Regenerative Agriculture Advisor- FUFAN

Job Title: Regenerative Agriculture Advisor (Nigeria)

Project: Future Farming Nigeria (FuFaN)

Reports to: Project Manager

Location: Kano state, Nasarawa state, and Niger state.

Number of positions: 3

About TechnoServe:

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing...when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they can access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Job Summary:

The Regenerative Agriculture Advisor (RAA) will work under the supervision of the Project Manager (PM) in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger States to upskill maize, sorghum and soybean farmers through extension agents on regenerative agriculture. S/he will also provide technical support to facilitate change of behavior of farmers from conventional agriculture to regenerative and climate-smart agriculture. In addition, s/he will gather market intelligence, monitor performance and provide guidance to clusters of aggregators and manage partners to achieve project objectives. The tasks outlined below are the key responsibilities of the employee, however, s/he will be expected to perform other tasks that are necessary within the context of the evolving needs of the project.

Program Overview:

TechnoServe’s Future Farming Nigeria Project (FuFaN) aims to develop an inclusive, sustainable, scalable, and adaptable regenerative agriculture solution to make smallholder farmers (SHFs) and local SMEs (aggregators) more resilient and produce low-carbon grains in Nigeria. The three-year project will provide a guaranteed structured market for farmers to produce high quality grains yearly, with a significant quantity of grains produced from environmentally sustainable practices. The project aims to impact up to 30,000 SHFs directly as beneficiaries of the program. Importantly, FuFaN will sustain and scale up the successful elements of the regenerative agriculture pilot of the recently-concluded Developing Inclusive Grain Value Chains in Nigeria (DIGVCN) project.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Project Inception Phase

With the support of the PM, take the lead on aggregator readiness, farmer identification and farm mapping. Support the delivery of gender-integrated activities to ensure gender targets are met. Support the Project Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) specialist in developing the project work plan, MEL package and tools. Support rapid assessment and baseline evaluation activities. Support SMEs/Aggregators with identification and recruitment of extension agents (EAs) in the assigned communities.

Project Implementation Phase

Oversee the Extension agents (EAs) and ensure that their capacity is deepened through train-the-trainer sessions and technical hand holding. Take ownership of the upskilling process and behavioral change campaign activities via the learning center. Support the project manager in developing training materials. Support the EAs during step-down training and monitor attendance according to the program guidelines. Take ownership of the learning centers and track farmer engagement activities. Work with the PM in identifying other partners that will provide complimentary services in programs. Assist the PM in identifying organizations that would like to offtake produce from the farmers. Facilitate all monitoring and evaluation activities, surveys and reporting as well as develop success stories and lessons learnt. Understand, respect and promote TechnoServe’s values, vision, and strategy in the implementation of assigned duties. Perform other duties in line with the evolving needs of the program.

Basic Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Agronomy, Human Nutrition, Food Science and Technology with a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with and supporting smallholder rice, maize, soybean and sorghum farmers. Alternatively, 4 years experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Must have strong interpersonal skills. Proven skills with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Knowledge of the use of Comcare, and KoBoCollect will be an advantage.

Required Languages:  Fluency in English and Hausa or Fulani (written and spoken)

Travel:  Local Travels

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Excellent communication skills. Demonstrated understanding in rice, maize, soybean, and sorghum value chains in Nigeria. A thorough understanding of maize and another value chain (maize, soybean, and/or sorghum) will be preferred. Ability to engage and advise a broad range of stakeholders, especially community leaders. Demonstrated experience in data collection and analyses, especially in the areas of agriculture and project key performance indicators. Demonstrated experience with digital and in-person training delivery mechanisms. Demonstrated experience in report writing in English. Demonstrated ability to communicate and train in the Hausa or Fulani language besides English.

Supervisory Responsibilities – Extension Agents

Closing Statements:

This position is contingent upon full confirmation of award. We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.