Careers

The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), founded in 1987, brings together the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of 23 West and Central African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tomé et Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. 

CORAF's vision mentioned in its Strategic Plan 2018-2027 is a future where the people and communities of West and Central Africa achieve food and nutrition security and prosperity. Its mission is to achieve a sustainable improvement in agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets in West and Central Africa.

To achieve the goals of socio-economic development and human well-being, African agriculture must significantly improve its productivity, while maintaining the sustainability of diversified, high-quality agri-food systems. 

A high yield gap, estimated at 75% of potential yield, and a low average growth rate for most agricultural products (below the 6% target set by the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme or CAADP) are worrying, given the substantial investments made in the sector over the last 10 to 15 years. 

The limited availability of agricultural inputs, inadequate distribution networks in isolated communities, poor quality and counterfeit seeds, and high prices for certified seeds and inputs are ongoing challenges in West Africa, and constitute major obstacles to agricultural productivity and growth. To address these shortcomings, donors and governments in West Africa have been working through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional bodies to develop and operationalize consistent quality control procedures, strengthen seed systems, and make input trade easier, faster and cheaper.

ECOWAS received financial support from USAID/West Africa for the development of a Regional Agricultural Input Strategy (RAIS). CORAF developed the strategy on behalf of ECOWAS/CILSS/UEMOA, outlining an integrated approach to increasing agricultural inputs, including seeds, crops, livestock and aquaculture. As part of the strategy's implementation, CORAF, designated as the technical secretariat, has received funding to implement the West Africa Seed Sector Development Program (WASSD). The project aims to increase availability and access to quality seeds, improve yields and food security, while strengthening the private sector and the policy environment.

The overall objective of the West Africa Seed Sector Development Program (WASSD) is to improve agricultural productivity through increased farmer access to and use of improved agricultural inputs and technologies provided by West African private sector companies, and through collaborative engagement with a multitude of regional and national organizations and associations.

Reporting to CORAF's Director of Research and Innovation, and under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Program Officer is responsible for implementing technical support for the program: 

• Monitor the implementation of agreed actions;
• Prepare or propose concept notes and terms of reference for activities;
• Prepare correspondence for implementing partners;
• Facilitating workshops ;
• Report on meetings;
• Identify, in conjunction with the monitoring and evaluation specialist, and propose publication themes for policy briefs, development articles or scientific papers;
• Prepare draft semi-annual and annual technical reports;
• Work with subject matter experts to provide targeted support at the request of countries, particularly in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, fiduciary management, capacity building and USAID's administrative and fiduciary procedures; 
• Take part in country support missions;
• Contribute to knowledge management and the preservation of corporate memory. 

• Master's degree or equivalent in agronomy, agro-economics and related disciplines.

• Minimum experience of five (05) years in development issues, particularly in rural areas of West and Central Africa;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in project management, particularly USAID projects;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in Results-Based Management (RBM) ;
• Minimum experience of three (03) years in writing or participating in the writing of technical documents;
• Minimum experience of three (03) years in data collection and analysis;
• Minimum experience of three (03) years in agricultural research, agricultural and rural consultancy, extension, education and capacity building;
• Minimum experience of three (03) years with donor procedures (USAID, in particular);
• Minimum experience of seven (5) years in a multicultural environment.

• Humility;
• Courtesy of ;
• Ability to work under pressure ;
• Discretion ;
• Methodical ;
• Organizational skills ;
• Team spirit ;
• Adaptability ;
• Integrity ;
• Sense of priorities ;
• Listening skills ;
• Analytical skills ;
• Anticipation ;
• Reactivity.

• Office 365 (Word; Excel; PowerPoint ; Access )
• Outlook ;
• Collection software: KOBOCOLLECT

• Knowledge of CORAF ;
• Demonstrated interest in agriculture, food security and development issues;

It must include : 

• A letter of motivation addressed to the Executive Director, Dakar, Senegal. The file must be named as follows: Initial of first name +Last name in upper case_LM. For example, ADIALLO_LM); 
• A detailed CV, with the names and contacts of three mandatory references (e-mail, address and telephone number). The CV file must be named as follows First name initial + Last name in uppercase_CV_Month and year. For example, ADIALLO_CV March 2024.

Applications should be sent to the following address

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