MEL Officer

Program Description

The five-year USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment. To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: improving the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth; broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations; and sustainably enhancing the performance of agribusiness micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the U.S. and Nigerian governments’ commitment to growing the non-oil-based economy, these efforts will increase the depth, breadth, dynamism, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. 

Beginning in December 2018 and closing in December 2023, the $15.7million Agribusiness Investment Activity, with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) as the prime implementing partner, aims to viably and sustainably link thousands of MSMEs and producer organizations with high-performing commercial actors in the rice, maize, soybean, aquaculture, and cowpea value chains. As a result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, improved production and processing practices, and significantly increased finance and investment flows, the Activity will increase the competitiveness and returns of both large, medium and small-scale agricultural enterprises. The overall objective of the Activity is to measurably improve the agribusiness investment climate in Nigeria, which plays a pivotal role in attracting foreign direct and domestic investment, leading to food security and improved nutrition.

Position Description

Reporting to the MEL Manager, the MEL Officer will support all Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities, and be solely responsible for managing data collection activities and maintaining all databases.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the design of the Activity’s MEL System, including development of Activity MEL Plans, MEL Field Manuals, Data collection toolkits, and databases.
• Support the implementation of the Activity MEL system, including tracking and reporting of KPI status/results, periodic surveys, CLA activities, knowledge management, learning activities and reporting.
• Ensure the collection of quality and robust monitoring data including GIS data and relevant attribution information by providing continuous supervisory support to the State Agribusiness Coordinators and other technical staff on the use of data collection tools and methods.
• Perform monthly analysis of Activity monitoring data and submit reports/statistics showing the status of the Activity’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure that Activity databases (both digital databases and filing system for hardcopy documents) contain updated information on beneficiary stakeholders and outputs from activity supported interventions.
• Undertake regular performance field visits to obtain beneficiary feedback, perform data quality verifications, and identify challenges, key success factors, and lesson learned.
• Provide continuous support to technical staff on data collection and to ensure timely data collection, analyses, reporting, and completion of other MEL activities.
• Perform the analysis and reporting of post-event evaluation assessments for trainings and events organised or co-organised by the Activity.
• Upload Activity KPI targets and results on USAID MONITOR, Feed The Future Monitoring System, CNFA’s M&E database, and other relevant databases adhering to specified timelines and regulations.
• Draft MEL Unit progress reports including quarterly reports, semi-annual reports, annual reports and annual work plans.
• Ensure compliance with all requirements provided in the Activity contract, USAID regulations, CNFA standards and, if/where applicable, host country government requirements.
• Complete other duties as necessary and assigned by the MEL Manager and/or Chief of Party.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working on monitoring, evaluation and learning for donor funded agribusiness and livelihood projects; USAID experience is highly desirable.
• Degree (Master’s preferred) in relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience in a relevant competency area, including statistics, international development, economics or other.
• Experience using monitoring and evaluation systems; experience with USAID-supported indicators, including Feed the Future indicators, a definitive plus.
• Willingness to collaborate, innovate, work hard, and contribute to a high performing and dedication group of development professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing as well as think strategically and systematically.
• Proven experience in managing multiple and competing tasks while maintaining high quality deliverables within strict deadlines (e.g., an ability to work under pressure).
• Strong communication skills and ability to present and write high quality technical reports in English.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Position Description

The Strategic Communications Manager will oversee project communications, including all of the Activity’s client reporting and presentation requirements as well as all external communications in country.  S/he will report directly to the Chief of Party and liaise as needed with USAID Nigeria mission representatives, other USG organizations, and bilateral national partners and stakeholders. Working closely with CNFA’s Corporate Communications team based in Washington, DC, the Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for planning, initiating and managing the full breadth of the marketing and outreach interventions, with a strong focus on capturing and promoting the reach and impact of the Activity. S/he will provide day‐to‐day management of the Activity’s communications, reporting, and outreach to various stakeholders. S/he will additionally support Activity sponsored events, such as national and international conferences and events, by organizing, branding, and producing informational materials and facilitating business participation. This position works with all project components, including the Monitoring and Evaluation and Knowledge Management team, and external stakeholders in helping optimize marketing strategies, including but not limited to collateral development, client outreach, web and mobile applications, and social media. The Strategic Communications Manager will manage one (1) staff member, the Marketing and Communications Officer.

