Positions: Chief Technical Advisor, National Project Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, Knowledge and Communication Officer:

Project: Promoting Integrated Landscape Management and Sustainable Food Systems in the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria (Cross River and Ondo State)

Background Information

The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) is the Operational Partner (OP) for the FAO/GEF Project titled “Promoting Integrated Landscape Management and Sustainable Food Systems in the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria (Cross River and Ondo State).” This project is part of Nigeria’s participation in the Global Environmental Facility (GEF-7) Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR) impact program, under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Nigeria Office, Abuja.

The project’s objective is to transform the Niger Delta Cocoa and Oil Palm Production Systems and Landscapes towards sustainability and resilience, delivering multiple environmental and social benefits. The project will be implemented in two Niger Delta States, Cross River and Ondo State, and consists of the following components:

Development of Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) systems; Promoting Sustainable and inclusive cocoa and palm oil value chain; Conservation and restoration of degraded forest ecosystems; Knowledge management, monitoring, and evaluation.

In light of the project’s implementation, the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria is seeking qualified individuals for the following key national project staff positions:

1. Chief Technical Advisor
2. National Project Coordinator
3. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer
4. Knowledge and Communication Officer

Qualified candidates with relevant experience and skills are encouraged to apply for these positions. The positions offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region and the promotion of integrated landscape management and sustainable food systems.

To access detailed job descriptions and application instructions, please visit (www.frin.gov.ng or www.frin.ng). The deadline for applications is (Monday 19^th June, 2023).

We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. For further inquiries or clarifications, please contact (info@frin.gov.ng).

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Thank you for your interest in this project and your potential contribution to its success.

Sincerely,

FRIN/FAO Contact

Provisional Terms of Reference

Chief Technical Advisor

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Director General FRIN and technical guidance of the FAO Project Focal Point. The staff will work closely with Ondo and Cross-River States Government, project partners, FRIN and FAO colleagues in the technical divisions at HQ, regional offices, the sub-regional offices, as well as country offices to deliver the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Assignment

A Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be recruited to provide substantial technical inputs to the implementation of the project. To complement the forestry expertise with FRIN, the CTA’s main area of expertise and experience will be in sustainable agriculture and food systems.  Specifically, the CTA will:

• Provide technical support to project executing partners and experts, and ensure that best practices and innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies drawn from the FOLUR Global platform and relevant initiatives are well integrated into project implementation.

• Lead technical discussions and planning and deliver specific technical training to partners and component task teams.

• Supervise consultants and contracts.

• Assess all technical outputs delivered by executing partners, consultants, and technical teams, identifying best practices and innovations to be shared with the OLUR Global Platform.

• Facilitate a high level of collaboration among participating institutions and organizations at the national and local levels and with the Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire FOLUR projects.

• Identify opportunities and facilitate partnerships with the private sector including with cocoa and palm oil national, regional, and global platforms.
• Undertake any additional task of his/her competences recommended by his/her supervisor or the FAOR.

• Qualifications 

• Postgraduate degree in agriculture, food systems or a directly related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in field related to the assignment.
• Experience related to integrated landscape management, sustainable natural resources management, and facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes/initiatives will be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated communication and negotiating skills.
• Familiarity with goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular those of the GEF and FAO.
• Solid experience in project coordination and technical support.

APPLY HERE FOR CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR : https://frin.gov.ng/chief-technical-advisor-application-form/

National Project Coordinator

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Director General FRIN and technical guidance of the FAO Project Focal Point. The staff will work closely with Ondo and Cross-River States Government, project partners, FRIN and FAO colleagues in the technical divisions at HQ, regional offices, the sub-regional offices, as well as country offices to deliver the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Assignment

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) will be responsible for the day-to-day planning and coordination of project activities with all national and state institutions and project partners involved in the different project components. Under the supervision of the CTA, the NPC will be responsible for:

• Coordination and monitoring of project activities, providing day-to-day guidance to State Level Project Implementation Units (PIUs).

