TAAT Country Engagement Officer - East Africa Regional Coordinator at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Position Responsibilities

• The tasks of the TAAT Country Engagement Officer-East Africa Regional Coordinator will include:

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the Clearinghouse brokerage in countries of the East African region by effectively engaging with national and regional decision-makers in the public sector and especially governments to include TAAT-vetted technologies and catalyse their scaling by integrating them in new large-scale agricultural investment programs, restructured and under-performing projects
• Participate in and contribute to AfDB-supported projects’ annual reviews, supervision and mid-term evaluations, enabling the integration of TAAT-vetted technologies.
• Effectively engage and collaborate closely with AfDB, CGIAR centres, regional organizations, development partners, NARES, NGOs, private sector and aligned institutions in the East African region so as to achieve TAAT goals and objectives and catalyse the scaling of TAAT technologies across the RMCs
• Provide technical assistance for developing robust Seed Systems in RMCs to deliver certified seed of climate-resilient varieties or planting material of vegetatively propagated crops (VPC) in sufficient quantity and quality to farmers using market-based models.
• Build strategic partnerships with public and private sector institutions in the East African region and enhance their capacities to increase the production and delivery of EGS and certified seed/ planting material of VPC-improved varieties in RMCs.
• Specific Responsibilities
• Participate in AfDB country missions in the East African region and provide technical inputs to recommend the inclusion of the most appropriate TAAT-vetted technologies into project appraisal reports (PARs)
• Mobilize and engage with TAAT Compacts and CGIAR experts to participate in the design and restructuring of agricultural investment projects, which involve AfDB, and regional and national decision-makers and governments, with the aim of integrating TAAT vetted technologies into Bank-supported large-scale country agricultural investment projects.
• Ensure the participation of the National Agriculture Research and Extension System (NARES), TAAT Compacts and CGIAR experts in discussions with the Ministries of Agriculture on TAAT’s technical assistance to RMCs for the successful implementation of larger AfDB-funded investment projects.
• Provide technical assistance to RMCs implementing AfDB-supported loan projects for building a robust and functional national seed system to ensure the production and delivery of certified seed of TAAT-vetted climate-resilient varieties sustainably.
• Gain an in-depth understanding of agriculture policies and priorities regarding the agricultural development landscapes of RMCs in the East African region to inform the Clearinghouse brokerage.
• Draft specific MoUs with national and development partners to promote collaboration for the inclusion and adoption of TAAT-vetted technologies in national and regional investment projects in the East African region
• Build strong partnerships and networking with the CGIAR, COMESA, ASARECA, private sector, RMCs, AfDB, other regional and national development partners, and aligned institutions in the East African region to promote the scaling and widespread adoption of TAAT-vetted technologies
• Engage TAAT Compacts and provide technical support to governments and seed sector stakeholders for developing a functional national seed system to ensure sustainable production and delivery of certified seed or planting material of TAAT-promoted varieties to farmers in RMCs of the East African region
• Support Compacts to strengthen the capacity of NARES in early generation seed production; engage the private sector to enhance their skills and technical knowhow in the production and delivery of high-quality certified seed or planting material of TAAT vetted improved varieties
• Participate in resource mobilization to attract funding from potential donors and development partners to catalyse the scaling of TAAT-promoted technologies for agricultural transformation in RMCs of the East African region.
• Actively contribute to the Clearinghouse (CH) reporting and progress updates.

Educational Qualifications and Experience 

• A post-graduate degree in Agronomy, Seed Systems or related agriculture field from a recognized University.
• At least 10 years of work experience in the seed sector serving smallholder farmers in Africa.
• Prove work experience in seed systems.
• Experience with development policy, legal and institutional frameworks as well as the technical aspects of projects.
• Working experience with AfDB-supported projects at the national level and on the African Continent is an added advantage.