Program Description

The five-year USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity, implemented by CNFA as part of the United States Government’s Feed the Future Initiative, strengthens the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture. To achieve this goal, the activity focuses on four interrelated components: improving the ease of doing business in the agricultural sector; broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; promoting investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations, and building the capacity and improving the performance of agribusiness micro, small, and medium size enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the U.S. and Nigerian Government’s commitment to growing the non-oil based economy, these efforts will increase the quality, quantity, market access, and diversification of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.

Beginning in December 2018 and closing in 2023, this $15.6 million project aims to integrate thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and producer organizations as high-performing commercial actors in the value chains for rice, maize, soy, aquaculture, and cowpeas. As a result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, improved production and processing practices, and significantly increased finance and investment flows, the project will increase the competitiveness and returns of both large and small sale agricultural enterprises. Employing a value chain approach, the Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to facilitate $200 million in new lending and $100 million in new investment across the 5 crops in the following 7 designated States: Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Cross River.  The USAID/Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity is a 5-year year, $15 million effort implemented by CNFA as part of the United States Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.  The project’s goal is to strengthen the business enabling environment to promote private sector investment in agriculture. Activities will encompass three broad but interrelated components: (i) improving the enabling environment (aka legal and regulatory framework) for agribusiness; (ii) expanding access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; and (iii), promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to strengthen their readiness to expand and scale up their operations. Taken together, these efforts will increase the capacity, added value, performance, and diversification of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• In coordination with USAID, develop targeted messaging for the Activity to convey its impact and success in keeping with USAID guidelines and priorities to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a communications strategy for the Activity to highlight achievements and effectively communicate progress ensuring that the strategy is aligned with CNFA’s global approach.
• Execute the overall communications strategy (internally and externally).
• Manage the process of developing and delivering contractual deliverables including quarterly and annual reports.
• Maximize, to as great a degree as practically possible, the use of mobile and internet technologies in Activity communications as well as marketing and outreach strategies.
• Support the technical teams where applicable in developing SOWs for STTA to support the
• the identified needs of Activity partner/beneficiaries.
• Work alongside all Activity components and cross cutting team members in helping Activity beneficiaries better understand and market their services to their target audiences.
• Provide advice, and implement international best practice models, on how entrepreneurs and
• MSME service providers market and communicate with each other, their stakeholders and clients.
• Provide quality assurance related to informational content and product development including PPTs, fact sheets, case studies, success stories, brochures, profiles, and the preparation of talking points.
• Coordinate high-profile events, delegations, and field visits by U.S. government agencies, international organizations and donors, regional economic communities (RECs), embassies, and local partners and stakeholders.
• Take the lead in developing and maintaining the Activity website, as applicable.
• Develop social media content for platforms such as Twitter and Facebook that are managed by the USAID/Nigeria Communications Office and the CNFA Home Office Communications Department.
• Develop outreach materials including banners, brochures, reports and other forms of internal and external communications, and manage clearance processes.
• Follow communications protocols as agreed upon with USAID, the Chief of Party, and CNFA’s Corporate Communications team, including receiving approvals for outreach and deliverables.
• Represent the Activity (as needed) at events and meetings as required and liaise with relevant stakeholders, including institutional and private sector partners, to increase visibility and maximize coordination.
• Conduct interviews and capture quotes or stories as needed for reporting.
• Support programmatic events, trade shows, exhibitions and initiatives (e.g., conferences and other vents).
• Support communications with the USAID Mission and other USG agencies regarding Activity implementation, knowledge management, and information dissemination.
• Ensure program materials are branded correctly and consistently in keeping with USAID standards and branding guidelines.
• Maintain an up to date and comprehensive Activity ‘Master Contact Database’ that can be searched by component, institution, geography, or name.
• Manage the Marketing and Knowledge Management Officer.
• Collaborate with technical staff on integrated Activity plans and reporting requirements.
• Assist with the building of the capacity of Activity staff to develop reporting and promotional content from project activities; support staff with templates and reporting guidelines as needed.
• Perform other duties as requested by the COP or DCOP as needed.

