Catholic Relief Services (CRS)- Request For Applications For Basics-II Project Consultancy Services

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS) REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR BASICS-II PROJECT CONSULTANCY SERVICES DEADLINE: 16 TH NOVEMBER, 2020

BACKGROUND: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in more than 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. Catholic Relief Services began working in Nigeria in the 1960s and was active during the 1967 civil war in the area of emergency response. After the war, the Nigerían government asked CRS and other international development agencies to leave the country. Thirty years later, with the return of democracy after years of military rule, CRS returned to Nigeria in 2000 at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. In partnership with the Catholic Church, other faith-based and community-based organizations, the private sector, local and international NGOs, and government institutions, CRS implements a range of complex programs with support from a variety of donors and private funds. CRS operations in Nigeria are undertaken through local organizations in agriculture, emergency response, orphans and vulnerable children, health, HIV, governance and peacebuilding. CRS has worked in 34 of the country's 36 states, demonstrating the agency's extensive grassroots networks and tremendous capacity to reach the rural poor.

CRS is implementing the Development of Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (DCSE) component of Building An Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-11) in Benue and Kogi State. BASICS-I is being implemented by a consortium of organisations led by IITA and covers the entire cassava seed value chain, ranging from breeder to tarmer seed. Ihe project's Vision is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of the cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain operating across breeder, foundation, and commercial seed levels. This value chain will enable more efficient dissemination and adoption of new varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity, and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation in Nigeria and Tanzania.

The DCSE component of the BASICS-Il project which is being implemented by CRS will include the aggregation of CSEs and cover production and marketing of certified planting materials of improved cassava varieties to farmers within and outside of Kogi and Benue states. In implementing the component, CRS will identify, train and work with the Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs (CSES) to plan and organize their seed production and marketing activities. They will be supported to be organised as formidable Seed Entrepreneurs Networks (SENS) operational in the implementation states. The strategic objective of the DCSE component for Nigeria is to more than double the number of decentralized, commercially viable seed enterprises in Nigeria, while they increase in average size and aggregate into associations to facilitate marketing, quality control, and other services. The project seeks to engage consultants for the following services: -Marketing Agent for Seed Entrepreneur Networks -Private Extension Service Provider (PESP)

MARKETING AGENT FOR SEED ENTREPRENEUR NETWORKS The project seeks to engage the services of Marketing Agents for Seed Entrepreneur Networks in Benue and Kogi States. The Marketing Agent will:-assist CSEs in connecting with quality input suppliers -assist CSEs in identifying profitable output markets for certified stems undertake demand mapping and marketing activities to create additional demand for certified tems utilizing SeediraCerion to fill orders from clients, -assist in the aggregation of CSEs production to fill orders from clients, -coordinate with actors (including lITA GoSeed, Umudike Seeds, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, National Agricultural Seeds Council) to ensure the delivery of timely inputs and services for the CSEs and SENS. Applicants are expected to be experienced marketers with an agricultural background, passionate, able to communicate well and knowledgeable about the State of interest. S/he must be ready to travel far and wide within the state and have previous good relationships working with farmers, farmer groups and stakeholders in the Agriculture sector.

PRIVATE EXTENSION SERVICE PROVIDER (PESP) The project seeks to engage the services of Prívate Extension Service Provider (PESP) in Benue and Kogi States. The PESP will: be responsible for providing necessary briefing and mobilization of CSEs in the State of assignment, -be responsible for training and supporting the development of at least one new SEN in a new cassava growing areas in the State of assignment, -be responsible for growing of existing networks and formation of new networks in the State of assignment, -be trained and also be responsible for providing the required capacity strengthening of the networks in the State of assignment, -support the marketing of the CSEs certified stems within and outside the State of assignment and -support the CSEs and SENS in regular updates of basicfarm and network records. -support the SENS to ensure timely and cost-effective procurement of inputs

Expected applicants for this position are agriculture (or related fields) graduates with requisite experience in provision of agricultural extension services to farmers including working experience in the preferred State. Experience with and good knowledge of cassava production and cassava seed system will be an added advantage. S/he must be ready to travel far and wide within the state and have previous good relationship working with farmers, farmer groups and stakeholders in the Agriculture sector

METHOD OF APPLICATION Qualified and interested individuals are to submit an Expression of Interest and curriculum vitae for provision of the service(s) as a single Microsoft Word document to tenders.ngr@crs.org using the job title as the subject. -BASICS-lI Marketing Agent for Seed Entrepreneur Networks" -BASICS-II Private Extension Service Provider (PESP)"

Completed applications should reach us on or before 5.00pm, Monday, November 16, 2020. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

EQUAL EMPLOYER OPPORTUNITY: "CRS is an equal-opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management'. etc. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply"

SAFEGUARDING By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its consultants and staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO PROTECTION: "CRS recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation"

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)- Request For Applications For Basics-II Project Consultancy Services

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