International Agriculture Programs

Open Position Announcement:
Senior Agricultural Technical Analyst

Position Description

(Word)

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Lead USAID efforts, collaborating directly with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and US Agency for International Development (USAID) supported programs, to create a coordinated sub-regional (multi-country) momentum and dynamic to induce and encourage agricultural growth especially along commodity value chains. This effort may include providing guidance in the development of regional frameworks, strategies and initiatives with African, USAID and other partners to reach consensus on approaches and to leverage resources in order to address issues that affect multiple countries in the West Africa region.
Support the efforts of and partner with countries and leaders committed to agricultural growth to develop and implement country and regional Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) compacts and to identify and target development options and opportunities to accelerate agricultural growth, leading to more efficient use of resources.
Build Alliances and a broad-based political and financial commitment among development partners, public and private in the agricultural sector—strengthening current USAID-supported Alliances, the West Africa Seed Alliance and Kraft Cocoa Alliance.
In the CAADP process, assist ECOWAS or their designee to design, organize, and coordinate technical and policy consultation processes with senior African, USAID and other-donors involved in policy formulation and technology development, assisting regional organizations resolve political bottlenecks and operational constraints that impede their effectiveness in West Africa.
Develops analyses, reports and recommendations on selected countries or programs based upon the incumbent's best professional, expert judgment and in anticipation of senior Agency and Field Missions management's needs.
Lead in the production of position papers, results-based agriculture program designs, and other documents for USAID/WA and regional Missions and provide guidance to regional organizations on how to prepare designs for USAID and other donor funding.
Serve as cognizant technical officer and/or back-up (CTO) on some combination of several new agricultural activities in the office: Agribusiness Trade Promotion Program, West Africa Seed Alliance and Kraft Cocoa Alliance. These responsibilities will be shared with two junior level officers: an agriculture and/or economic growth new entry professional or local hire position and a foreign service national program specialist with agricultural training.
Provide support to mid to junior level officers on USAID processes and procedures related to cognizant technical officer responsibilities, USAID program design and results reporting. Provide overall quality control in the preparation of the IEHA results report.
Provide input on how USAID/WA programs can work with U.S. universities and international research organizations to develop tools and knowledge to guide African technology based policies, programs and strategies and promote the transfer of lessons learned across the region.

Factor 1 – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Advanced degree or equivalent experience in relevant field.
Due to the senior-level analytical, collaboration and reporting requirements of the position, he or she should have at least ten years of work experience in international development, with an emphasis on program management and results reporting, design, and policy analysis, and exposure to a number of development sector disciplines (e.g. agricultural development, agricultural trade, food security).
Significant experience managing agriculture programs including programs with an agricultural and/or food security policy component. Demonstrable expert knowledge of agricultural policy and familiarity with African countries. It is especially important to demonstrate the ability to analyze and define policy constraints and successfully navigate political systems to convince leaders to adopt and implement policy measures, especially those related to agricultural trade and food security. Familiarity and experience with management systems in organizations is also preferred.
Excellent grasp of economic theory, research methodology, and applied analytic tools and skills. Proven ability to work successfully at multiple levels of problem solving.
Effective writing and organizational skills to prepare guidance, to complete program status reports, analyses and presentations, and program design documents. Ability to write succinctly to produce documents quickly is highly desired.
Proven record of effective, team-based working relationships, from staff to policy-making levels, with a wide range of individuals and organizations, including technical experts and contractors, host country partners (public and private sectors), and international organizations. Experience building public-private sector Alliances and leveraging funds from different types of organizations is preferred.
Mastery in conceptual analysis, written and oral expression in order to work with U.S. interest groups, contractors and grantees, USAID Missions, USDA agencies and host country African officials, to develop appropriate strategies and plans for increasing agricultural trade, implementing key agricultural policies and providing effective agricultural research and rural support services.
Seasoned ability to plan and manage in order to guide time sensitive actions and produce and monitor program results.
Fluency in the French language is required for this position. Must be able to read, write and speak fluently.

Work Environment

The employee will be based in USAID's West African Regional Office in Accra, Ghana. However, frequent travel within the West Africa region will be required to meet with African, USAID and other donor partners. Destinations include remote rural areas, as well as capital cities. Difficult travel and living conditions are common and at times physical security may be low.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position please send:

A cover letter with a description of qualifications that directly address each of the required skills listed above and,
Your recent resume of experience, education and qualifications.

Submission of this material electronically by e-mail is strongly encouraged. Please be specific regarding the position you are applying for.

University of Missouri
International Agriculture Programs
215 Gentry Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-7040
Telephone: 573-882-7740 Fax: 573-882-5127
E-mail: umcdassiap@missouri.edu