Qualifications:

• Must be legally allowed to work in Nigeria;
• University graduate with a degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (Masters preferred);
• 5 years of experience in similar work;
• Previous experience in marketing in the field of development;
• Prior USAID experience strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to unpack and communicate complex concepts simply with a range of
• stakeholders and sectors;
• Demonstrated experience in program and event management;
• Demonstrated experience in designing communications plans, developing and implementing knowledge management tools or systems, and developing content for social media platforms;
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Proficiency with Prezi, Visio or other graphic arts and desktop publishing software a plus;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player;
• Ability to travel to support project work;
• Ability to facilitate e-marketing and web-based technologies for professional purposes;
• Experience working collaboratively with institutional and private‐sector partners and stakeholders in Nigeria;
• Ability to work well in diverse teams but also productive working individually with minimum
• supervision;
• Well organized, strong analytical skills, creative thinker, innovative, demonstrated personal
• initiative, stress tolerance, integrity and ethics;
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; and
• The ability to produce various informational products under tight deadlines. 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Position Description

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will work closely with and report to the Chief of Party (COP) to provide technical oversight for the Activity. The DCOP will directly oversee the four technical components of the Activity. Direct reports include the directors for each component as follows: Component 1 (Improving the Enabling Environment), Component 2 (Access to Finance), Component 3 (Facilitating Agribusiness Investment), and Component 4 (Agribusiness Performance Improvement).  The DCOP will also lead the development of the Activity’s annual work plans, annual and quarterly reports, and other requests that may come from either USAID or CNFA.  The DCOP is responsible for managing short- and long-term technical assistance (STTA), including the development of their scopes of work (SOWs) and ensuring the final reports are accurate, well-written, and meet expectations.  The DCOP, as requested by the COP, will also represent the Activity before a range of audiences and in a variety of platforms, at the national and state levels.  The DCOP will ensure all actions and interventions adhere to USAID and CNFA technical guidance and align with global best practices, including the training of staff as required.  Finally, the DCOP will also keep the COP regularly informed on all Activity matters, and assist the COP in meeting various technical, governmental, company, and USAID deliverables as requested.

Program Description

The FTF Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment focusing on the following five key value chains: rice, cowpea, soy, maize and aquaculture. The Activity seeks to viably and sustainably link thousands of MSMEs and producer organizations with high-performing commercial actors in the targeted value chain in 7 Nigerian states; namely, Benue, Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Delta, Ebonyi, and Cross River. The overall objective of the Activity is to measurably improve the agribusiness investment climate, which plays a pivotal role in attracting foreign direct and domestic investment, leading to food security and improved nutrition for all Nigerians.

To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: (i) improving the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth through legal and regulatory reform; (ii) broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; (iii) promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations; and (iv) sustainably enhancing the performance of agribusiness micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the U.S. and Nigerian governments’ commitment to growing the non-oil-based economy, these efforts will increase the depth, breadth, dynamism, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.

