Sasakawa Africa Association?(SAA) Mali is looking for a Coordinator for its Human Resources Development (HRD) Thematic area, which was called Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE). The person will be based in Mali where s/he will coordinate and lead the HRD activities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin. Candidates should have strong experience in teaching, research and development, strategic planning, distance learning, ICT tools, and agricultural extension and advisory services.

He or she should be able to guide partner universities and agricultural colleges in need assessment curriculum development, distance learning, and the implementation of various agricultural and business development extension models. We are looking for a dynamic individual who can work independently but as part of a team and deliver high quality results whereby integrating the extension and HRD themes of SAA and creating synergies between them to maximize the impact of SAA on agrifood systems.

In collaboration with the other members of SAA Mali office, the individual will be primarily responsible for integrating the SAA extension models within the training programs of partners universities and / or agricultural colleges. In consultation with the Country Director, and the SAA Thematic Director, he/she ensures the overall planning, implementation, coordination, supervision, and reporting of all HRD activities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin, and provides reports.

The recruited person shall report to the Country Director

Responsibilities and Duties:
• Under the coordination of the SAA Country Director and in consultation with the HRD Thematic Director based in Adis Ababa (Ethiopia), the HRD Coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:
• Prepare annual HRD work plans and budgets in consultation with the Thematic Director and the Country Director and in coordination with other SAA coordinators.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual technical reports according to the specified dates by SAA
• Oversee the implementation of HRD activities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin
• Ensure daily coordination and supervision of HRD activities
• Provide technical direction and teach a limited number of Agricultural Extension courses at the degree level.
• Advise the Head of Department (HOD) and University/Agric. College, SAFE Coordinators on the best approach for program implementation and participate in the organization and supervision of Supervised Enterprise Projects (SEPs).
• Lead the development of program strategies and set priorities.
• Integrate agricultural extension models within the training programs of partner universities and colleges
• Ensure the mainstreaming of SAA field level models within SAFE Demand Driven Curricula, and vice versa.
• Implement Enterprise Center model at partner universities and colleges and ensure its management.
• Facilitate networking activities of alumni associations.
• Promote synergy with other SAA themes along the value-chain.
• Liaise with Theme Directors, Country Director, donors and other external public or private organizations to develop/enhance working partnerships in areas of mutual interest across the value chain.
• Undertake a ‘capacity audit’ of different stakeholders in HRD to identify training and capacity building needs related to sustainability of HRD.
• Participate in fund raising and proposal development.
• Build linkages between universities and the private sector.
• Review and analyze previous studies on HRD/SAFE and distil key programmatic lessons; opportunities for program efficiency.
• Develop papers for conferences and publications.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by Country Director and Thematic Director- HRD.
• Required professional qualifications and skills.

Minimum Requirement :
• Master’s degree in Education Sciences, Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Extension or any other relevant field
• At least 14/12 years experience in any of the relevant field

Competencies :
• English proficiency: Higher intermediate level
• Mastery of French: advanced level
• Microsoft Office: advanced knowledge of PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Knowledge of biometrics, experimental designs, and statistical analysis
• Good reporting skills
• Excellent coordination and project management skills

Other advantages :
• Ability to develop relevant partnerships and networks

Composition of the application file :
(i) A curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages) dated and signed, including a list of at least 3 professional references;
(ii) A letter of motivation addressed to the SAA Country Director,
(iii) legalized copies of diplomas, certificates and work certificates;
(iv) a copy of birth certificate;
(v) a certificate of nationality.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female applications are strongly encouraged.