National Consultant (Field Extension Support Officer)
Organizational Context
The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the UN and WTO, implements the EU-funded 'Support to Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies and Strengthening Productive Capabilities and Value Chains' Programme in ACP countries. This role, within the Inclusive Agribusiness Systems Unit, focuses on strengthening productive, processing, promoting, and marketing capabilities and value chains, specifically in Liberia.
Job Purpose
This consultancy role serves to support the implementation of the EU-funded 'Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies and Strengthening Productive Capabilities and Value Chains' Programme in Liberia. The consultant will engage with coffee-farming communities, provide technical support and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), monitor farm performance, and collect data on production and sales. The purpose is to enhance value chain operators' competitiveness, particularly for smallholder farmers, by promoting inclusive alliances, improving productivity, and facilitating market linkages, ultimately contributing to increased value addition and competitiveness.
Responsibilities
The consultant will support community-level engagement with coffee farmers, maintaining an updated farmer registry and disseminating project information. Key duties include providing technical support and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), crop management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. Responsibilities also involve monitoring and documenting farm progress, identifying challenges, and reporting findings to the project team. The role includes supporting the distribution of project inputs, collecting farmer feedback, and facilitating engagement with local stakeholders. Additionally, the consultant will assess farmer and cooperative performance, document market opportunities and challenges, and contribute to reports on market linkages and overall project sustainability.
Work Experience
A minimum of 2 years of experience is required in project management and coordination, smallholder farmer development, and agricultural/rural development. Experience in agribusiness, stakeholder engagement, and participatory approaches is also necessary. Experience working with international organizations or national development agencies, and in data collection/survey administration, is desirable.
Skills
Good organizational and planning skills; high attention to detail; ability to manage multiple tasks; ability to work independently and collaboratively; strong interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills; good writing, reporting, synthesis, and analytical skills; ability to collect, organize, and present field information accurately; basic video/photographic documentation skills; agronomic expertise in coffee production and GAP; demonstration plot management; farmer training and coaching skills; farmer and community engagement skills; data collection and field monitoring skills; knowledge of coffee harvesting and post-harvest management; experience with rural community engagement; basic understanding of coffee market linkages.