Regional Resilience Specialist - STARR Project at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Job description

Project Description

IFDC is recruiting for the anticipated USAID Strengthening Agriculture and Regional Resilience (STARR) Project based out of Nairobi. The overall goal of the activity is to promote increased agricultural production, investment, trade and resilience to shocks in the larger East Africa region including select IGAD, COMESA and SADC countries by addressing agricultural issues that can only be solved on a regional basis. STARR has the following objectives:

• Strengthening cross-border agricultural trade and value chains;
• Improved regional agricultural inputs;
• Strengthening resilience;
• Strengthening the regional policy environment.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate trade transactions and policy formulation that enable more efficient staple crop and livestock flows from surplus to deficit areas during shocks and stresses.
• Leverage and strengthen cross border coordination bodies to mitigate trade constraints during shocks and stresses and to respond to emerging pests and disease threats.
• Promote the establishment and use of regional grain and fodder reserves.
• Strengthen informal and/or formal regional level safety net programs.
• Build the capacity of regional organizations, private sector associations, regulatory officials and cross border coordination bodies to prepare for and respond to key transboundary constraints experienced during times of shocks and stresses.
• Facilitate regional best practice dissemination on climate smart agriculture practices, including improved drought tolerant and disease resistant seed varieties.
• Identify and maintain key indicators which track the impact of resilience efforts across the Horn and the Global Alliance.
• Facilitate structured collaboration, learning and adaptation of resilience across the region and the Horn.

Required Skills

• Master’s Degree in Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Agriculture, Natural Resources, International Relations or Social Sciences;
• Strong knowledge of smallholder farming systems, agronomy and the pastoralist context in the Horn of Africa;
• Demonstrated analysis and report writing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Fluency in English (oral and written) required;
• Willingness to travel extensively in East and Southern Africa.

Required Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience, including experience with a contractor or international NGO in a similar role working in a technical capacity in East and Southern Africa with preference given to the Horn of Africa experience.