Project Officer for IITA – International Centre for Tropical Agriculture

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) – a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) – develops technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially smallholders, to make agriculture competitive and profitable as well as sustainable and resilient. CIAT conducts research for development in tropical regions of Latin America, Africa, and Asia (www.ciat.cgiar.org).

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IITA’s R4D is anchored on the development needs of Sub-Saharan Africa and develops agricultural solutions with partners to tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture.

Background of the project

The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resource Development Board (RAB) has recently obtained a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) project entitled: “Rwanda Soil Information Service – RwaSIS”. The project will focus on three use cases identified through consultation with partners engaged in the sustainable intensification of Rwandan agriculture, and facilitated by RAB:

1. The project will develop fertilizer and lime recommendations to help fertilizer and lime suppliers to develop agro-inputs that are adapted to the main agroecological zones (AEZs) of Rwanda, in relation to the main cropping systems. The project also intends to contribute in formulation of site- and crop-specific fertilizer and lime application rate recommendations for the priority crops covered by CIP. This information will be used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) to guide its investment plans in fertilizer and lime.
2. The project will contribute in availing critical information on different types of erosion and occurrence of erosion in the main AEZs of Rwanda. The information will be used by the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) and MINAGRI to develop additional erosion control measures and inform erosion control investment plans.
3. The project will develop a functional and interactive National Soil Information System (RwandaSIS). RwandaSIS will monitor changes in soil properties and crop yields to inform the GoR about the changes occurring in food production and the delivery of other ecosystem services and to influence future investment plans.

In the project, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is responsible for coordinating the sub-grantees. For that, IITA is recruiting an experienced Project Officer.

Position summary

CIAT, on behalf of IITA, is seeking for a Project Officer with the main responsibility of facilitating and providing administrative and financial support services, planning of work and budget with the project sub-grantees, coordination of sub-grantees project activities, reporting and administration assistance

Main duties and responsibilities:

1.Planning of work and budget with the project sub-grantees:

• Develop annual work plans with the project sub-grantees and RAB
• Develop annual budgets with the project sub-grantees
• Monitor efficient and timely work plan implementation with the project sub-grantees
• Provide regular feedback and report to the project coordinator

2.Coordination of sub-grantees project activities:

• Coordination and communication with project coordinator and sub-grantees
• Work with the overall project coordination team, led by RAB, including streamlining partner activities and other bullets
• Monitor and ensure compliance with IITA and donor policies and procedures
• Support the organisation of project meetings
• Develop and sustain good relationships with the project team

3.Reporting and administration assistance:

• Lead sub-contracting of project sub-grantees
• Ensure timely and accurate technical, financial and M&E reporting from the sub-grantees
• Collating high quality sub-grantee reports for the project coordinator to submit to the donor
• Support logistical, administrative or financial issues related to the project

4.Support project administration at the IITA country office:

• Collaborate and liaise with the Central Africa Hub Project Development and Administration Unit
• Support the IITA Rwanda team in efficient project reporting and administration

The candidate shall have the following competencies, skills and experience:

• MSc-degree or MBA in Management, Administration or similar fields.
• At least 5 years of project management experience in private or public sector.
• High level of computer and ICT skills and ability to learn new applications quickly.
• The candidate provides at least 3 referees, including the supervisor in the current or previous position.
• Proven experience in International Project Management, preferably with experience in working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills both verbally and written, in Kinyarwanda, French and English.
• Applicant has the Rwandan nationality.
• Ability to coordinate a diverse and multi-sector pool of partners towards a joint vision and objective.
• Must be able to work independently and show strong leadership and ownership abilities, with little input or backstopping by the supervisor.
• Participate as a team member in accomplishment of duties.
• Works proactively and takes initiative, and has an eye for detail and perfectionism.
• Good judgment and a high level of respect for confidentiality.
• Affinity with the project subject-matter (agriculture, data science, geospatial mapping, information systems).
• Willingness to learn and develop as part of the IITA team in Rwanda.
• Ability to work in a multi‐cultural environment.
• Commitment to IITA’s mission and core values.

Terms of employment:

The position is nationally recruited, will be based at IITA Offices in Kigali, Rwanda. The contract will be for two (2) years period, subject to a probation period of three (3) months, renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

How to apply:

Applicants are invited to visit http://ciat.cgiar.org/ciat-jobs to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications should include reference number Ref: IITA-202001-Project Officer as the position applied for. The CV should include at least three (3) References, including the most recent supervisor or line manager of the last position occupied. Applications should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, the first name for ease of sorting.

Applications closing date: 10^th January 2020

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Download full job details https://ciat.cgiar.org/wp-content/uploads/Advert-Project-Officer-for-IITA.pdf