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.

Accompany and work with partners to carry out policy actions to create an enabling environment for the development of seed companies under the WASSD program:

• Support partners in identifying and documenting commercially viable crop varieties, seed stocks, demand, skill requirements and constraints on the seed business;
• Identify and document constraints related to the updating of improved seeds and complementary technologies;
• Design and implement an effective strategy to strengthen private sector participation in the seed trade in African countries;
• Facilitate the active participation of potential seed users in the project's scaling-up activities;
• Supporting and facilitating seed acquisition in various countries;
• Mobilize the private sector and other end-users to update improved crop varieties;
• Oversee and/or coordinate the development of briefing notes for effective advocacy and policy engagement;
• Design and implement an effective capacity-building program for seed companies;
• Participate in the planning, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of the project in accordance with the instructions of CORAF Management;
• Prepare and submit periodic and mandatory activity reports;
• Contribute to knowledge management and the preservation of corporate memory;
• Carry out any related activities as requested by line management. 

• PhD in agronomy, agro-economics, business management, marketing and related disciplines.

• Minimum ten (10) years' experience in agri-food, marketing, purchasing, administration, business management and financial analysis in the agricultural field;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in project management, particularly USAID projects;
• Minimum experience of seven (07) years in Results-Based Management (RBM) ;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in writing or participating in the writing of technical documents;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in data collection and analysis;
• Minimum experience of five (05) years in agricultural research, agricultural and rural consultancy, extension, education and capacity building;
• Minimum experience of ten (10) 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

Youmann Executive Search