The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a Public International Organization governed by an international board of directors with representation from developed and developing nations. The non-profit center focuses on increasing and sustaining food and agricultural productivity in developing countries through the development and transfer of effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness expertise. IFDC is recruiting staff for the Promotion of Nutrition-Sensitive Potato Value Chains in East Africa (PNSP-UGANDA) project, a five year intervention that will realize productivity and associated income increases of smallholder potato farmers in Eastern Uganda and simultaneously improve nutrition through dietary diversification.

OVERVIEW

Based in Mbale, the Agriculture and Sector Coordination Expert will support coordination between various actors in the potato value chain both at a regional level. Through the Farmer Field Business School approach, he/she will implement and provide quality control for the training program in Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), Farming as a Business (FaaB), potato seed multiplication and storage, screen house production systems etc.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure effective coordination between IFDC and partners working in the potato sector.
• Provide support to the sector coordination component of the project through the development of the eastern regional potato platform to link into the national potato platform.
• Conduct quality training-of-trainers as well as direct farmer training to Farmer Field Business Schools on potato production, seed potato systems, postharvest handling, storage, and marketing through the Farmer Field Business School approach.
• Work with and monitor screenhouse owners, seed multipliers, and seed inspectors tasked with the development of  seed potato in the area to ensure that targets both in terms of volumes of materials to be produced and agreed timelines are met.
• Establish partnerships with key support services for potato production including agro-inputs, irrigation, and financial institutions
• Work with partners and facilitators to assure accurate data collection and reporting in line with the IFDC MIS system
• Identify production, storage and marketing constraints or bottlenecks and develop means/strategies to address them in line with the project instruments such as the local-subsidy agreement and subcontracts

SUBMISSION

Interested candidates should apply online. Complete position description and application procedures can be found at https://ifdc-hr.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm

Deadline for submission is 18^th September, 2020

Required Skills

• University degree in agronomy or agricultural economics
• At least 7 years of professional experience in implementing agricultural projects including leadership experience
• Proficient knowledge in English is required (at least C1- level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
• Knowledge of local languages (e.g. Lumasaba/Lugishu/Kupsabiny) is preferential

Required Experience

• Work experience on the potato value chain and development of platforms is required
• Experience in training on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), Farming as a Business (FaaB), Climate Smart Agriculture and Marketing.
• Experience in development of potato seed multiplication and storage systems, screen house production systems etc. an added advantage