Program Officer, Food & Land Use (FOLU) at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The Position

The Program Officer role will be responsible for program development, management, research and implementation. More specifically:

• Manage coalition building in target countries.
• Lead and coordinate partner engagement for coalition building and management.
• Policy advisory and advocacy on key issues in food systems transformation.
• Programme and project management – work plan development, implementation and reporting.
• Concept development and resource mobilization for proof point projects on sustainable food systems.
• Communicating the case for change through collaborating and coordinating with the FOLU Partners.
• Leading on and translating research into compelling programmatic interventions, communications materials and content aligned with key frameworks (e.g., Malabo Declaration, CAADAP Biannual Reporting) and priorities to influence stakeholders (including policymakers) in the transformation of food systems and land use systems.
• Drafting briefing papers for policymakers and the private sector for increased investments in sustainability actions in food systems.
• Preparing strategic briefs and advisory notes for management, FOLU Ambassadors and partner organizations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the successful building of the FOLU Kenya and Ghana FOLU platforms in close collaboration with Coalition partners.
• Provide technical leadership on food systems transformation in Kenya and Ghana – design project activities that align with the coalition platforms’ goals and objectives.
• Develop and maintain a database of public and public partners involved in and or driving the food systems transitions in target countries; and lead effective partner mobilization and engagement.
• Develop effective strategies for engaging with farmer organizations including those at sub-national level to catalyze food systems transformation in the two countries.
• Lead the FOLU project implementation and management in AGRA. Annual work plan implementation and monitoring in collaboration with the core partners.
• Lead on preparations for convening of FOLU partners and networks around key selected themes and priorities in food systems.
• Lead on analytics for the identification of country level entry points for FOLU.
• Identify channels and events for the promotion of FOLU evidence and advocacy messages from studies, research and work undertaken in the implementation of the project, such as the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the UNFCCC COP event etc
• Support outreach, speech, writing, media pieces and any related materials for information dissemination.
• In collaboration with other teams with the coalition drive resource mobilization.
• Design and lead the implementation of capacity building activities on the integration of sustainability principles in Africa’s agriculture transformation.
• Contribute to strengthened engagement with regional and continental bodies such as the African Union Commission.

Academic, Professional Qualifications and Relevant experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in relevant work areas, primarily in Africa.
• A Doctorate degree, in agriculture economics, climate change or sustainability studies, agronomy or related fields (or Masters degree with a minimum of 10 years of experience).
• Senior-Level experience designing and implementing programs and/or policy and regulatory reform in a relevant sector.
• Experience in environment, land management, food systems initiatives in a similar environment will be an added advantage.
• Experience in building coalitions or networks of organizations.
• Experience managing complex initiatives (profit and not-for-profit) with proven ability to develop high impact partnerships.
• Thoroughly familiar with and experience in working with R&D and analytics organizations.
• Analytical, excellent data mining ability.
• Strong ability to influence positively both upwards and downwards across cultures and countries
• An experienced team member.
• Deep understanding of both the government and private sector policies and governance structures
• Results and detail orientated with a hands-on approach.
• Excellent problem solving/decision making skills.
• Intelligent, motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal skills and work ethic.
• Fluency in English required; ability to communicate in French will be an added advantage.