Job Recruitment at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited

Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited (SCANL) is a leading management consulting firm focused on the agricultural and nutrition sectors in Africa. We partner with government agencies, private sector companies and leading international development organizations to conduct research, analyze policies, develop strategies and implement programs that promote sustainable food security and improved nutrition. We have worked on a variety of projects across West Africa, including in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.

We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Field Coordinator Location: Kaduna

About the Program Sahel, in collaboration with other partners, seeks to catalyze the local dairy sector in Nigeria in an inclusive way through a program that will improve the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition, and empowerment of smallholder female dairy farmers and the communities in which they live. The program will span 5 years and will:

• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.
• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and appropriate inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through innovations in food systems.

Primary Purpose

• The Field Coordinators will ensure high quality implementation of Sahel projects in Northern Nigeria
• He/she will lead the planning, coordination of, management and reporting of project activities at the state and local level, engaging with key stakeholders on the one hand and reporting to Sahel’s Program Management Office (PMO) on the other hand with the objective of achieving projects’ goals.

Program Implementation:

• Farmers’ Organization:
  • Monitor the farmer identification process to ensure compliance with program requirements
  • Collect and upload verified data on farmers’ organization in accordance with the requirements of ALDDN
  • Provide weekly reports on milk collection activities in project states.

Infrastructure Development:

• Select and share borehole locations based on program selection criteria with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
• Collect and act on borehole checklist information to ensure compliance with borehole management plan and hygiene
• Conduct scheduled visits to ALDDN borehole locations to verify the borehole checklist information
• Submit key documents such as borehole management plans, evidence of communal land ownership and other relevant documents to the ALDDN M&E officer
• Monitor the distribution of milk can distribution and submit updated milk can distribution register to the ALDDN M&E officer at the end of every month.

Productivity Improvement:

• Artificial Insemination and Animal Health:
  • Monitor the Artificial Insemination Technicians/ Veterinarians to ensure project timelines are met
  • Interface with vendors to obtain and verify supporting documents and data on progress of field activities
  • Maintain an inventory of project assets that are purchased by the program for artificial insemination/animal health services in Project State.

Training and Extension Services:

• Maintain and upload an updated list of trained farmers to the online data portal or any other medium specified by the ALDDN M&E officer
• Receive and monitor compliance of extension agents to weekly training plans
• Lead the training of trainers’ session for extension agents
• Work with Livestock Associate to review training content and plan training calendar
• Plan video shooting, select and mobilize dairy farmers that will serve as actors in the training videos under the supervision of the Livestock Associate
• Support the ALDDN M&E officer in preparing enumerators’ monthly payment based on satisfactory and verified milestone completion in Project State.

Feed and Fodder:

• Track the progress of implementation activities against targets
• Maintain a list of beneficiaries of the feed and fodder intervention in Adamawa State
• Share weekly progress updates on field activities with the Project Management Office (PMO)
• Store key project documents including evidence of land ownership, input distribution register, sales record, in a safe and accessible platform.

Financial Inclusion & Income Diversification Support:

• Maintain a list of trained farmers, beneficiaries of income diversification support and financial services as provided by Technoserve
• Verify uploaded data though scheduled field visits to benefiting communities.

Policy Advocacy:

• Assist in the mapping of stakeholders and dairy related policies in the project state
• Alert the Policy Advocacy Coordinator when there are changes in policies, security challenges and other issues that are relevant to the program
• Support the Policy Advocacy Coordinator in organizing state steering committee meetings and stakeholder convening

Human Resources:

• Support the driver in preparing budgets for car maintenance, fueling and providing supporting evidence for expenses made and fund retirement
• Participate in the recruitment and deployment of extension agents, animal health/artificial insemination service providers and community health workers
• Work with the Sahel Human Resource Associate to identify and engage qualified driver in Project states.
• Ensure that the project vehicle, laptops and phones that were purchased as part of ALDDN implementation are used for intended purpose and are always in good working condition

Communication:

