Program Officer, Nutrition & Seed Specialist at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The Position

The incumbent will report to the Head for Seed Systems & Research, AGRA and will be responsible for day-to-day operational management and implementation of the grant in close liaison with other relevant stakeholders internal and external to AGRA. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Overall project management of this grant for quality, time and cost implementation.
• Working closely with others e.g Seed Systems, Extension and Market Teams to identify grantees, prepare for and support fundable proposals and investments.
• Ensure timely grant making through the AGRA grant process and procurement guidelines where needed.
• Work with M&E to ensure delivery of milestones and tracking of results.
• Review and approval of project reports and deliverables.
• Monitor budgets and ensure adherence to budget lines.
• Coordinate and supervise field visits in collaboration with country teams, AGRA Nairobi, donors, technical partners, and stakeholders.
• Liaise closely with all sub-grantees particularly Harvest Plus to synchronize the project teams for downstream delivery.
• Work with AGRA teams to support CESSA, incorporating key partners like One CGIAR, while maintaining AGRA nutritional and gender focus.
• Ensure donor compliance, updates and timely reporting, adherence to donor requirements, monitor progress on the ground.
• Engage in regional exchange and learning trips to share lessons.
• Work closely with knowledge management and communications team to document case studies, models for scale. 
• Prepare quality and timely workplans and reports to support management decision making.
• Identify resource materials for communication that would support the achievement of the project goals.
• Secures collaboration with stakeholders to identify potentially high-impact opportunities to complement and enhance seed systems in integrated grants.
• Builds strategic partnerships with public and private sector in seed systems and nutritional reforms.
• Organizes and carries out (including the use of consultants) rapid market assessments to ascertain the areas for intervention.
• Responds to grant requests from country and regional teams. 
• Builds the capacity of grantees.
• Develops concept notes and proposals for resource mobilization.
• Plans, oversees, monitors and evaluates the awarded grants to ensure that targets and milestones are being achieved in a manner that is consistent with the mission and objectives of AGRA and its funders.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• PhD/MSc in Agriculture preferably in seed systems or breeding or extension with 5 years’ post qualification experience.  At least 5 years of experience in program management, and in nutrition-oriented seed systems in Africa.
• Innovative and motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic.
• Highly organized, results and detail orientated with a very hands-on approach.
• Experience in working on joined projects with African governments, researchers, partners and familiar with agricultural development programs.
• Excellent organizational, and problem solving/decision making ability.
• Strong relationship management.
• Good command of English required; French is an added advantage.
• Proficient in MS Project or any other related software.