Job Description
Program Description
The USAID Yalwa Activity is a 5-year $29.15 million-dollar project implemented by CNFA in the Tillaberi, Maradi, and Zinder regions of Niger. As a key part of the second phase of USAID’s Regional Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) Initiative, Yalwa will strengthen market systems to sustainably improve household incomes and nutritional status. To achieve this goal, Yalwa will implement interventions across the following mutually reinforcing result areas: 1) enhanced performance of commodity market systems; 2) increased utilization of quality inputs and services; and 3) increased local consumption of nutritious, safe food. While predominantly focusing on the cowpea, small ruminants and poultry value chains, interventions will address barriers and constraints to progress across the broader market system, while also integrating market-based strategies to promote consumption of nutritious, safe foods. Taken together, these efforts will improve the resilience of market systems by establishing profitable linkages between producers and buyers, with a particular emphasis on women and youth.
Offices are located in Niamey (national office), Maradi (covering 18 communes), Tillabéri (covering 13 communes), and Zinder (covering 28 communes). CNFA’s implementing partners are Helen Keller International, AREN, Karkara, and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).
Duties and Responsibilities
The main responsibility of the DCOP is to support the COP in providing overall leadership, management, and technical direction of the USAID Yalwa Activity. Key duties are:
- Serve as principal point of contact in the absence of the Chief of Party (COP);
- Support the COP to coordinate with USAID and high-level public and private stakeholders;
- Support the COP to ensure that program’s technical approach, methodologies and activities are technically sound, feasible and relevant to the success of the program;
- Provide day-to-day guidance on the technical content of the Activity and serve as principal point of contact for activities;
- Supervise the three technical directors (Market Systems Development; Inputs and Services Development Director; Nutrition Director), and the SBC Specialist to design strategies and ensure effective monitoring of field, as well as field operations and oversee the implementation of program activities;
- Provide technical direction and oversee the technical performance of local subcontractors and support productive business partnerships;
- Support the COP in the completion of start-up and management, including planning, monitoring and reporting by submitting accurate and timely reports measuring the Activity performance and impact;
- Support the COP in planning/facilitating workshops to develop/review quarterly and annual work plans/milestones in collaboration with the Activity team and sub-contractors to ensure efficient implementation of programmatic activities towards achieving quarterly, annual and LOP indicator targets, as well as meaningful participation and positive impacts for women and youth;
- Oversea the development and monitoring the budget of the activities implemented by the Yalwa team under each of the technical Directors under your supervision;
- Convene regular program meetings with field teams to maximize opportunities for shared learning;
- Develop and maintain a cohesive, effective and integrated technical team;
- Oversee the drafting of terms of reference (TOR) and scopes of work (SOW) for needed local consultancy services;
- Facilitate a culture of learning and adaptive management to proactively respond to crises, opportunities, and new needs of USAID and other stakeholders;
- Oversee monitoring and reporting by field teams to capture impact and adapt activities based on learning and preparation of annual work plans, progress reports, and budgets;
- Perform regular visits to the program sites as well as the sub-contractor offices in the targeted regions;
- Contribute to any ad hoc report requested by USAID and the Government of Niger;
- Ensure the appropriate security procedures and roles are followed by the project staff; and
- Carry out other duties as required by the COP.
Qualifications
- A master’s degree in a relevant subject;
- At least eight years of senior management experience of programs of similar or greater scope and complexity, or a bachelor’s degree with four additional years of relevant technical experience;
- Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking, presentation, interpersonal, and supervisory skills;
- Ability to establish close, trusting relationships with implementing partners, government officials, and other donors;
- Demonstrated experience and a proven track record of implementing and/or managing activities focused on agricultural development is required; and
- French and English language competency is required, equivalent to tested FSI R4/S4.
About the Organization
Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), an international development organization, specializes in designing sustainable, market-led agricultural initiatives. They build strong local and global partnerships, incorporate innovative approaches into their programs, and foster inclusive development to offer enhanced opportunities to under-served groups. Since 1985, CNFA has managed more than $510 million in donor-funded agriculture development programs and has worked in 42 countries across the world in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia.
Their staff is dedicated to improving lives around the world. This strong concern carries over to the way CNFA manages its employee relations. Not only do they value their employees, but they recognize that satisfied people supporting their organization is the key to implementing their work.
CNFA has grown to over 600 employees globally. They empower staff to take on new initiatives, nurture each individual’s goals, skills and interests.