• Provide weekly plans and progress updates on key activities, challenges and mitigation strategies to the National Team Leader or senior team members delegated by Sahel
• Participate in weekly project review meetings with the ALDDN team while assuring action-oriented dialogue and productive use of time
• Participate in ALDDN State Steering Committee meetings and provide reports to the PMO
• Other duties as assigned and agreed upon by the National Team Leader (NTL).
• Support quarterly program implementation plan including activities, targets and deadlines
• Provide quarterly reports on program accomplishments against targets, challenges and mitigation strategy
• Upload key project data across all interventions in Adamawa state to the ALDDN online data portal and submit supporting evidence to the PMO
• Submit weekly reports on accomplishments, challenges and mitigation strategy to the ALDDN Livestock Associate
• Share monthly travel log, fuel and project vehicle maintenance information and supporting evidence with the PMO

Required Skills & Experience

• High level of interpersonal skills with the ability to work across cultures and religions, with strong communication and listening abilities, good problem-solving approach and conflict resolution at individual and community level
• Strong program management skills and high level of analytical skills in planning and project implementation
• Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activity.
• Sound knowledge of local environment
• Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
• Proficiency in the English language (required) and Hausa (preferred).
• University Degree in Agriculture or related field with 3 years relevant experience at field level of community development with a strong understanding of social development
• Strong networks with key stakeholders in the agriculture landscape in both the public, private and development sector. Experience in collaborating and managing relationships with federal and state governments, donors, private sector and other key stakeholders
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, training and facilitation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Excellent personal organizational skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Job Title: Gender Coordinator Location: Abuja Job Type: Full Time Reports to: National Team Leader Travel: Limited travel across project States in Nigeria

About the Program Sahel, in collaboration with other partners, seeks to catalyze the local dairy sector in Nigeria in an inclusive way through a program that will improve the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition, and empowerment of smallholder female dairy farmers and the communities in which they live. The program will span 5 years and will:

• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and appropriate inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through innovations in food systems.
• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.

Role Summary

• He/she will be required to manage sub-grantees recruited to support the gender study which will comprise of a baseline assessment.
• The gender coordinator will also work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure services are provided to smallholder dairy farmers while working with stakeholders at the federal and state ministries of agriculture as well as development agencies involved in the program to design and implement gender sensitive approaches for enhancing the livelihood of smallholder dairy farmers
• The role of the Gender Coordinator will be responsible for leading the planning and implementation of the gender analysis of the dairy development component of the ALDDN, including understanding of cultural and social norms influencing gender relations in Northern and Southern Nigeria
• He/she will work alongside other critical stakeholders in the project and other project team members to plan and develop gender integration strategies for the project
• The GNC will also manage and lead the execution of a holistic gender study that will assess barriers that women face in dairy producing communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria and propose specific interventions that will address these barriers.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities Sub-Grantee Management: Gender Study:

