Program Assistant at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited

Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited (Sahel) 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: Program Assistant

Locations: Adamawa, Kaduna and Plateau
Employment Type: Contract

Overview

• The Program Assistant position is for early career practitioners with a passion for agriculture, focused and, interested in getting to be exposed to a variety of projects in the sector.
• There are opportunities to work with clients across the public, private and social sector and across multiple value chains to make a tangible impact to the agriculture and nutrition sector in Africa.

Technical Focus:

• Support the implementation of the ALDDN program for sustainable livestock development including the establishment of farmers’ organization, support infrastructural development at the various dairy communities selected for this intervention, participate, and coordinate in the animal health service provision, genetic improvement of local breed of cattle in the smallholder dairy households selected, and development of animal nutrition and forage production.
• The candidate will support the Program Officer in the development of capacity building sessions for livestock beneficiaries through trainings and brochure delivery, institutional capacity development of service providers, value chain actors as well as other stakeholders.
• Participate and support the Program Officer regarding engagement with private sector (implementing) partners in implementing project activities as well as addressing challenges from Advancing Local Dairy Development Program implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities
Work Plan Formulation:

• Support in the timely development of work plans for all the ALDDN projects implemented in the state.
• Provide the necessary information required by the Program Officer regarding implementing partners, market price of inputs, beneficiary information, location specific information, stakeholder information, and general logistic requirements for developing the work plans
• Assist in coordination and communication of implementation strategies among stakeholders particularly the processor, State government officials and the project coordinator.

Project Implementation:

• Assist the Program Officer in implementation of project activities in accordance with the various ALDDN project work plans.
• Prepare administrative documents, collect and compile inputs to documents and ensure timely submission of documents, reports, minutes of meetings and weekly updates to the Sahel PMO.
• Support the Program Officer in preparation of meeting venues, timely sending out of invites to participants and coordination of the meeting
• Compile all project reports and prepare inputs summaries, graphs and tables to presentations in support to various project activities.
• Ensure uploading of data by implementing partners on the ALDDN portal on time and correctly
• Provide support to implementing partners during community mobilization, development of community action plan, lunching of boreholes, ensure milk collection, community engagement with other stakeholders, lead community entry and serve as contact point for Sahel in the project state.
• Maintenance of the project filing system and compilation of all reports for documentation.
• Support implementation of project-related communication activities.
• Draft a routine correspondence for ALDDN project implementation.
• Prepare inputs for the implementation processes such as management of team members of implementing partners, procurement of inputs, logistic of transportation of inputs to destination and suggesting of contractors according to the Sahel rules and regulations.
• Assist in procurement processes for any conference, seminar services, trainings, meeting logistics such as meeting rooms, audio-visual equipment, name tags, and training venues.
• Administer contracts with service providers and/or beneficiaries by the interpretation of contracts and ensure effective communication of agreements.
• Collect, compile and organise background materials, documents and other materials for meetings.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Key Results:

• Monitor beneficiary and project location identification processes to ensure compliance with program requirements
• Ensure compliance to all SOPs and checklists related to the ALDDN projects are done and reports submitted to designated officer
• Collect and upload verified data of all project activities namely farmers’ organization, Commercial Fodder producers; database, list of trained farmers, CHEWs and extension agents recruited for the ALDDN program
• Lead the training of trainers’ session for extension agents and CHEWs
• Monitor the distribution of project inputs such as milk can, feed and fodder inputs, and submit updated distribution register to the ALDDN M&E team at the end of every month
• Plan all trainings and mobilize trainees for effective and efficient training sessions and lead the training of the trainers across all projects
• Support the Policy Advocacy Coordinator in organizing state steering committee meetings and stakeholder convening
• Assist in the mapping of stakeholders and dairy related policies in the state
• Alert the Policy Advocacy Coordinator when there are changes in policies, security challenges and other issues that are relevant to the program
• Upload key project data across all interventions in the 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 Officer
• Support the ALDDN M&E team in preparing enumerators’ monthly payment based on satisfactory and verified milestone completion in the state
• Ensure all project activities provided by implementing partners are verified and documented,
• Share weekly progress updates on field activities with the Project Management Office (PMO)
• Maintain an inventory of all project assets that are purchased by the program for all the ALDDN projects in the State
• Document and submit all key procurement processes, receipts supplied by vendors, processor partners and other stakeholders to the Administration and account office of Sahel
• 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 during weekly review meetings
• Participate in ALDDN State Steering Committee meetings and provide reports to the PMO
• Ensure that all project assets such as project vehicle, laptops and phones are used for the intended purpose and are always in good working condition
• Support the driver in preparing budgets for car maintenance and fuel expenses while documenting receipts and fund retirement
• Share monthly travel log, fuel and project vehicle maintenance information and supporting evidence with the PMO
• Participate in the recruitment and deployment of extension agents, all project service providers and community health workers
• Support quarterly program implementation plan including activities, targets and deadlines and provide quarterly reports on program accomplishments

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements
Candidate will be evaluated based on:

• Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science, Animal Production, Agronomy and Extension or any other related fields
• Minimum of one year experience in livestock production, animal husbandry management, or any agriculture-related field experience,
• Working knowledge of English Language (both written and verbal).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using "Project Assistant" as the subject of the mail.

Note: Due to a high volume of applicants, please understand that we are able to contact only those who meet the minimum qualifications

Application Deadline  31st December, 2021.