Project Officer (Consultancy) - ACReSAL Project

About the role

IITA, on behalf of ICRISAT, is seeking a consultant to act as Project Officer for the ACReSAL project. The role supports the project's Principal Investigator in planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and reporting activities across assigned states, communities and locations, covering climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, agroecology, conservation agriculture, soil health, improved crop varieties, seed systems and value chains. The consultancy is expected to last six months and is based in Kano, Nigeria.

Key responsibilities

• Support the Project PI in developing workplans, activity schedules and strategies, and coordinate day-to-day activities across states and communities
• Provide technical and operational support for interventions such as demonstration plots, training plots, nurseries and field days
• Support field assessments, surveys, FGDs, KIIs and stakeholder consultations with government, research and extension bodies, communities, farmer groups, NGOs, seed enterprises and private-sector actors
• Facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing, including Training of Trainers, farmer trainings and agricultural shows
• Support value chain and seed system activities, including NTFP prioritization and engagement with seed companies
• Monitor implementation, collect and maintain project data and documentation, and prepare progress updates and reports
• Ensure compliance with approved workplans, budgets, policies and safeguard requirements

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, agronomy, crop science, forestry, agroforestry, natural resource management, environmental science, agricultural extension or a closely related field; a Master's degree with at least 2 years' experience is desirable
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in agricultural development, climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, seed systems or natural resource management
• Experience coordinating multi-location agricultural or rural development projects and working with farmers, communities, government agencies and development partners
• Good understanding of agricultural systems and rural development challenges in Northern Nigeria
• Willingness to travel as required

Required skills

• Field surveys, FGDs, KIIs and stakeholder consultations (an advantage)
• Knowledge of climate-smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and/or seed systems (highly desirable)
• Organizing farmer trainings, ToTs and field demonstrations (an advantage)
• Project monitoring, data collection and technical report writing
• Excellent verbal and written communication

To apply, submit a CV, a two-page technical statement and a financial proposal electronically through the IITA application portal within one week of publication; the closing date is 10 November 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.