Header

Regional Agriculture Specialist Columbia Global Centers|Africa Nairobi, Kenya

Columbia Global Centers|Africa is part of Columbia University’s global network of centers, which together aim to create opportunities in research, scholarship and teaching around the world, and expand Columbia’s mission as a global university.

The Columbia Global Center (CGC) for Africa hosts The MDG (Millennium Development Goal) Center for East and Southern Africa. The MDG Center is supporting the implementation of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in six core countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) and a number of other countries. The Millennium Villages Project employs a community based integrated development approach to help lift rural communities out of the poverty trap that afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. The Centre also focuses on policy support at the national level and provides advocacy services to the MVP with an intention of scaling up MDG related activities to district and national levels in order to achieve the MDGs by 2015 and end extreme poverty by 2025. The CGC also support other agricultural projects of Columbia University in the region. One such project is the Rapid Soil Development Project conducted in the region by Tropical Agriculture of the Earth Institute of Columbia University. There will be other regional agricultural projects in future.
The position

The Columbia Global Centers|Africa is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Regional Agriculture Specialist to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya working in East and Southern Africa and reporting directly to the CGC-Africa Director.

Duties and responsibilities:

In the framework of the Millennium Villages Projects and the Rapid Soil Development Project, the incumbent will advise on agricultural strategies, innovations and policies specified in the description below:
1. Advise governments on the design and implementation of agricultural productivity improvement programmes, including the Millennium Villages Project, Rapid Soil Development Project and any other agricultural activity of The MDG Centre and The Columbia Global Centers|Africa
2. Assist governments in mobilizing additional domestic and international resources in support of these programmes and their policies for agriculture development
3. Facilitate high-level policy dialogue among national policy makers and development partners to advocate and support action for the Rapid Soil Development Project and other Columbia Global Center’s agriculture projects for The Africa Green Revolution (AGR)
4. Synthesize relevant lessons from MVP and other programs to identify and document best practices and guidelines for wide adaptation and adoption in Africa
5. Develop and nurture strategic partnerships and NGOs and other institutions that can contribute effectively to these agriculture projects
6. Collaborate with national, regional and international research centers with an emphasis on exchanging information and the best available technology for improving subsistence farmer livelihoods
7. Actively promote green agriculture, while balancing the practical requirements to improve yields through the use of improved seeds, fertilizer and irrigation
8. In collaboration with Ministries of Agriculture and NGOs, prepare and provide training/training material in agriculture technologies and extension systems.
9. Implement other assignments provided by the Director

Minimum qualification and experience required for this position:
• Post-graduate qualification (MS/MA or PhD) in agriculture soil sciences or related field;
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in agriculture extension/research and/or policy;
• Work experience in more than one of the core countries;
• Success in working in cross-sectoral and multi-cultural teams;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Creative and dynamic leader and team player.

The CGC-Africa is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package, and a collegial working environment. The contract is for an initial period of one (1) year, renewable subject to a three (3) months probation period, assessment of performance, and availability of resources. The CGC Africa offers a gender-aware working environment and qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the position against the listed qualifications/competencies/skills and a detailed curriculum vitae, with names and addresses of three referees (including telephone and email addresses). Applicants should indicate “Application for the Regional Agriculture Specialist” in their applications letters and in the subject line of email submissions. All correspondence should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager, CGC-Africa, PO Box 51412, Nairobi-00100, Kenya or via email to recruitment@cgcafrica.org. Applications will be considered until 20th September 2012 or until a suitable candidate is identified and selected.

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

www.mdgcentre.org
www.globalcenters.columbia.edu
www.millenniumvillages.org