Project Officer I

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Product & Project Management

Position: Project Officer I
Contract: 2-year renewable contract Location: Abuja
DUTIES:
Program Implementation Support

• Support day-to-day implementation of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) and High-Quality Cassava Peel (HQCP) innovation pilots at the community level
• Work with partner hubs and spokes to coordinate distribution of inputs and equipment to women- and youth-led poultry enterprises
Ensure adherence to technical, environmental, and gender inclusion standards during implementation.

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Community Engagement & Facilitation

• Mobilize and engage local stakeholders, youth groups, and women's associations for participation in innovation pilots
• Facilitate regular group meetings, dialogues, and information-sharing with beneficiaries and service providers 
Support delivery of business coaching, mentoring, and peer learning activities for participants.

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Capacity Building Support

• Assist in the delivery and follow-up of technical training sessions on alternative feed production and poultry enterprise management 
Monitor participant attendance and performance in training and apprenticeships in collaboration with TVETs and trainers.

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Monitoring, Learning & Reporting

• Collect and consolidate field-level data including participation records, enterprise outcomes, and feedback from youth and women entrepreneurs
• Track inputs, pilot outputs, and enterprise performance using provided tools
Contribute to field reports, success stories, and updates for monthly or quarterly program

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Partnership & Coordination

• Liaise with local government, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to support enabling conditions for enterprise growth
Coordinate logistics and scheduling for field visits, learning events, and innovation demonstration

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Perform any other job-related tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Requirements
QUALIFICATION:
Bachelor's degree in Agribusiness or extension, Veterinary Medicine, Rural Development, Development Studies and other related courses. The ideal candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years' experience in agricultural development, youth livelihoods, community engagement, or enterprise development, must be experienced working with smallholder poultry farmers, agribusinesses, or youth/women-led enterprises in rural or semi-urban contexts and supporting donor-funded development projects.
COMPETENCIES:
The ideal candidate must:

• Have strong interpersonal and facilitation skills, the ability to engage and mobilize youth and women's groups
• Have basic understanding of poultry systems, feed innovations (BSF, HQCP), or agricultural input value chains
• Have good written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of local languages is an advantage
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office tools and data collection platforms (e.g., ODK, KoboToolbox)
• Ability to travel frequently within target communities and work independently under supervision
• Be passionate about youth development, agribusiness, and inclusive market systems
• Demonstrate ability to adapt and have problem solving dynamics in multi-stakeholder environments
Be familiar with gender and social inclusion principles in development programming

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Benefits
REMUNERATION:
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
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