Terms of references (ToR) for the position of Agronomist Officer

Duty station / Country: Somalia, Dollow, Gedo Region

Duration: 12 months

Project title (se applicable): SomReP EU

Starting date: 08/03/2024

Line Manager: Agronomist Officer

Functional Manager: Program Manager and Program Coordinator

Salary range: According to COOPI salary grid for national staff and as per experience of the candidate

About COOPI

COOPI- Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For more than 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI in Somalia

COOPI has been active with its humanitarian and resilience programs in Somalia since 1984. COOPI has been implementing emergency and long-term resilience building projects including food security & livelihoods, water and sanitation and health, to improve the living conditions of thousands of vulnerable families.

COOPI has been providing response and supporting the most basic and pressing needs of communities in Southwest State, South Central, Banadir, Jubaland and Somaliland. COOPI has a long-standing presence in those locations providing both emergency humanitarian support and building resilient livelihoods through a multi-sectoral approach with specific focus on crisis affected populations. COOPI's main operational and coordination offices are located in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Dollow. COOPI also has a support and regional office in Nairobi.

Overview of the Position

·         The Agronomist Officer shall function and works are defined according to the terms and conditions stated hereafter and subject to COOPI rules and regulations governing staff deployment. He/she shall perform his/her activities as described, for a specific district and for a period defined in the contract.

·         The incumbent has the overall role of implementing project agro-pastoral activities under the SomRep project.

Key Responsibilities

·         Supervise and guide in community awareness creation, mobilization and sensitization;

·         Supervise identification and registration of participating farmers;

·         Responsible for farmers training

·         Supervise and ensure experimental designs are adhered to before and during planting

·         Prepared monitoring schedule for Agricultural extension staff working under him and her and ensure the schedule is followed

·         Ensure tasks allocated daily to extension staff and participating farmers are completed

·         Provide guidance during farmers evaluation sessions at different growth stages

·         Organize weekly staff meetings with the extension staff working with him/her

·         Participate in staff internal meetings, trainings and follow COOPI procedures in all cases

·         Provide weekly evidence of work accomplished using pictures taken from trial sites

·         Provide all information required by the Project Manager

Key Technical requirements.

Extension services;

·         Educate the farmers on the intervention-(objectives, implementation plans).

·         Explain to and agree with communities on criteria of selecting beneficiaries for agro pastoral interventions

·         Exchange knowledge with communities Good Agricultural Practices in their respective areas.

·         Provide guidance during farmers’ evaluation sessions at different growth stages.

·         Ensure tasks allocated daily to extension farmers and participating farmers are completed

Team work:

·         Provide the overall leadership of the Agro-pastoral activities on the project in the respective area/district.

·         Assign responsibilities to each team member as deemed necessary to enhance implementation of the operation.

·         Responsible for ensuring all seeds issued to a beneficiary by seed vendor are certified.

·         Ensure that all farm inputs supplied for agro pastoral activities are used in the appropriate manner and for the purpose of achieving the project objectives.

·         Ensure harmony within the team besides motivating the team members.

·         Ensure that COOPI’s policies and guidelines are adhered to by all the staff and are understood by the communities/beneficiaries.

Reporting;

·         Field reports –to be submitting on weekly basis as guided by the Project Manager.

·         All combined monthly reports MUST be submitted to Project Manager by 29th day of every month.

·         In case of emergency, the Agronomist Officer or his appointed team member report the matter to Project Manager and pass the message to him. The reporter must avoid causing undue panic or anxiety.

Liaison:

·         Facilitate contact and coordination between COOPI and local stakeholders in Food Security & Livelihoods sector. (District Authorities, Clan leaders, Professional Associations, and other Development Agencies in the operation area).

·         Develop and maintain close working relationships with all COOPI and SomRep partners (colleagues, practitioners, Farmers’ Cooperative, communities).

Project resources;

·         Ensure proper use of project resources (Farm inputs/equipment, Fuel, etc.) provided to the team/farmer groups to enhance achievement of the operation objectives.

Management:

·         Be directly answerable to Project Manager for all the agro pastoral activities in the project.

·         Respect of COOPI management structure must be maintained at all levels.

·         Keep close coordination with the Project Manager on all matters pertaining agro pastoral activities of the project.

·         Keep close coordination with the Field Logistician and Field Administrator on all matters pertaining to supplies and finances.

Security:

·         Monitor and provide internal reports on the security situation in the operation area to the Project Manager.

·         Ensure that all the staff follows security procedures and bringing any shortcomings to the attention of the Project Manager.

·         Report any form of risk in the field, to Clan Elders and Village Committees for appropriate action.

·         In case of eminent security threat, MUST embrace dialogue and restraint to minimize risk and ensure secure exit from the area.

·         Avoid any act or omission that may put the team at risk in the field.

·         If a threat to any member of the team is perceived, take appropriate immediate action, without causing a stir.

·         Always be impartial wherever there is inter-clanic tension to avoid COOPI being implicated in any inter-clanic disagreements.

Other.

·         Perform other related duties as requested by the supervisor

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements

·         Minimum of bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Agricultural extension and development or any other agricultural sciences related degree with minimum (3) Three years’ experience working in a humanitarian/recovery context, complex and volatile contexts.

·         Ideal candidate should be able to use MS Word, Excel, and Power point.

·         S/he should have the ability to prioritize responsibilities, carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and able to meet deadlines.

·         Fluency in spoken and written English language is a must and understanding Somali is important any additional language will be added value.

·         Knowledge of humanitarian principles and code of conduct is essential.

·         Possess ability to remain calm and professional when working under pressure.

·         Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.

·         Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical and negotiation skills.

·         Experience in carrying out participatory fieldwork, monitoring and reporting.

·         Experience in conducting needs/vulnerability assessments and beneficiary selection processes.

·         Ability to work under time pressure, independently and with limited supervision.

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit their applications through email to through link https://forms.gle/dcuuroUxnUmSyNZ87 with subject line as “Economic Development Officer” by 15.03.2024.

The application should be a cover letter and CV as one document and indicate the title of the position on the subject line this will ensure we capture your application in the right way. Applications should include contact details of three professional referees. One referee must be the applicant’s Immediate supervisor. COOPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Brief Conditions:

COOPI has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the organization, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. COOPI also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

COOPI reserves the right to transfer position as per need / project demand any time during the project.

COOPI reserves the right to close the application before deadline, if the required number of candidates is attained Rolling basis review of applications.

Other Terms & Condition will be part of Job Contract.

Important Information and Notice.

Carefully observing the details as follows:

Only motivated applicants who are able to perform the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered.

CVs will be reviewed on rolling bases.

Due to the large numbers of expected applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited for an interview. We apologies for the inconvenience.

COOPI considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

This ToR shall be inclusive of any other task specifically assigned by the direct supervisor for what concerns the implementation of the program activities.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.