The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority Millennium Villages Project (SADA-MVP) is an integrated programme which is being implemented in the West Mamprusi, Mamprugu-Moaduri and Builsa South Districts of the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The project’s overall goal is to work with 30,000 people in the targeted rural communities in achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals, and to help establish a robust local economy that can sustain and extend the progress made during the project period. The project will achieve this by coordinating the delivery of a package of science-based proven interventions for agriculture, education, health, and rural infrastructure among others. The agriculture and environment sector forms a key component of the SADA-MVP. The main objective is to cut hunger, malnutrition and poverty by half, through increased production, access and utilization of nutritious foods, with a special focus on improving the nutritional status of pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants under five  (MDG 1). The SADA Millennium Villages Project with funding support from the British Department for International Development (DFID) is thus looking for suitable candidates to employ as Field Supervisors to supervise and coordinate the work of Agriculture Extension Agents in the Project communities.

Job Title: Unit: SADA Millennium Villages Project
Location: Northern Ghana (Walewale & Fumbisi)

Job Summary
Purpose of the Position:
The Agriculture Project Supervisor is a member of SADA MVP agribusiness team and will work to promote knowledge management and usage at the community level to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the agribusiness and environment sectors of the project.  The incumbent will build strong relationships with the cooperative members especially the leadership with a focus on impact, and community ownership of all empowerment processes. The overall goal of the position is to assist the agribusiness team in achieving the MDGs especially food security and poverty reduction goal as well as ensuring environmental sustainability.

The Agriculture Project Supervisor will report directly to the Agriculture and Environment Coordinator as well, work closely with the Business Development Coordinator. Other important relationships will include the MoFA Agriculture Extension Officers, District Cooperative Officer, and the Agriculture Mechanization Officer in implementing agribusiness activities at community level.

Responsibilities/Duties:

•   The overall goal of the Agriculture Project Supervisor will be to assist Agriculture Extension Officers plan and implement their weekly and monthly operational plans that will lead to the achievements of the MDGs. The incumbent shall supervise and coordinate the work of the Agriculture Extension Officers in the beneficiary communities
•   Collaborate with MoFA AEAs, Agriculture Mechanization Officer and SADA MVP agribusiness team to implement agribusiness and mechanization project activities
•   Assist AEAs to review and develop operational work plans to carry out agribusiness activities on weekly, and monthly basis
•   Facilitate timely distribution of farm inputs to farmers
•   Ensure timely and appropriate land preparation services to farmers within the cluster
•   Ensuring timely and appropriate harvesting and shelling services to farmers within the cluster
•   Ensure that AEAs stay in communities to provide extension services to farmers
•   Report on acres ploughed on weekly and monthly basis
•   Assess capacity needs of AEAs and organize appropriate training sessions for them   and cooperative members at community level
•   Monitor and supervise the work of all agriculture extension agent
•   Assist agriculture extension officers to set up demonstration farms and field days
•   Assist the agriculture extension agents in conducting yield estimates studies
•   Work closely with the cooperative societies and the unions as well as the AEAs  in farm produce aggregation and marketing
•   Provide the necessary technical support to cooperative members and the AEAs to strengthen the overall performance of agribusiness activities
•   Stay at District level to supervise and coordinate activities of the AEAs
•   Collate data from AEAs and other stakeholders for analysis and reporting
•   Write and submit progress report to the agribusiness team on weekly and monthly basis
•   Carry out any other relevant duties that may be assigned by the Team leader and the agribusiness team

Terms of offer:
MVP offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefits package. The employment contract is for a period of one year with the possibility of renewal. MVP prides itself on its collegial, supportive and gender sensitive working environment and believes that staff diversity promotes excellence. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Agronomy/Crops Option) with relevant field experience (5 years of field experience in similar position)
•   A highly motivated individual with a professional background to work as field extension agent in Agriculture and environmental issues
•   Skills in community mobilization and facilitation
•   Practical knowledge and skills in extension delivery services and on-farm agronomy
•   Experience working in an integrated community development project
•   A team player with good interpersonal skills in communication and dissemination of knowledge
•   Proven problem solving and organizational skills, flexibility and calm under pressure
•   Good computer skills
•   Fluency in local languages will be an advantage -mampruli and Buli
•   Excellent writing, interpersonal, and communication skills
•   Must have excellent organizational skills, be self-motivated, be a team player and detail-oriented

Location: Northern Ghana (Walewale & Fumbisi)

How To Apply For The Job

Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to: SADA.MVP@millenniumpromise.org with copies to employment@mdgwca.org and jacob.ubindam@millenniumpromise.org. “Application for Agriculture Project Supervisor” should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.

Closing Date: 26 July, 2013

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

www.millenniumvillages.org
www.millenniumpromise.org
www.unmillenniumproject.org
www.mdgcentre.org