• Assist the National Team Leader in supporting the implementation of other project activities, including the women empowerment component of the program.
• Planning, developing and implementing Dairy Development Services
• Oversee development and implementation of gender integration plan in the focal cluster communities.
• Work closely with the National Team Leader and Dairy & Livestock Specialist in designing training modules targeting women farmers for improving production efficiencies and increased incomes to families, as well as in implementing project to support inclusion of women’s organizations in these communities.
• Serve as a liaison on women’s issues for high-profile delegations from Government and private sector actors within and outside the dairy industry.
• In coordination with the ALDDN’s Project Management Office (PMO), partner dairy processors and the sub-grantee for the gender study, the Gender Specialist will plan, design and lead the execution of the gender study in smallholder farming communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, define key hypotheses for the focus of the analysis, including issues around employment of women in the dairy sector, control of productive assets, women participation in household decision making, access to basic education and health services for women and girls.
• Oversee the development of harmonized methodologies, approaches and instruments for conducting the Gender Study.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, propose interventions and structures to address barriers that women face in dairy producing communities and to ensure that they continue to maintain a significant control over the proceeds from the sale of their milk and other productive assets related to dairy production
• Investigate the applicability of proven dairy women empowerment programs such as the Africa Dairy Development Project’s Social Capital Development and Dairy Interest Group approaches for the social, cultural and economic settings in Nigeria.
• In coordination with the National Team Leader, oversee the organization of two stakeholder meetings to share the results of the gender study and obtain buy-in for proposed interventions
• Oversee the development of regular progress reports on the gender studies for the PMO and project funder use.
• Assist the National Team Leader in the selection, contracting and remuneration of sub-grantees working on the gender study in accordance with donor guidelines.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Coordinate with federal, state and local governments, communities, project beneficiaries, private sector service providers and suppliers, consultants, and other stakeholders at project level for effective delivery of project activities.
• Assist the National Team Leader to maintain good relations with project beneficiaries, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation of the results of the gender study in compelling formats for eventual publication on selected platforms.
• Participate in public forums to share and communicate the results of the study to public, private and development sector stakeholders around the dynamics influencing the success of dairy development, gender intervention targeted at West Africa.
• Work with the National Team Leader to develop proposed gender intervention and a framework for the implementation of those interventions.
• Assist the National Team Leader and Project Coordinators to develop project strategies, project plans technical capacity building interventions, activities and policies related to implementing the gender component of the ALDDN.
• Participate in regular field visits to project sites (up to 50% of the time) to ensure high quality project performance and monitor and track progress against project timelines.
• Support the National Team Leader, M&E team and other sub-grantees on the collection and reporting of program results especially with regards to the baseline studies and any gender-related interventions.
• Support the National Team Leader in monitoring progress and evaluation of project activities including financial performances.
• Assist the National Team Leader in preparation of progress reports (quarterly, annual, final) and respond to the queries related to the gender component of the project.

Relationship Management:

• Build relationships and partnerships with a wide range of Government officials including ministerial directors at the national level, state and local levels, and representatives from multiple ministries at the management, technical and administrative levels.
• Build relationships and partnerships with potential implementing partners as necessary, including meetings at a senior level with key NGO implementing personnel to discuss issues related to the effective implementation and support for potential interventions
• Develop and maintain relations with a wide variety of stakeholders working on gender-related issues to ensure coordination of activities, support best practices, and build partnerships.
• Represent the Project on technical working groups focused on gender issues.

Minimum Qualification and Requirements Candidates should have:

• Expertise in strategic gender planning, gender analysis, gender budgeting, preparing/conducting gender impact assessments, and gender mainstreaming is highly desirable.
• Have an ability to develop and interpret monitoring results of gender-sensitive indicators.
• Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activity.
• High evaluation, data collection, analytical and report writing skills.
• Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with senior management of technical partners and senior government officials.
• Understanding of the social and cultural contexts that underpin Fulani and smallholder farming communities in Nigeria.
• Proficiency in the English language (required) and Yoruba, Hausa and Fulfulde (preferred).
• Master's Degree in Development Studies or any related field, or a relative discipline with at least two years of work experience in a similar capacity in Nigeria or West Africa, or
• Bachelor's in Social Science course with at least five years of work experience in women’s development, gender issues, with skills and abilities working with women in Nigeria or West Africa.
• Deep understanding of women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria both at national and local levels as well as a substantial understanding of gender equality with knowledge of relevant international and national gender and human rights instruments, conventions and legislation.
• Familiarity with key policies and stakeholders related to women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria (local and international governmental and non-governmental actors).
• Knowledge of international and local stakeholders in Nigeria in the agriculture, health, food aid and nutrition sectors.
• An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of gender mainstreaming strategies and methodologies and of gender dynamics and complexities and cultural issues/constraints in facilitating women’s participation in development.

Job Title: Field Manager Location: Lagos

Overview of the Role

• The Field Manager will ensure high quality implementation of Sahel projects in Northern Nigeria
• He/she will lead the planning, coordination of, management and reporting of project activities at the state and local level, engaging with key stakeholders on the one hand and reporting to Sahel’s Program Management Office (PMO) on the other hand with the objective of achieving projects’ goals.

Farmers’ Organization:

• Monitor the farmer identification process to ensure compliance with program requirements
• Manage field coordinators to ensure timely collection and upload of verified data on farmers’ organization in accordance with the requirements of ALDDN
• Receive and act on weekly reports on milk collection activities of dairy processor partners.

