Project Associate at Ikore International Development Limited

Ikore International Development Limited (Ikore) is an international development organization, proffering innovative solutions to drive sustainable social and enterprise development. We work in hard-to-reach, economically deprived places and vulnerable communities torn apart by instability across Nigeria and Africa, providing solutions that support inefficient markets and communities. In the Agricultural Sector, we facilitate inclusive market growth by deploying strategies that promote value chain competitiveness and build resilient communities, ensuring bumper harvest for rural poor farmers in those communities.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Associate

Location: Adamawa
Employment Type: Consultant

Project Overview and Role

The project covers mobilized and existing smallholders’ male youths’farmers and female processors in the NE, build the capacity of agricultural extension workers, lead farmers and private sector-led Agro-allied partners to increase the flow of timely agronomic extension messages for improved farming and processing techniques, thereby increasing productivity, quality of farm produce and reducing the hardship and impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, the Project will:

Enable youth, especially young women to engage in sustainable livelihoods;
Create an enabling environment for smallholder/rural farmers to access markets where they achieved improved yields within a single cropping cycle and were thereafter able to, on their own, carry out more successful production and processing activities;
Support for smallholder farmers to complete dry and wet season production, through the provision of in-kind input grants, capacity building (in farm production, processing, and waste management);
Foster access to critical resources for vulnerable rural groups (young women and unemployed youth) that are financially excluded and lacked the capacity to procure the needed inputs for farming to stimulate increased productivity and income.
To effectively manage and implement this project, we are seeking the services of 4 Project Associates.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The project associates will ensure the timely provision of quality information through capacity building of smallholder/rural farmers. The project associates will report to the state project manager.

Responsibilities

Support in coordinating the activities of the smallholder/rural farmers and extension officers.
Assist in monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Donor’s policies.
Support in the development of program strategies, subproject documents, implementation plans, and activity budgets.
Give support in ensuring the availability of technical resources and integrate their efforts into overall project management.
Keep track of the project performance and provide regular updates to the State Project Manager on the implementation.
Remain informed on the program implementations by ensuring strict adherence to the current best practices.
Participate in the daily situation of the project and provide project updates to the state project manager.
Keep track of the project progress and update the state project manager on the project implementation
Work with the extension officers to oversee capacity-building activities for the farmers in focus locations in Adamawa.
Provide support to and coordinate the activities within Donor’s guidelines and regulations.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

A Degree in Business Development, (Agric) Economics, and Agronomy.
Experience in project development with proven experience in the planning and facilitation of training is required.
Experience leading a small team that required a coordination function
Proven experience in project development, planning, and facilitating technical training.
Project Management Certification will be an added advantage
A Master’s Degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage
Liaise with multiple players, coordinate activities, and avoid duplication in the implementation of the programs.
Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, farmers, and extension officers.
Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook at minimum.