Programme Officer - Agronomist

About Rikolto

Rikolto in East Africa is part of the Rikolto network, an international NGO with more than 40 years of experience working with farmer organizations and food chain actors in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Rikolto's mission is to contribute to the development of a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural sector, with family farmers supplying quality products for their own consumption and for various markets (national, regional, and international). In its programme in Tanzania, Rikolto is currently implementing a food systems programme in 8 regions of the Northern and Southern Highlands of Tanzania, mainly through 3 programmes focusing on transforming urban food systems (Good Food for Cities), sustainable rice production, and living income through cocoa/coffee programmes.

About the Project

Rikolto in Tanzania has recently secured funding from the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement two projects aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing economic empowerment. The first project, Vijana Kilimo Biashara (VKB), focuses on increasing food productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and developing a high-value market system. This initiative targets youth engagement in agriculture and seeks to strengthen food security by creating better linkages between producers and markets in Tanzania. The second project, A Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE), is designed to advance economic opportunities for rural women. It will focus on value chains for sorghum and sunflower production, with particular emphasis on the regions of Singida and Dodoma.

Responsibilities

The individual will be responsible for providing technical agronomic support across the two regions, Singida and Dodoma, reporting directly to the Programme Coordinator, Southern Highlands. In addition to the specific tasks outlined below, they are expected to contribute fully as a member of the program team, always conducting themselves professionally as a representative of the program. They will also be responsible for the safekeeping and proper care of all program assets assigned to them. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in the identification of regional constraints and opportunities within the sorghum and sunflower value chains, as well as relevant stakeholders.
• Drive market linkages and relationship building between regional stakeholders to stimulate the supply of inputs, technology adoption, financing, service provision, and value addition.
• Provide technical support and management of sunflower and sorghum field demonstrations within the two regions through site visits to ensure the performance of established demonstration plots and supervise local coaches/lead farmers and government extension officers.
• Take the lead in campaigns to control outbreaks of pests and diseases in the sunflower and sorghum value chains.
• Provide regular feedback to the Programme Coordinator on ongoing field activities and suggest ways to improve operations.
• Provide training and technical assistance to local coaches and peer facilitators (CHWs) for the JP RWEE project in all field technical matters.
• Collaborate and support the program Gender Inclusion Officer and Nutritionist project interns in the establishment of home gardens, taking the lead in the design and management of established home gardens.
• Collaborate and support the Gender Inclusion Officer and Nutrition Interns in the production and management of home gardens and Quality Declared seeds.
• Coordinate and organize farmer field days and learning visits/exposures and ensure program visibility through events like Nane Nane, Saba Saba, etc.
• Take the lead in the development of technical and training materials for farmer training, workshops, marketing/trade events, and other activities.
• Provide input for work plans and budgets, quarterly and monthly reports, program success stories, farmer stories, etc., as required.
• Perform any other duties as may be required by your supervisor.

Key Qualifications & Characteristics

• Degree in Agronomy/General Agriculture or related fields.
• Must have at least 2 years of experience in project management with a focus on the production of commercial crops, preferably sunflower and sorghum.
• Ability to provide training and extension services to farmer groups and peer facilitators/lead farmers.
• Computer knowledge.
• Ability to drive a manual car.
• Physically fit and capable of handling a demanding work schedule in the field.
• Ability to work without daily direct supervision.
• Honest and responsible work ethics.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send an application letter, a detailed CV, and copies of relevant certificates before October 25, 2024, to eastafrica.recruitment@rikolto.org and indicate the source of the advertisement and the title of the position in the subject line: Programme Officer - Agronomist.