Rice Policy Advisor at GIZ Nigeria

Background
GIZ. Solutions that work:

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. In 2019, we generated a business volume of around EUR 3.1 billion. Our 22,199 employees, almost 70 per cent of whom are national staff, work in around 120 countries. As a recognised development service provider, we currently have 556 development workers in action in partner countries.
• Furthermore, in 2019, the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), which is run jointly by GIZ and the German Federal Employment Agency, placed 262 integrated experts and 515 returning experts with local employers in our partner countries, or provided them with financial support, advice or other services. Personnel and business figures as at 31 December 2019.

The Project

• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established in 1975 with the purpose of promoting regional cooperation and economic integration in West Africa. Today, ECOWAS provides and important forum for cooperation among its member states with the ECOWAS Commission playing a driving role in West African regional integration.
• GIZ supports the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and specially the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development for the implementation of the Regional Offensive for sustainable and sustained recovery of rice production in West Africa.
• On behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and with a co-funding of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the MOVE - Competitive African Rice Initiative – CARI project.
• To support the ECOWAS and the MOVE with regards to sharing experience and improving policy framework for rice value chain, GIZ will recruit or second one professional for the position of Regional Rice Policy Advisor. The duty station is Abuja. The advisor will partly work at the ECOWAS Commission (Directorate of Agriculture & Rural Development) and partly in the GIZ-MOVE office to ensure optimal support and link between the two organizations.

Responsibilities and Tasks
The Advisor is responsible for:

• Managing GIZ support to the ECOWAS Commission in the area of regional economic integration and trade and the support of the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and specially the Directorate of Agriculture for the implementation of the Rice Offensive for sustainable and sustained recovery of rice production in West Africa Programme and its Action Plan 2020 -2025.
• Assisting programme initiatives such as the ECOWAS Rice Observatory to provide professional advisory services to and cooperate with a broad range of target groups
• Innovation and knowledge management

These duties are complex, and their implementation requires sound experience and careful coordination.

Tasks Related to Operations:
In collaboration with the ECOWAS Directorate of Agriculture & Rural Development and the members of the MOVE team, the expert translates the responsibilities above autonomously and efficiently into action in line with planned targets. These comprise the following:

• The advisor Assists and monitors the development and implementation of programme plans and activities such as in the ECOWAS Rice Offensive and the Regional Action Plan in close consultation with counterparts (MOVE, ERO and DARD)
• Deals with the design, preparation and implementation of workshops, seminars and other events on issues connected with the programme’s area of activity.
• Develops and organizes quality assurance measures and suggests necessary changes, improvements and initiatives, as well as other relevant initiatives in West Africa.

Knowledge Management - The Advisor:

• Promotes the exchange of project experiences with other actors of the African rice value chain, in particular ECOWAS Member States, ERO, AfricaRice, CARD, IRRI, etc.
• Ensures knowledge transfer, e.g. through regular meetings, learning events, policy briefs, etc. with the programme and with all relevant partners
• Develops ready-to-use strategies and technical concepts, including guidelines, manuals, and procedures
• Draws up reports and presentation document
• Prepares appropriate input for various programme reports, e.g. ECOWAS DARD quarterly implementation reports, and contributes to other reports as requested
• Assists with research activities and studies through developing terms of references and assurance of quality of implementation

Networking and Cooperation: The Advisor:

• Works closely with the ECOWAS Rice Observatory, and other sector support programmes of GIZ
• Supports cooperation, regular contact and dialogue with partners, assists with PR work and cooperates with relevant organizations and individuals in the programme environment and with other projects to improve and maintain good working relationships
• Communicates national interests and efforts, forwards these and encourages sharing ideas and information for the benefit of the programme
• Links with other support programmes sponsored by other donors in the effort to harmonize end synergize efforts

Coordination and other Tasks: The Advisor:

• Assists with general project planning and develops project concepts including preparation, organization and moderation of planning exercises and their implementation, management, monitoring, quality management, evaluation, communication, and documentation.
• Assists in the preparation and follow-up the development of Terms of Reference for various consultants and contractors
• Compiles the relevant information for joint activities and assignments
• Handles day-to-day programme management on behalf of GIZ (e.g. offer preparation, impact monitoring, project progress review, reporting)
• Provides feedback to supervisors regarding key and emerging issues which will require the attention of ECOWAS and MOVE
• Provides regular updates on the progress of activities
• Carries out other related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications, Competences and Experience
Qualification:

• A Post-graduate University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration or related fields.
• A First-level University Degree in Agriculture Economics, Agronomy or other related disciplines in combination with ten (10) years on the job experience in policy and regional integration specially in the ECOWAS region may be accepted in lieu of the post graduate university degree.
• Strong background in regional economic and trade integration. Professional experience
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS region and already established contacts to relevant actors are regarded as assets
• Knowledge of agricultural value chain development regarded as assets. Specific knowledge of the rice value chain is considered an asset.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences:

• Capacity for analysis and constructive evaluation combined with the ability to translate evaluation findings on deficiencies in optimization of implementation
• Presentation techniques and concepts for the marketing of project achievements
• Very good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)
• Clear and diplomatic communication (oral and written)
• Ability to communicate adequately with interdisciplinary / multi-institutional teams (units / research organizations, NGOs and governmental agencies, farmers, their organizations and donors).
• Team worker and constructive attitude in case of difficulties or conflicts
• Capacity of reflection of own work and willingness to learn
• Developed attitude and awareness of service delivery
• Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed.
• Fluency in English or French
• Knowledge of French or English is a great asset.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4 Closing Date of advert