Infrastructure Development:

• Review key documents such as borehole management plans, evidence of communal land ownership and other relevant documents submitted by state field coordinators to the Project Management Office (PMO)
• Review milk can distribution register to track milk can distribution across the project sites
• Verify reports from field coordinators independently.
• Provide recommendations to the National Team Leader on the potential borehole locations based on verified reports from the State Field Coordinators and M&E officers
• Obtain and act on weekly borehole checklist information that tracks compliance with borehole management plan and hygiene as shared by the state field coordinators

Productivity Improvement:

• Artificial Insemination and Animal Health:
  • Receive, verify and act on the field coordinators’ reports on the activities of artificial insemination technicians/veterinarians to ensure project timelines are met
  • Double check and confirm supporting documents and data from implementing partners
  • Work with M&E officers to verify uploaded data and submit payment advice for vendors to the National Team Leader based on findings from field visits and State Field Coordinators’ reports.

Training and Extension Services:

• Work with Livestock Associate to review training content and plan training calendar
• Work with the ALDDN M&E officers in preparing enumerators’ monthly payment based on satisfactory and verified milestone completion across all project sites
• Conduct routine field visits to monitor and validate training dissemination.
• Receive and monitor compliance of extension agents to weekly training plans across project sites
• Monitor training of trainers’ session for extension agents and obtain supporting documents from State Field Coordinators

Feed and Fodder:

• Track the progress of implementation of activities by Agridrive against targets
• Coordinate with Agridrive’s program lead at the PMO to ensure timely resolution of issues.

Financial Inclusion & Income Diversification Support:

• Coordinate with TechnoServe’s program lead at the PMO to ensure timely resolution of issues
• Verify uploaded data through scheduled field visits to benefiting communities.
• Obtain progress update and supporting evidence for implementation of financial inclusion and income diversification support from TechnoServe

Policy Advocacy:

• Supervise the establishment and operations of State Steering Committees (SSC)
• Review reports on mapping of stakeholders and dairy related policies across project sites.

Human Resources and Administration:

• Monitor the process of recruitment and deployment of extension agents, animal health/artificial insemination service providers and community health workers
• Ensure all State Field Coordinators send necessary documents to the administrative assistant for all project asset insurance
• Follow through on the resolution of all issues raised in the State Field Coordinators’ weekly reports and Sahel’s weekly review meeting.
• Work with the Sahel Human Resource Associate to provide performance evaluation of field staff
• Review and transmit fund requests from the State Field Coordinators to the National Team Leader for approval

Communication:

• Review and validate monthly travel log, fuel and project vehicle maintenance information and supporting evidence shared by State Field Coordinators with the PMO to ensure costs are maintained within budget
• Participate in weekly project review meetings with the ALDDN team while assuring action-oriented dialogue and productive use of time
• Participate in ALDDN State Steering Committee meetings on a case of need basis and provide relevant reports to the PMO
• Other duties as assigned and agreed upon by the National Team Leader (NTL).
• Support quarterly program implementation plan including activities, targets and deadlines
• Provide quarterly reports on program accomplishments against targets, challenges and mitigation strategy
• Review uploaded key project data across all interventions in Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Jigawa and Adamawa States to the ALDDN online data portal to ensure interventions are delivered based on timelines
• Receive weekly reports on accomplishments, challenges and mitigation strategy from field coordinators

Required Skills & Experience

• High level of interpersonal skills with the ability to work across cultures and religions, with strong communication and listening abilities, good problem-solving approach and conflict resolution at individual and community level
• Strong program management skills and high level of analytical skills in planning and project implementation
• Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activity.
• Sound knowledge of local environment
• Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
• Proficiency in the English language (required) and Hausa (preferred).
• University Degree in Agriculture or related field with 7 years’ relevant experience at field level of community development with a strong understanding of social development
• Strong networks with key stakeholders in the agriculture landscape in both the public, private and development sector. Experience in collaborating and managing relationships with federal and state governments, donors, private sector and other key stakeholders
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, training and facilitation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Excellent personal organizational skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Kaduna State, Adamawa State