Reporting to: Regional Director
Introduction
Le Centre international de développement des engrais (IFDC) est une organisation internationale publique (OIP) dirigée par un conseil d’administration international où sont représentés des pays développés et en développement. En tant que centre à but non lucratif, l’IFDC se concentre sur l’augmentation et le maintien de la productivité et des revenus alimentaires et agricoles dans les pays en développement par le développement et le transfert de technologies efficaces et respectueuses de l’environnement en matière de nutriments culturaux et d’expertise agroalimentaire. L’IFDC a deux régions en Afrique : L’Afrique du Nord et de l’Ouest et l’Afrique de l’Est et du Sud. La région Afrique du Nord et de l’Ouest (ANO) de l’IFDC opère à partir de huit (8) bureaux nationaux, à savoir le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Ghana, le Mali, le Niger, le Nigeria et le Sénégal, le siège régional étant basé à Accra, au Ghana. Les bureaux nationaux sont actuellement gérés par des directeurs nationaux qui rendent compte directement au directeur régional.
In view of this, IFDC North & West Africa (NWA) seeks to recruit a Country Director for the Benin office to help improve operationalization and management effectiveness and thereby attracting more funding opportunities to propel IFDC’s vision and mission in-country. Thus, as a Country Director, you are expected to lead the country teams to improve IFDC’s operational efficiency, resource mobilization drive, partnerships creation, and project impacts by working closely with the Regional Director, the NBD Unit, and the Research Team.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Country Director is expected to perform the following roles and responsibilities and to achieve the deliverables therein:
Project Support Roles
- As needed, support IFDC regional projects and programs in soil fertility and agronomy to ensure effective and environmentally sound scaling up of productivity enhancing technologies
- Keep up with up-to-date developments in soil science and related areas as well as environmental issues that may impact project work and integrate them in soil fertility implementation in West Africa
- Support in defining project scope, goals, and deliverables that support business goals and strategic vision
- Identify issues and risks related to activity implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments
- Provide guidance and monitoring for project staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities, and encouraging effective teamwork
- Manage and oversee the development of the project from initiation to completion
- Forge synergies between projects within IFDC and when needed, develop collaboration with resource persons within IFDC to ensure effective and optimal implementation of Integrated Soil Fertility Management in West Africa
New Business Development
- Maintain internal, external as well as donor relationships
- Support in identifying the unmet needs of stakeholders (e.g. donors, government and important beneficiaries) including all necessary information required to make a proposal competitive
- As an active member of the regional business development unit, the CD will be expected to engage partners and donors to identify and pursur new business development opportunities in country
- Work closely with the IFDC New Business Development (NBD) team and contribute to development of funding proposals and concept notes
Country Representation
The Country Director of IFDC is the first point of contact of IFDC in-country and will have the following additional responsibilities:
- Oversee all IFDC’s activities in-country by providing the needed leadership and thereby championing IFDC’s vision and mission in-country
- Develop, nurture and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders especially, the donors, government representatives and agencies, and project/program teams
- Attend regular project management meetings with in-country project teams
- Support the communications strategy of all project/programs
- Review all in-country Public Relations materials and collaborate with the Global Corporate Communication Manager
- Oversee the National Finance and Administrative Officer’s work to ensure sound management of all relevant donor accounts in-country
- Ensure compliance with local labour laws and IFDC policies and procedures
- Perform other related tasks as assigned by Supervisor
Application Procedure:
Qualified and interested professionals are encouraged to send an application including a CV, a covering letter that address suitability of the candidate to the position, and names and addresses of three professional referees.
Closing Date for Application: November 30, 2022
Required Experience
Required Skills and Experience
The candidate should have an advanced university degree, preferably in agribusiness, agricultural economics, development economics, soil science or agronomy.
Core competencies
- At least 10 years of relevant work experience in agricultural research and rural development in West Africa in a multi-stakeholder environment
- Proven business development planning, implementation and reporting at national and regional levels in West Africa
- Track record in resource mobilization
- Ability to perform under pressure with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced multi-cultural environment and deliver quality outputs
- Proven analytical, quantitative and qualitative research skills
- Proven team management skills that promote synergies between project staff, stakeholders and activities
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal and communication skills in English and French is required
- Fluency in English and French is an advantage
