Project Officer at African Agricultural Technology Foundation
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates and promotes public/private partnerships to access, develop, adapt and deliver appropriate agricultural technologies for sustainable use by smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is headquartered in Nairobi, and its mandate covers sub-Saharan Africa. Since its inception in 2003, AATFs project portfolio has grown to ten (10) active projects, which are at various phases of implementation. More information about AATF is available at wvvw.aatf-africa.org
AATF is seeking to recruit a Project Officer, with requisite qualification and experience, to facilitate implementation of a USAID funded Project aimed at building equitable partnerships for technology transfer of public bred seed technologies in Malawi.
Description and Objective of the Assignment
This position bears the responsibility for ensuring that project operations in target areas in Malawi are successfully implemented as per the Project’s work plan. The incumbent will assist AATF in implementing the project’s cultivar evaluation and commercialization plan, in line with AATF’s mission.
The position is on a two-year contract, but may be renewed based on performance and availability of funds. This is a nationally recruited position and thus the incumbents will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Reporting directly to the Project Coordinator, Seeds2B, and under the overall supervision of the Director of Commercialisation, the incumbent will oversee assigned project operations in Malawi. He/she will be expected to provide strong leadership to facilitate the achievement of set Project milestones.
Key duties and responsibilities
• Oversee all field work in Malawi, including monitoring activities to ensure timely delivery of milestones.
• Assist in formulation and implementation of detailed field work plans, including clearly defined milestones and timelines.
• Facilitate collection and analysis of field information and data, including, on-farm and on-station variety evaluation data as well as seed distribution and commercial sales data at agro-dealer, seed company and farmer levels.
• Prepare and submit quality field reports when required, clearly detailing the project status in appropriate formats.
• Ensure timely and effective engagement of stakeholders, including, non-governmental organisations, breeders and agronomists, seed companies, media, extension service providers, processors, farmers and provision of technical support.
Desired Candidate Profile
• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural or related sciences from a recognized University.
• At least 3 years’ experience in field work involving varietal assessment, release and registration and seed marketing in Malawi
• Ability to work with partners from both the public and private sector.
• Demonstrated monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all information that comes by virtue of appointment and in the course of assigned duties.
• Conversant with experimental design, participatory approaches and statistical analysis
• Results and detail-orientation and the ability to work with a sense of urgency in a multicultural and diverse environment.
• Team player with capability to work with people in such a manner as to build high morale and group commitment to objectives.
• Strong communication skills including the ability to clearly document and present information through oral and written English.
• Good understanding of USAID projects and the operations of not-for-profit organisations will be an advantage.
How to apply:
Submission of Applications
Applications should include a CV with details of qualifications, experience, current position, and telephone contact, email address of applicants as well as names and addresses of three referees.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications with detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) to AATF Human Resource aatf-hr@aatf-africa.org on or before 31st December 2017.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