Beginning in December 2018 and closing in 2023, this $15.6 million project aims to upgrade and facilitate thousands of linkages between small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including producer organizations, and high-performing commercial actors in the target value chains.  As a result of streamlined regulations, more effective policies, improved production and processing practices, and significantly increased finance and investment flows, the Activity will increase the competitiveness and returns of both large and small sale agricultural enterprises. Employing a value chain approach, the Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to facilitate $100 million in new lending and $100 million in new investment.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Chief of Party to provide technical and managerial oversight for the Activity, including the development and implementation of the Activity’s annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports, and other requests that may come in from USAID and CNFA.
• Working closely with other senior managers to ensure that the Activity consistently employs the values of CNFA, ensures the highest ethical standards, emphasizes the importance of communication and team work, promotes collaboration with other donor-funded projects and activities, adheres to USAID and CNFA technical guidance, and directly contributes to the attainment of the Activity’s contractual deliverables;
• Managing the development, design, and implementation of all Component-led interventions, taking place in and outside of Abuja, including the seven focal states. This includes taking responsibility for STTA SoWs, supporting the recruitment and selection of STTA consultants, scheduling and mobilization, field implementation, and final acceptance of the work completed;
• Drafting, editing, and making material contributions to Activity documents, including but not limited to weekly snapshot reports, quarterly and PowerPoint presentations, annual reports, studies, papers, survey instruments, and other operational and MEL-related documentation;
• Maintaining rigorous focus on the achievement of the Activity’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs);   
• Managing the implementation and coordination of all events, technical forums, conferences, and roundtables;
• Effectively backstopping and supporting long- and short-term consultants;
• Representing the Activity and CNFA in meetings with the private and public sector stakeholders as requested by the COP;
• Other duties as assigned on an ad hoc basis by the COP.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree, or higher, in economics, business administration, public administration, agriculture, or a related field
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant, progressively responsible management experience;
• Demonstrated experience and a proven track record of implementing and/or managing activities focused on agricultural development
• A combination of technical familiarity and management skills that span the subject areas covered by the Activity; and in-depth experience in at least one of the major areas of project involvement (agricultural finance regulations, agricultural finance services, capacity building for agribusinesses)
• An in depth understanding of the public sector organizational and functional structure at the Federal and State levels
• A current professional network in the most relevant ministries and offices of Government at the Federal and State levels is an advantage 
• Demonstrated experience in the following areas:
• effectively backstopping and supporting long- and short-term consultants;
• ensuring efficiency across a wide variety of project activities involving economic growth, private sector development, women and youth empowerment, upskilling, business linkages, and job creation; and
• maintaining rigorous focus on project indicators, results, and more generally supporting the M&E and communications functions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is required, knowledge of local languages is an advantage.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Program Description

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its strategic partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria has awarded a five-year contract to CNFA to implement the Nigeria Agribusiness Activity, from 17th December, 2018 to 17th December, 2023. The Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity aims to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment. To achieve this goal, the Activity focuses on four interrelated components: (i) improving the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth; (ii) broadening access to finance by mitigating the credit risks of agribusinesses; (iii) promoting and facilitating investment opportunities for agribusinesses to expand and scale up operations; and (iv) sustainably enhancing the performance of agribusiness micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs). In line with the U.S. and Nigerian governments’ commitment to growing the non-oil-based economy, these efforts will increase the quality, quantity, market access, and diversification of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. The Activity focuses on five value chains (Maize, Soya, Rice, Cowpea, and Aquaculture) in seven states (Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger). 

The Component 1 of the Activity is saddled with the responsibility of addressing regulatory burdens faced by agribusinesses – whether producers, aggregators, processors, or other actors in the value chains is constraining their productivity, profitability, and growth. The Activity seeks to implement reforms to improve Nigeria’s agricultural and agribusiness enabling environment at the state and federal levels. The goals include but not limited to making relevant regulations less cumbersome, lowering the cost of compliance; reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to promote more exports and import substitution; addressing infrastructure; improving the process and security of land ownership; minimizing the time it takes to perform statutory business functions; and limiting the scope for bureaucratic discretion. The Activity also works to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the policy reform process, including building capacity in monitoring policy impact, conducting policy analyses, and institutionalizing public-private sector dialogue (PPD) forums. One such intervention is helping states and other federal ministries and agencies to review their agricultural policies (gender and youth as the case may be) to be more effective in realizing the huge potential agribusiness has in contributing to state level job creation, trade, taxes, inclusion, health, nutrition, competitiveness, and import substitution

