Regional Safety & Security Manager

Position Description:

The West African Regional Safety & Security Manager will support CNFA’s West African Portfolio.  The Regional Safety & Security Manager (RSSM) will be responsible for making regular assessments of the risks, threats and other vulnerabilities affecting CNFA’s staff and assets in West Africa with a primary focus on higher risk countries within the region. The RSSM will report directly to the Senior Director, Global Security located in Washington, DC.  

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor and provide analysis of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks in West Africa where CNFA staff and assets are located and report findings to Senior Director, Global Security, and affected Chief of Parties (COPs) and Security Focal Points (SFPs). Work as a team to develop and implement strategies to mitigate risk and accomplish project activities.
• Develop networks and liaise with national and regional security actors (United Nations system, the U.S. Embassies, the European Union Representation, USAID security offices and/or Partner Liaison Security Offices (PLSOs), other implementing partners and NGOs) to gather and share information related to security issues that may impact CNFA operations. Provide summarized readouts of issues to Senior Director, Global Security.
• Develop networks with host nation security professionals (police, military, etc.) and local government officials.
• Coordinate with CNFA’s Senior Director, Global Security and project leadership to arrange procurements for safety and security related support. (assessments, security details and other risk management initiatives).
• Work with SFPs to prepare and maintain security briefings for guests, consultants and/or visitors and provide direct support in the training/mentoring SFPs.
• Accomplish assigned security/safety related tasks from Senior Director, Global Security in timely manner.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• At least seven years of relevant, professional experience (military, police or NGO security) in roles with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is preferred; alternatively, senior military, police or non-governmental security experience with at least 15 years of experience.
• Ability to work independently, highly motivated, and ability to use initiative to accomplish security/safety related tasks with minimal guidance.
• Experience supporting donor-funded projects is preferred.
• Experience in security management principles and providing training to staff.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex tasks independently.
• Strong leadership and communication (interpersonal, verbal and written) skills.
• Experience in conducting security risk assessments and physical security assessments (office locations, hotels, residents, warehouses, etc.).
• Experience in liaising with civilian, police and military government authorities, as well as with regional, national and international institutions.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time in a one-year period.
• During crisis situations, take part in the Local Incident Management Team response.
• Willingness to work and travel in often difficult and insecure environments.
• Competency with Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other database/mapping systems.
• West African Citizen is preferred for this position.
• Able to write and speak English and French fluently is required.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against individuals 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. This is an immediate opening and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Position Summary

CNFA is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for a Deputy Chief of Party/Program Director position to support a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program West Africa region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria). The program aims to improve agricultural production and expand trade of agricultural products in developing countries through the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities.

The Deputy Chief of Party/Program Director will directly supervise the Production and Trade Facilitation Director, the Integrated Data Management Director, the Policy Reforms Director and the MEL Director.

Key Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working in agriculture value chain (i.e. trade, production, market linkages) is required.
• Experience of working within the food or agricultural private sector, in Public Private Partnerships, is strongly preferred;
• Experience providing technical oversight and leadership to facilitate expanded trade and competitiveness of agricultural value chains preferred;
• Experience overseeing value chain development or market systems development approach to improve a sectors market access and development;
• Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain positive, collaborative, and productive relationships with government and other local partners is required;
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating technical and support team’s efforts toward effective and timely implementation of program activities.
• Supervise monitoring and evaluation framework and data collection and analysis systems to ensure accurate reporting on all project indicators.
• A Master’s degree in agriculture, management, international development, or a related field of study or equivalent work experience required. 
• Successful experience managing Food for Progress programs is strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated experience working in Ag value chain production and marketing (i.e. trade, production, market linkages) or related sector is required. Preference is made for the Cashew Value Chain.
• Experience of working within the food or agricultural private sector, in Public Private Partnerships, is strongly preferred;
• Experience providing technical oversight and leadership to facilitate expanded trade and competitiveness of agricultural value chains preferred;
• Experience overseeing value chain development or market systems development approach to improve a sectors market access and development;
• Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain positive, collaborative, and productive relationships with government and other local partners is required;
• Demonstrated experience serving as ambassador for home office, establishing and nurturing strong relationships with donor representatives and expanding business required;
• While the position is for a local expert, experience working in other West Africa countries such as Benin, Ghana and Nigeria is preferred;
• 10 years in Value Chain development, and a minimum of 5 years in a project management position, managing activities, team, budget, and results;
• English fluency required; knowledge of French strongly preferred. 

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.

Project background:

CNFA is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program West Africa region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria). The FFPr program aims to improve agricultural production and expand trade of agricultural products in developing countries through the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities. The anticipated project will be a five-year project which aims to build the competitiveness of the West African cashew industry resulting in increased direct trade with the region. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Design monitoring and evaluation framework and data collection and analysis systems to ensure accurate reporting on all project indicators
• Track and analyze project indicators and capture best practices and lessons learned to incorporate into project activities
• Coordinate and lead baseline evaluation for all indicators
• Lead and support the project evaluations, as needed
• Coordinate with other M&E teams on donor-funded projects to share results, best practices and lessons learned
• Perform other duties as needed

Key Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in international development, statistics, economics, or another related field required.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience managing the monitoring and evaluation component of a USDA or other donor-funded project required.
• A Minimum of 2+ years of staff management and supervision experience preferred.
• Familiarity with USG M&E processes required; familiarity with USDA’s M&E policy, results framework, and indicators preferred.
• Fluency in English required, proficiency in French language preferred.

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.

Project background:

CNFA is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for Director of Finance & Administration supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program in West Africa region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria). The FFPr program aims to improve agricultural production and expand trade of agricultural products in developing countries through the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities. The anticipated project will be a five-year project which aims to build the competitiveness of the West African cashew industry resulting in increased direct trade with the region. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide sound financial and administrative oversight to the project
• Supervise finance and administrative teams, including accounting, procurement, and other admin functions, as assigned
• Develop, manage, and monitor project budgets
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports in coordination with senior project staff
• Ensure that project operations are in compliance with all USDA and CNFA policies and 0procedures
• Create, maintain, and implement financial reporting, tracking systems and controlling procedures
• Oversee processing of approvals for procurements, consultant agreements, and vendor invoices
• Support the development, execution, and management of subcontractor and consultant agreements
• Perform other duties as required

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field required, Master’s degree preferred
• At least eight (8) years of working experience including managing financial and contractual aspects of large international development projects, preferably USDA-funded projects required
• At least five (5) years managing and supervising financial, administration and procurement staff required
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with US Government Cost Accounting Standards, and a good knowledge of Federal rules and regulations.  USDA experience preferred.
• Fluency in English required, and knowledge of a French preferred.

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.