Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 24 Apr 2018
Introduction
Cordaid is a Dutch, international non-governmental organization which combines 100 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion tear up societies, we connect people and communities. We also stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders, to make a difference where it is most needed. Together with more than 600 partner organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America we structurally improve the living conditions of the poorest and most excluded populations - the bottom billion.
Cordaid has been active in South Sudan for more than 20 years, with a strong focus on civil society capacity-building. Currently, it has programs in the area of Emergency Response, DRR, Health, Food Security, Security & Justice, Women Leadership and Investments.
Presently, Cordaid is expanding its program in different parts of the country. For that purpose, additional technical capacity is required.Therefore, Cordaid would like to recruit an Agronomist and Extension specialist: Agribusiness DevelopmentProgramme as detailed below,
Agronomist and Extension specialist: Agribusiness Development Programme
Based in Juba with 60% travel to field project locations
Reporting line
The Agronomist and Extension Specialist: Agribusiness Development Programme reports to Senior Project Manager.
Purpose of the Position:
The Agronomist and Extension Specialist is a key function of this role will be to lead the technical expertise of agriculture extension and agronomic development across the consortium agencies.
S/he will be the agriculture extension and agronomic technical leader of SSADP implementation and will be responsible for the technical aspect of agriculture extension and agronomic component’s successful implementation of this 4+years, Netherlands Embassy funded programme of SSADP II project.
Key Roles and Responsibility
- Provide overall strategic guidance, leadership, management and general technical oversight of the agronomic practices and extension services of the project, with a strong focus on achieving defined results
- Promote, mobilise, and integrate private sector and market system technical services and solutions under livestock interventions, farm planning systems, soil and water management, postharvest handling, agro-food processing, and other relevant agronomic practices into field extension services
- Work closely with consortium members and ministry of agriculture to implement and adapt extension services such as Farmers Field School and Lead farmer’s approaches
- Facilitate trainings on natural resources, crops, on how best to utilise the farmland, how to construct proper irrigation schemes, economic use and storage, how to combat crop pests and insects, and save on the cost of farming equipment and procedures. Ensure that farmers understand this information and use it on their farms in order to obtain the best production.
- Responsible to propagate new farming methods in conjunction with the farmers, who make the final decision.
- Encourage farmers to adopt new, improved methods of farming, using a variety of methods to reach farmers i.e. organising study groups for farmers, ‘farmer days’, demonstrations,
- Lead, manage, mentor and develop the capacity of project staff, local partners staff and farmer’s associations to identify good agricultural practices and extension services and implement a demand-driven, extension approach.
- Identify and organize capacity building workshops for agricultural extension services including project staff and project beneficiaries.
- Operate as facilitators and communicators to help farmers in their decision-making and ensure that appropriate knowledge is implemented to obtain the best results.
Qualifications and skills
- Master’s degree in agricultural economics, agronomic, agriculture extension, agribusiness development and related field
- 3-5 years’ international experience in agro-business development sector, preferably in farm planning and economic analysis
- Familiarity with commonly used tools for extension services and market-based programming program design such extension manual development
- Experience with community-based programming and private sector development
- Experience in small to medium scale agro-enterprise management
- Experience with externally funded development programmes would be desirable, preferably with experience in market-oriented projects
- Experience in dealing with local interlocutors (local NGOs, government ministries) preferably in an African context
- South Sudan experiences in working with INGOs in a similar sector
- Fluency in English.
How to apply:
Further information and how to apply
Interested and qualifying applicants can submit their application letter including a CV in English with full contact details of at least 3 professional references to the following email hr.southsudan@cordaid.org.
Mention the vacancy reference number in subject line:
e.g. CSS01/04/18 Agronomist and Extension specialist: Agribusiness Development Programme - Juba
Deadline for submission is by the 24 April 2018
The contract period is for 12 months starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period based on funding and performance. Cordaid offers a contract with a competitive salary and a benefits package which includes Rest & Recuperation and Medical Insurance Cover.
NB.
- The final offer of the job will be based on Cordaid signing a contract with the donor.
- Cordaid has a right to amend the role and responsibilities at a later stage based on donor approval of final submission.
Cordaid is an equal opportunities employer and women are strongly encouraged to apply
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.