Program Officer - Agriculture / Livestock at Mercy Corps Nigeria (2 Openings)

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Program Officer - Agriculture / Livestock

Requisition Number: PROGR002254
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Program / Department Summary

• The Senior Program Officer will be based in Maiduguri to support the planned agriculture activities in the USAID-BHA funded THRIVE program (Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability) in JERE LGA, Borno State.
• It is a 24-month program implemented by a consortium led by CRS and will provide context-specific humanitarian assistance with the goal of initiating early recovery in four wards in Jere LGA: Mairi, Mashamari, Dusuman, and Maimusari.
• THRIVE program covers various sectors i.e., Food Assistance, Multi-purpose Cash Assistance, Shelter & Settlement, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, Agriculture & Economic.
• Recovery and Market Systems (ERMS). To complement the nutrition treatment services and food assistance, this program has integrated climate and nutrition-sensitive agriculture that includes promotion of simple subsistence agriculture and livestock production techniques to improve availability, access, and consumption of diversified nutritious diets through long term and sustained approaches.
• These emphasize the production of vegetables, fruits and animal source foods that are high in protein and micronutrients. The support will include equipping households with tools and skill-building activities to foster year-round production in both rainy and dry seasons using mainly the Perma gardening method that uses locally available/easy to get resources and backyard poultry production using the Noiler Chicken.

General Position Summary

• The Agriculture / Livestock Program Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the backyard permagardening and poultry production activities.
• He/ She will work closely with the ERMS & Agriculture Coordinator, Nutrition and Food Security team, MEL team, and operations staff (including finance and operations) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Collaborate with other team members for effective integration, especially with nutrition and food security activities.
• Collaborate with local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
• Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt to the changing situation and context.

Program Management:

• Responsible for monitoring and supervision of the day-to-day implementation of backyard gardening and poultry production and ensuring it is in accordance with the agreed work plan.
• Coordinate with the MEL team to map, identify and register program participants.
• Train targeted beneficiaries on best agronomy practices, climate-smart agriculture and poultry production through formal trainings, on-job mentorship and supportive supervision.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building is incorporated into program planning.
• Coordinate and or supervise community mobilization and sensitization activities on agriculture.
• Participate in planned agriculture and food production assessments/ surveys.
• Participate in periodic program monitoring and evaluation activities including baselines, end lines, midterm reviews, lesson learning exercises and compilation of success stories.
• Closely collaborate with other sector teams to ensure an integrated approach internally with MC sectors and externally with complementary activities implemented by other program actors.
• Actively participate in area-level agriculture, food security and livelihood sector meetings.
• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders to create enabling environment and ownership.
• Ensure timely submission of quality weekly and monthly activity reports.
• Serve as technical focal person for all field level engagements.

Team Management:

• Identify technical gaps among staff line managed and in liaison with the line manager provide on the job training and/ support supervision.
• Participate in developing detailed project implementation plan and orient the line managed on agreed actions.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

Influence & Representation:

• Creates and maintain relationships with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly,
• Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Village Agents & Agriculture Extension Workers.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly to: Senior Program Officer – Agriculture.
• Works Directly with: Nutrition, Food Security & CASH team.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture or relevant field required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience focused on agriculture extension including community mobilization, participatory planning, and rural/community development.
• Prior experience implementing agriculture or livestock support programs is essential, preferably in conflict settings.
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing.
• Demonstrated skill in training and facilitation.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Willing and able to be based within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Familiarity of the intervention areas.
• Fluency in Hausa, Kanuri and English.

Success Factors:

• He/ She should be able to work independently, have good interpersonal and communication skills.
• He/ she should have an understanding of humanitarian principles and their application to program implementation.
• Must be able to solve problems and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
• We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
• Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Application Closing Date
11th March, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.
• This position is contingent upon funding approval.