Employment Opportunities at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s 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 CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

We seek suitable applicants for the position below at the Institute’s project location in Yola:

Job Title: Partnerships & Government Relations Advisor

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-029
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

  • In collaboration with the Activity’s senior management, identify all public and private sector organizations and agencies that share similar objectives with the Activity and advise on partnership;
  • Liaise with such organizations and agencies set up meetings and follow up as necessary;
  • Identify and liaise with all the relevant Government and security agencies and facilitate contracts, set up meetings as required and obtain necessary permits;
  • Regularly provide updates from government and security agencies on deliveries, instructions, regulations and supports;
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

  • First degree in Law (LLB, BL), Sociology, International Relations or related fields from an accredited university with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience performing similar or related role.
  • The candidate must have extensive contracts with development, government, and security agencies in the North East especially Adamawa and Borno States and must have been performing similar liaison role for development organisation in the area.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must have:

  • Proven skills and experience in managing partnerships with public and private sector development agencies and liaison with Government and security agencies for development organizations.
  • Have extensive contacts and demonstrated ability to relate excellently with senior government and security agencies, Activity staff and partners.
  • Excellent computer skills with good grasp and knowledge of spreadsheets, word processing, power point presentation and other MS Office applications.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team-oriented multicultural environment
  • Demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate, monitor own work plans and deliver accurate and timely reports.
  • Good ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize workloads, take initiatives and work under pressure
  • Be able to work with minimum supervision and with tight deadlines
  • Proficiency in English language with excellent writing, communication and presentation skills.
  • Ability to communicate in one or more Northern Nigeria’s major languages is an advantage.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Job Title: Financial Services Advisor

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-029
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)
Contract: 1-year renewable contract

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

  • Identify Financial Institutions that would partner with the Activity in providing access to finance for the beneficiaries;
  • Facilitate Financial Institutions’ lending to the Activity’s beneficiaries (smallholder farmers, women and youth micro-entrepreneurs) in the target states of Adamawa and Borno by identifying finance requirements at each stage of the agricultural commodities value chains through a structured assessment, assist beneficiaries in developing bankable proposals, and linking them to sources of finance through negotiating MOUs with qualified/interested financial institutions; determine and provide required technical assistance to prepare beneficiaries for accessing loan fund;
  • Identify and negotiate the use of appropriate funding (CBN-Anchor Borrowers Fund, MSME etc) and guarantee mechanisms, such as USAID-DCA, NIRSAL etc as requested by Financial Institutions or deemed appropriate;
  • Monitor partner financial institutions and ensure timely disbursement of loan facility to networked farmers, youths and women entrepreneurs;
  • Collaborate with partner financial institutions, guarantee agencies to monitor farmers’ use of loan fund and ensure timely payment of loan;
  • Team with other Activity staff as necessary and ensure that transactions are concluded, and targets are met;
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor and Chief of Party.

Qualifications

  • A Postgraduate Degree in Banking and Finance, Economics, Business Administration or related fields from an accredited university
  • The ideal candidate must be a financial service expert with a minimum of seven (7) years working experience as Financial Services Advisor/consultant or a related role in a donor-funded (preferably USAID) market-driven agricultural and livelihood development project in Nigeria.

Competencies:

The ideal candidate must have:

  • Identify Financial Institutions that would partner with the Activity in providing access to finance for the beneficiaries;
  • Facilitate Financial Institutions’ lending to the Activity’s beneficiaries (smallholder farmers, women and youth micro-entrepreneurs) in the target states of Adamawa and Borno by identifying finance requirements at each stage of the agricultural commodities value chains through a structured assessment, assist beneficiaries in developing bankable proposals, and linking them to sources of finance through negotiating MOUs with qualified/interested financial institutions; determine and provide required technical assistance to prepare beneficiaries for accessing loan fund;
  • Identify and negotiate the use of appropriate funding (CBN-Anchor Borrowers Fund, MSME etc) and guarantee mechanisms, such as USAID-DCA, NIRSAL etc as requested by Financial Institutions or deemed appropriate.
  • Monitor partner financial institutions and ensure timely disbursement of loan facility to networked farmers, youths and women entrepreneurs.
  • Collaborate with partner financial institutions, guarantee agencies to monitor farmers’ use of loan fund and ensure timely payment of loan.
  • Team with other Activity staff as necessary and ensure that transactions are concluded, and targets are met.
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor and Chief of Party.

Remuneration

  • We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Job Title: Database Officer

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-029
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

  • Responsible for data collection, storage efforts and data entry into the Activity training activity database in accordance with Activity interventions and timeframe;
  • Conduct routine collation and compilation of data on Agricultural and Nutrition intervention and for update to Activity database;
  • Responsible for maintaining the integrity and performance of Activity database;
  • Support the regular update of program data, provide routine supportive supervision on data entry and reporting;
  • Support identification of capacity building needs and training of program service providers at community, LGA and state level and ensure proper filing of M&E evidence and documents;
  • Support state team and M&E officer on timely data compilation and reporting according to Activity MEL plan;
  • Liaise with service provider (Nutrition Volunteers, Extension Agents, Agricultural Field Agents and Nutrition Promoters Volunteers) and key program partners to ensure data collection tools are available at the implementation levels;
  • Ensure regular communication and sharing of constraints / successes with M&E Manager.
  • Support training on M&E tools in line with identified capacity needs and provide ongoing mentoring support;
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualification and Experience

  • B.Sc. / HND in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Agriculture, Social Sciences or related field with a minimum of five (5) years’ working experience performing similar or related roles in a structured environment.

Competencies
The ideal candidate must have:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a tea-oriented multicultural environment.
  • Ability to communicate fluently (orally and in writing) in Hausa and English Language.
  • Good knowledge of ICT4D and Management Information Systems, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
  • Ability to deliver accurate and timely reports and ability to work with minimum supervision and with tight deadlines.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Job Title: Driver / Logistics Assistant

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2020-029
Location: Abuja
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

  • Drive activity vehicle in safe and courteous manner and support field operations
  • Perform necessary cleaning and washing of assigned vehicle as needed
  • Maintain activity vehicle and provide timely advice to transport office of any assigned vehicle requiring maintenance services in line with IITA Vehicle Usage and Maintenance Policy
  • Act as field assistant in collecting data when travelling with Activity experts and other team members for field, training or meeting activities
  • Perform logistics work such as meeting visitors at the airport, delivering message around FCT, gathering information and providing relevant lead/guide and monitor delivery of essential Activity materials.
  • Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

  • National Diploma in Agriculture or related field with a minimum of four (4) years’ working experience performing similar or related roles with possession of valid driver’s license.

Competencies:

  • Have capacity to work in a team.
  • Have versatility of driving varying automobiles in host country roads.
  • Experience in farming operations.
  • Good knowledge of government, donor and private sector companies’, offices, and ability to deliver messages effectively.
  • Basic computer skills.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information (PDF)

Deadline: 26th October, 2020.

Note: IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.