• Coordination with co-financing partners, key stakeholders and related initiatives.

• Working with PIUs, organize project workshops and meetings for participatory preparation of Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP/B).

• Preparing and updating the project’s work plan and preparing Terms of Reference of personnel/consultants to be recruited, in collaboration with the PIU.

• Tracking, with M&E officer support, project progress, ensuring timely delivery of inputs and outputs.

• Submission of six-monthly Project Progress Reports (PPRs), annual Project Implementation Review (PIRs), co-financing reports and other required project reports.

• Oversighting the project’s monitoring and communication plans.

• Identifying the opportunities and mobilizing additional co-financing from landscape actors in the resources sector which are most keen to invest in nature based solutions and have large financial capacity.

• Undertaking any additional task of his/her competences recommended by the his/her supervisor or the FAOR.
•  

• Qualifications 

• Post graduate degree in agriculture, natural resources management and or other related fields.
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in project coordination involving multi-lateral/international funding agencies.
• Demonstrated experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes.
• Excellent communication skills.

APPLY HERE FOR NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR : https://frin.gov.ng/national-project-coordinator-application-form/

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Director General FRIN and technical guidance of the FAO Project Focal Point, and direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and National Project Coordinator. The staff will work closely with Ondo and Cross-River States Government, project partners, FRIN and FAO colleagues in the technical divisions at HQ, regional offices, the sub-regional offices, as well as country offices to deliver the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Assignment

The M&E officer will:

• Oversee implementation of the M&E plan.
• Set- up M&E systems (project level and landscape monitoring systems) working with the state Project Implementation Units and REDD +units.
• Train the project team and executing partners on M&E requirements and tools.
• Coordinate the preparation of all project M&E reports.  Guide the project team and executing partners in preparing their progress reports in accordance with approved reporting formats and ensure their timely submission.
• Monitor actual progress and performance against work plans and associated indicators.
• Contribute to further development and implementation of the knowledge management plan working with the knowledge and communications officer.
• Support the organization of project evaluations and internal project reviews and audits, and monitor implementation of recommendations.
• Contribute to the identification of best practices and knowledge from the project.
• Undertake any additional task of his/her competences recommended by his/her supervisor or the FAQ.

• Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in agriculture, forestry, natural resources management or related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in project results–based management and M&E, including planning design, and implementation of M&E systems, tools, data, and information collection and analysis, and report writing.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills in English.

APPLY HERE FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) OFFICER : http://frin.gov.ng/monitoring-and-evaluation-me-officer-application-form/

Knowledge and Communications Officer

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Director General FRIN and technical guidance of the FAO Project Focal Point, and direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and National Project Coordinator. The staff will work closely with Ondo and Cross-River States Government, project partners, FRIN and FAO colleagues in the technical divisions at HQ, regional offices, the sub-regional offices, as well as country offices to deliver the following tasks and responsibilities

1. Assignment

The knowledge and Communications Officer will be responsible for the development and implementation of knowledge and communication strategies working closely with the project team, especially the M&E officers.  Specifically, the officer will:

• Prepare and implement knowledge and communication strategies in consultation with the project team and partners, using FOLUR Global knowledge platform guidelines.
• Lead the preparation of knowledge and communication products (including impact stories) to be shared with the FOLUR Global Platform, state and federal level multi-stakeholder platforms, policy –makers NGOs, private sector, civil society and communities.
• Organize project learning events at state and national level.
• Develop tools and measure effectiveness of project communications.
• Collaborate with project partners in the preparation dissemination of high quality, harmonized messages.
• Undertake any additional task of his/her competences recommended by his/her supervisor or the FAQ.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, Development Communication, or related disciplines.
• At least 5 years of work experience in communications in the development sector, preferably working with donor-funded projects and project teams.
• Experience working with government, civil society, private sector, international organizations and donors.
• Excellent communication skill in English.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR KNOWLEDGE AND COMMUNICATION OFFICER : http://frin.gov.ng/knowledge-and-communication-officer-application-form/