Program Officer, Policy and Advocacy (3 positions)

Job Description

Exciting Career Opportunities

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is working with African governments, donors, NGOs, the private sector and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor farmers in Africa through agricultural development. AGRA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a regional office in Accra, Ghana and is opening several country-based offices.

AGRA is seeking to recruit experienced and exceptional individuals to fill the following positions:

Program Officer, Policy and Advocacy (3 positions)

Ref.: PO-PA / 10-13

AGRA is seeking to recruit three (3) experienced and exceptional individuals to support the implementation of the Micro Reforms for African Agribusiness (MIRA) project in five (5) focus countries in Eastern and Western Africa.

AGRA is implementing the MIRA project - a five-year initiative to provide African governments with access to high quality local and international technical assistance. This is with the aim of identifying, prioritizing and reforming specific agricultural regulations that currently deter or limit private investment in agribusinesses operating in smallholder agricultural value chains. In doing so, the MIRA project will help to build the capacity of African governments to continuously review and reform regulations that unintentionally limit private investment in local agribusinesses operating in smallholder value chains.

Reporting to the Director of AGRA’s Policy and Advocacy Program, this position is internationally recruited and will be based either in Nairobi, Kenya or Accra, Ghana on a three (3) year fixed-term contract.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Advocate and promote the MIRA project’s mandate and mission;
• Build strategic partnerships and develop joint dialogue initiatives under the MIRA project;
• Provide technical and organizational advice to MIRA project National Coordinators;
• Support National Coordinators to systematically monitor progress on regulatory reforms in smallholder value chains;
• Act as an expert resource person to the National Coordinators and other stakeholders on international experiences, best practices, normative standards and policy options on regulatory reform issues; and
• Support capacity development of key stakeholders to conduct policy research, grassroots consultations and policy advocacy to Governments, National Assemblies and other stakeholders.

Key Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience required:

• Advanced university degree in economics, business administration, law, public administration, political science, social sciences or related field;
• At least 10 years’ experience in business or development cooperation with an emphasis on support to regulatory reform;
• Extensive experience in policy-related planning, management of development cooperation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programmes;
• In-depth understanding of food and agricultural policy and regulatory reform issues in Africa, and the ability to develop viable solutions of the same; and
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Fluency in French is a prerequisite for working in the Francophone countries.

For more information on these positions, applicants can visit www.agra.org

An attractive remuneration package commensurate with the position’s responsibilities will be negotiated with the successful candidates. If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for this role, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, current remuneration, e-mail and telephone contacts and quoting the reference number on your application letter.

To be considered, your application must be received by 15 November, 2013 addressed to:

The Director

Executive Selection Division

Deloitte Consulting Limited

Email: agra@deloitte.co.ke

Nairobi, Kenya

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© 2013 Deloitte Consulting Limited

About the Organization

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a partnership that works with governments, donors, NGOs, the private sector, and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and income of resource-poor farmers in Africa. Founded and initially funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, AGRA supports interventions aimed at improving seed systems, soil fertility, input and output markets, policies, and other priority sectors, with the overall objective of reducing food insecurity. AGRA aims to achieve these goals by: supporting and building capability of farmers and enterprises across the agricultural value chain; being a thought-leader on African agriculture by collecting, packaging, and disseminating knowledge; and creating strong partnerships with public, private, and donor actors to drive change within the sector. AGRA is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has an office in Accra, Ghana.