View Vacancy – Food and Agriculture Adviser (30/24 ABJ)

Main purpose of job:

Nigeria is the most important country for the UK in Africa and home to one of FCDO’s biggest development portfolios globally.  Nigeria is an HMG Tier 1 country but is grappling with serious challenges which cut across many UK priorities, including climate change, conflict, security and stability. Nigeria is home to the second largest number of poor people in the world and has the largest economy and population in Africa. 

Nigeria is a tough but incredibly rewarding and dynamic place to work. The 500+ staffed Mission has an integrated delivery structure of five thematic “blocks” charged with achieving the key outcomes of the Country Plan and Nigeria Strategy. Delivery is supported by five enabling teams. The FCDO Nigeria team is a talented one, with strong leadership, high standards and a willingness to drive forward influential workstreams including Nigeria as a Middle Ground priority country.  The incumbent will join the team at an important time for Nigeria following federal elections in 2023, with a new administration determined to reform the economy and drive growth. 

Meeting the UK’s priorities in Nigeria requires top class technical advice on agriculture, food and climate issues.   FCDO Nigeria requires an experienced and proven expert to deliver our flagship climate-smart agriculture programme, Propcom+.  The successful candidate will be part of the Climate Change Team within One HMG Nigeria Sustainable Economic Transformation (SET) block.  It’s a highly diverse block with policy areas spanning macro economy, financial inclusion, infrastructure finance, energy sector reform, sustainable agriculture, forestry and climate diplomacy.  Climate is central to our work – almost all bilateral spend is International Climate Finance.  Although a relatively low emitter by global standards, Nigeria is in the top ten countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

You will work alongside a friendly and motivated team with economic, trade, climate and environment, policy and programme management colleagues. You will report to the Head of Economic Development, Climate and Energy and work closely with colleagues across the mission and HQ, and from UK policy teams in other departments like Defra.

Roles and responsibilities:

• This is an exciting opportunity to lead on the delivery of our flagship £95 million, International Climate Finance programme, PropcomPlus.
• Propcom+ works with Nigeria’s vibrant private sector along with State and Federal government to (i) increase productivity, improve nutrition and food security (ii) enhance climate resilience, pursue lower emissions, protect and restore nature (iii) help tackle some of Nigeria’s underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity.
• Propcom+ aims to support climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture that benefits people (incomes, health diets), climate (adaptation, mitigation), and nature (protect and reverse biodiversity loss).  It is ambitious: aiming to support more than 4 million people over eight years, 50% of whom will be women, to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity and climate resilience while reducing emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.
• In this role, the postholder will provide technical and strategic leadership on climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture for policy, diplomacy and ODA programming across the office. The postholder will think and lead strategically and build external relationships and contribute to policy discussions.
• The role delivers on two of six Country Goals for the Nigeria office and Africa Strategy on supporting a Resilient and productivity economy, and Climate Change, Energy Transition and Nature.
• The postholder will work closely with climate, governance, humanitarian and private sector advisers both in Nigeria and at the centre and will have access to a wide range of formal and on-the-job generalist and technical development opportunities.
• Priority sectors for the UK’s climate work in Nigeria include energy, AFOLU (agriculture, forestry and other land use), and climate finance, amongst others.  In this role you will work closely with colleagues across SET Block to contribute to coherence of UK’s climate engagement through programmes and policy.

In this role you will also be responsible for:

• Providing technical leadership as PRO and Lead Adviser to deliver the £95 million flagship Propcom+ programme (focus on climate resilient and sustainable agriculture).
• Provide quality and timely briefs and reactive lines on agricultural transformation, rural transition, food security, adaptation and resilience, and nature-based solutions (as needed).
• Effective collaboration and external engagement with agribusinesses, development partners, and State and Federal Government on Climate Smart Agriculture and forestry, including monitoring visits to both North and Southern Nigeria.
• Collaborate and support a cross-mission approach, working with political, economic, commercial, humanitarian, conflict and governance colleagues to contribute to identify and articulate synergies between Propcom+, other X-mission, and development partner programmes and policy, such as on food security, early market recovery, and governance.
• Represent the UK in the Nigerian Agriculture Sector Working Group, working in coordination with other development partners, government and the private sector on evidence-based policy interventions and coordinated policy asks.
• Develop and maintain relations with key contacts in UK government departments to monitor, understand and interpret policy changes in Whitehall and how they are relevant for FCDO-N.
• Model and contribute to effective coherence with UK ODA programme delivery in Nigeria of relevant programmes;
• Line manage the SEO Private Sector Development Adviser, and task manage two programme managers.

This is a technical position.  Essential on arrival:  

• Technical knowledge of climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture interventions that support sustainable growth and economic development.
• Market systems and business fundamentals knowledge (this is a Private Sector Development Competency required for this Post, meaning the applicant must be competent at least at ‘expert’ level (see Private Sector Development: Technical Competency Framework – GOV.UK for FCDO, here).
• Experience in thinking and working strategically with a wide range of stakeholders, including private sector, government, HMG counterparts and other development partners.
• Strong experience managing initiatives, programmes/projects with a range of suppliers and other partners.
• The resilience to lead and shape a new area of work, handle multiple projects concurrently, with the ability to research, benchmark, scope, design, implement and evaluate delivery across a range of interventions and projects to tight deadlines.
• Analytical skills, knowledge and experience of using sound judgement and evidence to deliver complex programmes.
• Ability to build networks quickly and effectively;
• Enthusiasm and’ can do’ attitude to make a difference to a key area of development that affects millions of people at scale.

The minimum criteria are:

• 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, or a post graduate diploma, or a master’s degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, International Relations, Food Security and Nutrition, Agricultural Development or a relevant field.
• A minimum of seven years’ experience working in food and agriculture system roles.

The recruitment process will assess candidates against the UK Government’s Food and Agricultural Technical Competency Framework. The five competences are summarised below. For more information on each competency please refer to the FCDO Technical Competency Framework website (website address below).

1. Building resilience and reducing humanitarian need through food, agriculture and livelihoods
2. Accelerating sustainable growth and reducing poverty through food, agriculture and livelihoods
3. Promoting development pathways that tackle climate and protect nature through food, agriculture and livelihoods
4. Strengthening health through food and agriculture
5. Specialism: livestock and pastoral systems, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and urban livelihoods.