Agronomist job at Intergovernmental Authority On Development (IGAD)

JOB DETAILS:
IGAD has a longstanding partnership on resilience building with development partners such as Word Bank and many others. The engagement cover strengthens resilience against droughts; food security information and analysis; early warning and disaster risk management; implementation of cross border actions; conflict prevention; natural resource management; market access and trade; and capacity building; institutional strengthening and coordination through the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI). Today, IGAD is leading the coordination of the region’s response to key challenges at the intersection of climate resilience, water resources and fragility. IGAD has been developing capacities within its institutional framework, for regional and country-scale coordination and implementation of programs on several important themes such as programs of resilience, food security, climate prediction services, livestock/pastoral support, platforms for groundwater management and transboundary pest management, and an observatory of regional conflict. IGAD, therefore, is well suited to foster collaboration and achieve economies of scale in the region, as well as to improve the regional knowledge on aquifers as the basis for future transboundary groundwater management and collaboration.

Core Duties and Responsibilities
• Under the supervision of the project Coordinator, the Agronomist expert with following roles and responsibilities
• To coordinate strategies, systems, and policies related to “best practice” and “transformative actions between agencies seeking to strengthen resilience in approaches to crop production and crop management.
• Create links/partnerships to relevant programs with the CGAIR programs and initiatives.
• To identify and build consensus around key themes and priorities that will help to accelerate the building of resilience across the region.
• Coordinate and follow-up on the impacts of climate change on crop productivity and food security, agronomic research has thus provided an admirable basis.
• Support IGAD to strengthen its own technical and program delivery capacities to support national and regional initiatives. The capacities targeted are those which allow it to: (a) conduct policy analysis and harmonization through analytical work, needs assessments, and policy dialogue or policy harmonization activities in key areas that affect R&D at the national and regional levels; (b) conduct and disseminate thematic analytical work such as seed production and regulatory systems, intellectual property rights, biosafety regulations, and similar topics; (c) Facilitate training and knowledge on resilience-themed technical subjects through existing and emerging multisectoral stakeholder platforms; (d) facilitate regional consultations on trade protocols, biotechnology safety guidelines, regulatory and inspection mechanisms, and other topics
• To promote and create awareness of latest research trends in crop and soil management.
• Support project teams in collection and or publication of good practices, success stories, project outcome documents, etc. in resilience work with Communication, learning to develop knowledge products, communication materials and other IEC materials to promote awareness raising about Resilience for schools, farmers and communities.
• Organize and supervise the Best Agronomic practice training and Good Agronomic Practice training assessment and the identification of the main chains in the targeted area.
• Facilitation in dissemination of technologies, strategic interventions for agriculture and horticulture practices adoption to climate change
• Documentation of best practices and success stories of strategic interventions for agriculture adaptation to climate change in the project.
• Any other tasks related to project requirements will be entrusted by the Project Coordinator

Minimum requirements: Education qualifications and Professional Work experience
• Applicants shall be suitably qualified and experienced for the tasks identified above and shall have the following basic minimum qualifications and experience:
• MSc or PhD in Agriculture, or related field
• At least ten (10) years of general experiences in the relevant field and at least five years (5) years of specific experience in the last 10 years
• 3 years of experience in agronomical best practices and documentation of success stories
• 3 years of exposure to the development work with the international organizations
• Knowledge of and working experience in IGAD region context is highly desirable
• Strong experience Facilitation in dissemination of technologies, strategic interventions for agriculture and horticulture practices adoption to climate change
• Experience on working with multidisciplinary team
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Language: English and knowledge of French have added value
• Experience in report writing – applicants shall present two sample reports prepared in the past 12 months.
• Advantage will be given to the applicants with the knowledge of the World Bank policies and procedures.

Duration and Location of the Assignment
The duration of the assignment is 12 calendar months from the date of contract commencement and subject to renewal for a further 12 months upon satisfactory performance, needs of the project and availability of funds.

Reporting requirements and timelines for deliverables
The Agronomist will prepare a monthly report highlighting the tasks performed, challenges, and specific recommendations on key actions that should be taken to steer the project to success. All reports shall be written in English Language and submitted to the Project Coordinator within 7 days after end of each month.

REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
The Agronomist will report to the Project Coordinator

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree