the French language.
Duty Station: Cotonou, Benin Republic
General information:The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.
Applications: Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers
Closing Date: 29th December 2017
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
