DRC: Expert in Agroecology for Agricultural Development (French fluency required)

May 16, 2020 | Enabel
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Enabel is the Belgian Development Agency. It executes and coordinates Belgian international development policy, and works mainly on behalf of the Belgian State. The Agency also implements actions for other national and international organizations. With 1,400 employees, including over 70% local staff, Enabel manages some 150 projects, mainly in fragile African states.

Context

The Kasaï Oriental Agricultural Development Program (PRODAKOR) has the overall objective of increasing income and reducing poverty in the province of Kasaï Oriental and Lomami thanks to a sustainable revival of the agricultural sector. Its specific objective is to increase the income of family farms from their agricultural activities in a sustainable manner, in an environmentally-friendly process, by including interventions in market dynamics and taking into account the constraints and differentiated needs of women and men. To contribute to the achievement of these objectives, five results are expected from the intervention: the improvement of technical innovation services, peasant experimentation and advisory support for family farms; improving the conservation, processing and marketing services for products from family farms; improving the governance of the agricultural sector in the province; strengthening the leadership of rural women and creating an agricultural development center in the Ngandajika territory.

PRODAKOR operates in a savannah area that is severely degraded and which suffers from profound changes in agro-ecological conditions and the productive capacities of the environment, leading in particular to a significant drop in soil fertility. Concrete actions for its restoration have been started and an increasing number of farmers are adopting them. If the first results and the practices on which they are based (agroecology and agroforestry in particular) are observable and encouraging, they must today be consolidated during the extension phase.

PRODAKOR started its execution phase in March 2014 for a period of 5 years. An additional budget has been allocated allowing it to be extended until the end of 2022.

Description of the function

Under the hierarchical authority of the PRODAKOR project manager, and in close collaboration with the other project stakeholders, the agro-ecological expert will focus in particular on agricultural activities and sustainable production techniques (agro-ecology, agroforestry, etc. ). He will contribute to the support of change processes and will be responsible for the actions to be taken and the achievement of results in this area.

As an expert in agro-ecology, your role will be to:

  • Contribute to the implementation of the program by taking part in the planning, execution, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities to ensure that the results of the program are achieved within the allotted execution time; in particular the consolidation of agronomic fundamentals and the contribution of innovative practices in line with the objectives and expected results.
  • Set up and coordinate all the technical inputs relating to sustainable farming practices (agroecology, agroforestry, soil fertility management, agrarian systems and suitable technical routes). and feed them with monitoring of recent research and experience in support of the agro-ecological transition; mobilize, coach and train teams and partners on these themes
  • Organize capitalizations and knowledge management in order to create an inclusive, informed and confident environment within the program;
  • Supporting change and strengthening the capacities of partner structures (agents from the Provincial Agriculture Inspectorate and the Provincial Inspectorate for Rural Development, state and non-state actors in the agricultural sector), particularly in terms of sustainable agriculture and practices agro-ecological, in order to contribute to the improvement of their organization, their processes and systems as well as the skills of their team.
  • Contribute to the development of dynamics with other interventions, in particular with the agricultural professional training sector and in particular to work on a territorial approach to Local Development.

Your profile

Level of training required

  • Master in connection with the function (agricultural engineer, industrial engineer in agriculture, bioengineer, ecologist, agro-environmentalist ...).

Experience required

  • At least 2 years of relevant experience in the specific area of ​​expertise: strengthening of farmers' organizations and their structuring; development of agricultural value chains;
  • International experience (that is, in the international development sector and outside one's country of origin) is an asset.

Skills and knowledge required

  • Knowledge of sustainable farming practices (agro-ecology, agroforestry, maintenance of soil fertility, crop protection, biodiversity, etc.), of sector development;
  • Knowledge in the field of improving technical innovation services, experimentation in a peasant environment and in advisory support to family farms
  • Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems;
  • Knowledge of the Central African savannah ecosystems;
  • Knowledge of fish farming techniques is an asset;
  • Good understanding of aspects related to international development (context, challenges, strength, partners, operation, etc.);
  • Knowledge management and capitalization;
  • Results-based management;
  • Ability to comprehend the agro-ecosystem in a global way and to support the implementation of a change process;
  • Ability to use new technologies in force in the area of ​​expertise;
  • You speak and write fluently in French. taking into account the working language in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We also ask to commit to respecting the vision, mission and values ​​of Enabel (https://www.enabel.be/fr/content/vision-mission-valeurs-de-enabel).

We offer you:

  • An exciting function in an international environment.
  • A 30-month contract based in Mbuji Mayi.
  • A salary package including the gross monthly salary corresponding to our scales (class 5) , as well as advantages linked to your expatriate status within Enabel such as a separation allowance, assignment, hardship, payment of housing costs (capped), moving and installation allowance, payment of school fees for accompanying children (capped), an insurance package for the whole family, including repatriation insurance, return air tickets once a year for the whole family, etc.
  • In the event of expatriation without family members (dependents), up to 6 additional return air tickets per year to the country of origin or any other destination (capped according to Enabel regulations) .

The different amounts vary depending on the relevant experience recognized for the function, family composition and tax situation.

This publication may give rise to the creation of a recruitment reserve for a period of 3 years for any similar function.

Enabel is committed to equal opportunity and diversity among its staff. Applicants are chosen solely on the basis of their skills.

Apply by 05/31/2020 at the latest and attach your updated CV and a cover letter.

Only applications submitted via this portal will be taken into consideration.