The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of TAAT Country Engagement Officer-East Africa Regional Coordinator.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa\u2019s 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 the One 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) funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is a major continent-wide program designed to boost agricultural productivity across the continent by rapidly delivering proven technologies to millions of farmers. The overall goal of TAAT is to double crop, livestock, and fish productivity by expanding access to productivity-increasing technologies to more than 40 million smallholder farmers across Africa. TAAT aims to generate an additional 120 million metric tons (MT) of food while lifting 130 million people out of poverty. Getting certified seeds of the most modern varieties into the hands of tens of millions of farmers is the primary objective of TAAT.
The program supports the Feed Africa Initiative of the AfDB by providing the needed, proven agricultural and food processing technologies and implementation strategies for inclusion within the Bank\u2019s loans to Regional Member Countries (RMCs). It is implemented by the Regional Technology Delivery Infrastructure (RTDI) made up of the Commodity Technology Delivery Compacts (CTDCs); the TAAT Clearinghouse (CH); the Program Management Unit (PMU), and a Program Steering Committee (PSC). The CTDC is currently composed of eleven CGIAR centers, three Advanced regional R&D African centers, National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) institutions, private sector partners and NGOs. IITA is the executing agency of TAAT.
The Clearinghouse is co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and AfDB and is responsible for linking TAAT Compact activities with country-level programs, positioning these countries\u2019 governments as TAAT\u2019s Primary Scaling Partners. This is achieved through the provision of technical assistance in regional and country project design, ensuring the inclusion of proven technologies and robust partnership arrangements within the resulting projects.
Position Responsibilities
The tasks of the TAAT Country Engagement Officer-East Africa Regional Coordinator will include:
Main Responsibilities
\u00b7 Lead the Clearinghouse brokerage in countries of the East African region by effectively engaging with national and regional decision-makers in the public sector and especially governments to include TAAT-vetted technologies and catalyse their scaling by integrating them in new large-scale agricultural investment programs, restructured and under-performing projects
\u00b7 Participate in and contribute to AfDB-supported projects\u2019 annual reviews, supervision and mid-term evaluations, enabling the integration of TAAT-vetted technologies.
\u2022\tEffectively engage and collaborate closely with AfDB, CGIAR centres, regional organizations, development partners, NARES, NGOs, private sector and aligned institutions in the East African region so as to achieve TAAT goals and objectives and catalyse the scaling of TAAT technologies across the RMCs
\u00b7 Provide technical assistance for developing robust Seed Systems in RMCs to deliver certified seed of climate-resilient varieties or planting material of vegetatively propagated crops (VPC) in sufficient quantity and quality to farmers using market-based models.
\u2022\tBuild strategic partnerships with public and private sector institutions in the East African region and enhance their capacities to increase the production and delivery of EGS and certified seed/ planting material of VPC-improved varieties in RMCs.
Specific Responsibilities
\u2022\tParticipate in AfDB country missions in the East African region and provide technical inputs to recommend the inclusion of the most appropriate TAAT-vetted technologies into project appraisal reports (PARs)
\u00b7 Mobilize and engage with TAAT Compacts and CGIAR experts to participate in the design and restructuring of agricultural investment projects, which involve AfDB, and regional and national decision-makers and governments, with the aim of integrating TAAT vetted technologies into Bank-supported large-scale country agricultural investment projects.
\u2022\tEnsure the participation of the National Agriculture Research and Extension System (NARES), TAAT Compacts and CGIAR experts in discussions with the Ministries of Agriculture on TAAT\u2019s technical assistance to RMCs for the successful implementation of larger AfDB-funded investment projects.
\u2022\tProvide technical assistance to RMCs implementing AfDB-supported loan projects for building a robust and functional national seed system to ensure the production and delivery of certified seed of TAAT-vetted climate-resilient varieties sustainably.
\u2022\tGain an in-depth understanding of agriculture policies and priorities regarding the agricultural development landscapes of RMCs in the East African region to inform the Clearinghouse brokerage.
\u00b7 Draft specific MoUs with national and development partners to promote collaboration for the inclusion and adoption of TAAT-vetted technologies in national and regional investment projects in the East African region
\u2022\t Build strong partnerships and networking with the CGIAR, COMESA, ASARECA, private sector, RMCs, AfDB, other regional and national development partners, and aligned institutions in the East African region to promote the scaling and widespread adoption of TAAT-vetted technologies
\u00b7 Engage TAAT Compacts and provide technical support to governments and seed sector stakeholders for developing a functional national seed system to ensure sustainable production and delivery of certified seed or planting material of TAAT-promoted varieties to farmers in RMCs of the East African region
\u00b7 Support Compacts to strengthen the capacity of NARES in early generation seed production; engage the private sector to enhance their skills and technical knowhow in the production and delivery of high-quality certified seed or planting material of TAAT vetted improved varieties
\u2022\tParticipate in resource mobilization to attract funding from potential donors and development partners to catalyse the scaling of TAAT-promoted technologies for agricultural transformation in RMCs of the East African region.
\u00b7 Actively contribute to the Clearinghouse (CH) reporting and progress updates.
\u2022\tWork in close collaboration with AfDB Task Managers, Country Representatives, Regional Sector Managers of the East African region; Compacts, and TAAT Project Management Unit to build effective coordination and partnership.
Core Competencies
\u00b7 Demonstrated strong analytical and communication skills and capacity to present convincingly, discuss and negotiate with high-level country officials.
\u00b7 Blend analytical, observational, organizational and networking skills.
\u00b7 Good understanding of policy and regulatory issues around seed sector-related public and private partnership development in African countries.
\u00b7 Demonstrated knowledge of seed systems.
\u00b7 Familiarity with the policies and procedures of multilateral and bilateral institutions.
\u00b7 Demonstrated commitment to making organizational and corporate decisions.
\u00b7 Proven ability to operate effectively in a multicultural team environment.
\u00b7 Background in the public sector and/or government engagement on the African continent.
\u00b7 Good leadership and personnel management experience to manage a large team of experts based in multiple locations.
\u00b7 Experience with large-scale adoption of agricultural technologies by farmers on the African continent.
\u00b7 Work experience in International or National Agricultural centres on the African continent.
\u00b7 Awareness and social capital and networks with key leaders and experts working in the extension and technology transfer agencies within Africa.
\u00b7 Deep team-building and people relationship-building skills for a complex project
\u00b7 Fluency in both written and spoken English and French is an important requirement for this position.
Requirements
Educational Qualifications and Experience
\u00b7 A post-graduate degree in Agronomy, Seed Systems or related agriculture field from a recognized University.
\u00b7 At least 10 years of work experience in the seed sector serving smallholder farmers in Africa.
\u00b7 Prove work experience in seed systems.
\u00b7 Experience with development policy, legal and institutional frameworks as well as the technical aspects of projects.
\u00b7 Working experience with AfDB-supported projects at the national level and on the African Continent is an added advantage.
Benefits
Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya
General information: The contract will be for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon the availability of funds and the candidate's performance. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.
Applications: Applications must include a cover letter which should address how the candidate\u2019s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant\u2019s current or previous organization or applicant\u2019s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, People and Culture. Please complete our online application form using this link: https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs
Closing Date: 3rd February 2025
IITA is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.