Value Chain Development Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas\: sustainable increase in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crisis. The current portfolio of projects in Nigeria includes activities related to agriculture (crop), livestock, Fisheries, Natural Resource management and Food Security Information Management and Analysis.
The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the project he/she will be assigned to provide technical support.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall responsibility and supervision of the FAO Representative in Nigeria (FAOR), the AAD International Coordinator and the day-to-day supervision of the National Coordinator, the Consultant's main tasks will ensure the effective and efficient day to day assistance and implementation of monitoring activities including planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting. More specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks\:

Technical Focus

The Natural Resources/Environmental Specialist will play a pivotal role in the ACReSAL project aiming to provide technical assistance to the Nigerian government in the restoration of 350,000 degraded land in the nineteen (19) northern states. The specialist will oversee and guide project activities, assessments, capacity building, and policy alignment, while ensuring successful collaboration with stakeholders and contributing to knowledge sharing.

Tasks and responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Team Leader, prepare and present a communication on the contribution of wild foods and forests to healthy diets, and nutrition for the most vulnerable, as well as on bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture, based on AAD/GGW publications (socio-economic baselines) and published materials on northern Nigeria.
• Prepare and deliver appropriate learning needs and tools for the target audience and provide on-demand technical and advisory support requested by ACReSAL for the development, implementation and reporting on project activities.
• Review all the task and activities contained in the project document and produce a comprehensive matrix to clearly indicate the training needs and modules for the promotion of NTFP’s and reporting modalities.
• Carry out a comprehensive base line assessment on NTFP’s.
• Facilitate trainings at community level to explain in depth the restoration process from both a technical (development of proposals of sub-projects on landscape restoration investments and of NTFP value chain strengthening) and organizational standpoint.
• Train the communities on how to establish the NTFP nursery and to oversee and participate in all steps of the restoration.
• Technical Lead to produce handouts and reports on strengthening ACReSAL/country capacities to enable forest-base contributions to healthy and sustainable agrifood systems in Nigeria and backstopping as required.
• Oversee assessments on capturing consumption of wild/forest foods in dietary and on a global methodology for assessing ecological sustainability of NTFP harvest and production in ACReSAL States and capacity strengthening for improved data on NTFPs.
• Provide technical guidance/guidelines for ACReSAL project on wild food/NTFP in collaboration with implementing States and national partners.
• Participate in Technical Meetings Workshops related to the project and or other Environment projects in the representation.
• Support the Representation in any other technical area as delegated by the FAOR.
• Preparation and submission of all progress reports linked to the deliverables.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Environmental studies or other related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in Forestry/Community mobilization
• Working knowledge of English and any main Nigerian language (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin).
• National of Nigeria.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong stakeholder engagement and fieldwork skills.
• Previous experience in Nigerian coastal areas, specifically in mangrove ecosystems.
• Familiarity with international donors' projects is preferred.
• Proficient computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet).
• Fluent in English and intermediate proficiency in any main Nigerian language (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin).

Selection Criteria

• Extensive and relevant experience in data analysis to support Biodiversity and Climate Research,
• Experience in facilitating workshops, and training courses in improvement of knowledge and returns for climate smart traditional crops (e.g., millet, sorghum, cowpeas, etc) often planted between the restored rows,
• Excellent skill on training to enhance the effectiveness and equity in the distribution of NTFP value chain benefits

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION