Agronomy / Agribusiness - SNV Ghana

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts.

SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence

SNV is aiming for structural change and scale in its programmes in the agriculture, energy, and WASH sectors, as well as bringing knowledge and initiatives from different programmes together at the country level to contribute to systems change. SNV has gained relevant track-record in innovative financing through facilities like the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), the Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) fund and other facilities (global, regional and country-level) where SNV is involved in the provision of early-stage grants, results-based financing and technical assistance to catalyse private sector investment.

This is based on the urgent need for private-sector financial resources, know-how and capabilities to complement public sector finance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

Engagement with the private sector towards development outcomes occur in two major ways:

1) engaging, primarily companies around their business activities to facilitate delivery of economic, social and environmental outcomes; and

2) mobilising private capital for development purposes, to complement public financing.

For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org

Job Description

• Position: Advisor – Agronomy/Agribusiness
• Duty Station; Sefwi Essam, Bia West District (Western North Region), Ghana
• Contract Duration: One year (renewable based on performance)
• Project: Collaborative Learning Climate Smart Cocoa

Project Description:

Collaborative Learning for Climate Smart Cocoa (CLCSC) The Collaborative Learning for Climate Smart Cocoa (CLCSC) project is a partnership between CIFOR, SNV, ICRAF, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Forestry Commission. It will assist ongoing CSC input and service delivery initiatives – and contribute to the Government of Ghana’s climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies - by using a Collaborative Learning Platform (CLP) development approach to help resolve the barriers to smallholder CSC adoption.

This approach is built on principles of collaborative learning and shared value to formalize a space for learning and adaptive management between science, policy and planning spheres. The CLPs will be established in ten Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in the two priority districts of Ghana Cocoa-Forest REDD+ program (GCFRP), Juabeso and Bia West. The CLCSC Project currently seeks a suitably qualified person for the position of Advisor Agronomy & Agribusiness.

The main duties for the position includes: assist in management and coordination of field activities including capacity building in climate smart cocoa practices, promoting sustainable community land use practices; support implementation of project monitoring and evaluation framework, ensure high quality and timely reporting; ensure project visibility in line with SNV and donor standards; and provide ground level.  administrative support to project implementation:

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Support the establishment of demonstration sites for climate smart practices including smallholder cocoa agroforestry systems, community-based land use planning, and other sustainable intensification measures etc;
• Assist in relevant baseline studies, smallholder adoption behaviour mapping, and improvement of enabling environment for climate smart agriculture practices among smallholder cocoa farmers.
• Support the implementation of enhanced models to facilitate access to farm management services and inputs schemes to smallholders.
• Support the development and delivery of capacity building programmes aimed at promoting climate smart cocoa practices among beneficiary smallholder farmers.
• Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of adoption of climate smart practices among target smallholders.
• Assist in making logistical arrangements and coordinate all resources required for activities, e.g., Meetings, trainings, workshops, consultants, field surveys, etc.
• Provide ground level administrative support to project team and overall project implementation:

Required Skills or Experience

• A university degree in Agriculture, Natural Sciences, Natural Resource management, or Development Studies.
• At least three (3) years of demonstrated experience in community engagement in cocoa landscape, preferably within the NGO sector.
• Have good communication and interpersonal skills and able to engage with traditional leaders and other stakeholders.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Twi with excellent reporting writing skills.
• Maintain good appearance and professionalism.
• Has the ability to manage pressure and conflicting demands; and prioritize tasks and workload to deliver effectively.
• Good sense of duty, able to work with minimum supervision and willingness to undertake additional task when needed.

How To Apply

Application Guidelines:

• Interested applicants are kindly requested to upload their applications in English in the form of a one-page letter and current CV outlining experience, qualifications and three reference not later than January 14, 2022 to https://smrtr.io/7B28b
• Only those applicants whose work experience and education meet the mandatory requisites below will be considered for the position.

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.