Position Description

Agribusiness Investment Activity is calling on experts and specialists in the field of policy development, reform, and advocacy to submit their CVs (along with a cover letter) for inclusion in its data base. Consulting with stakeholders and organizing formal, mixed public-private review bodies has helped to identify the barriers and inefficiencies in the business environment process and any remaining regulatory bottlenecks. From the PPDs conducted in Cross River, Ebonyi and Kebbi States, there were some ‘’low hanging fruits’’ in the areas of policies and policy advocacy that needed to be quickly addressed and included the following:

·         Absence of a well-documented Agricultural Policy;

·         The high cost of inputs (specifically on fish feeds);

·         Multiple taxation;

·         Land availability and accessibility;

·         Contract Enforcement;

·         Gender and Youth development.

Some of the bottlenecks identified are as a result of implementation problems which included corruption, lack of continuity in government policies, inadequate human and material resources, all of which often led to implementation gaps. Most services are regulated, in some way, by official or unofficial policies. Sometimes, it is necessary to change those policies with the support of critical stakeholders to make sure that programs and services are accomplishing what they are supposed to. Thus the Activity is looking for qualified, committed and passionate candidates to support its policy reform and advocacy efforts, engage with private sector stakeholders, and make concrete recommendations to improve the enabling environment for agribusinesses in our targeted states and value chains. The Activity expects to award several short-term contracts to such experts in the field of agribusiness policy, legal, and regulatory development, assessments, advocacy, and ultimately reform over the next four years. The experts shall have demonstrated experience in policy review and development, policy advocacy and regulatory reform. Selected candidates will be short listed and contacted as opportunities arise. The overall objective is to place qualified individual consultants in a roster, in order to expedite the contracting process for various consultancy assignments under the Activity’s Policy Component. At the end of each assignment, the consultant will submit a well-structured and persuasive report on the recommended policy changes. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify constraints in the policy (including legal and regulatory) framework and actions to address constraints that are realistic and actionable, including quick qins, by meeting with private and public sector stakeholders, and prioritizing policy reforms at both the national and sub-national levels that are both aligned with our Activity and are realistically addressable given the Activity’s time and financial resource constraints;
• Analyze existing policies (national and sub-national), in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders, and draft concrete and implementable reform recommendations, and possible solutions on how these constraints can be resolved or at least lessened;
• Interview public and private sector stakeholders regarding the impact of agribusiness policies and their subsequent implementation
• Support the activities of voluntary change champions and members of policy reform coalitions on consultative processes amongst themselves and with government (PPDs) to foster needed policy reviews and reforms;
• Participate in other policy reform related plans or interventions as may be directed by the COP or his designee.
• Illustrative deliverables include: implementation plans on how to approach, attract, organize, and motivate relevant stakeholders to engage in advocacy efforts related to improving the agribusiness enabling environment; concept notes for new policies for consideration by the relevant government agency; implementation plans regarding current policies that identify prioritized actions regarding policy reform

Qualifications:

• University graduate in social sciences, agricultural economics, economics, law or a related field (Masters preferred)
• 7+ years of relevant policy reform and/or agribusiness work experience in Nigeria
• Work experience with USAID and/or other donor-funded projects is strongly preferred
• Experience working collaboratively with institutional and private‐sector partners and stakeholders in Nigeria, preferably on government policy matters
• Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural value chains and an understanding of the agribusiness enabling environment
• Excellent analytical, written and oral communications skills in English is a top priority
• Ability to work well in diverse teams but also able to work productively as an individual with minimum supervision
• Well organized, strong analytical skills, creative thinker, innovative, demonstrated personal initiative, with unquestionable integrity and ethics
• Ability to communicate in other Nigerian languages is a plus
• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines
• A relevant network of policy related influencers and decision makers in Nigeria is a plus
• Evidence of past performance in all of the above will also be an added advantage

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.