State Team Lead – Ekiti, Upcoming Advocacy Project

ABOUT IKORE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ikore International Development implements programmes designed to strengthen sustainable livelihoods, rural development, market systems and social development.

JOB SUMMARY

The State Team Lead will provide overall leadership, coordination and technical oversight for programme implementation in Ekiti State.

The role will translate programme strategies into high-quality field activities and coordinate Farmer Organisation strengthening, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, market-systems interventions and evidence generation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead programme implementation in Ekiti State.

• Ensure activities are implemented according to approved workplans and timelines.

• Coordinate Farmer Champions, Women Champions, Youth Innovation Ambassadors, consultants and facilitators.

• Coordinate Farmer Organisation strengthening activities.

• Integrate advocacy, communication, gender and evidence-generation activities.

• Monitor implementation progress.

• Recommend corrective action where necessary.

• Supervise state-based project staff.

• Provide coaching and performance support.

• Coordinate field schedules and staff assignments.

• Support preparation of state-level budgets and implementation plans.

• Coordinate logistics for trainings, meetings and field activities.

• Build relationships with State Ministries, Agricultural Development Programmes and Local Government authorities.

• Maintain relationships with Farmer Organisations and private-sector actors.

• Engage financial institutions, research institutions and civil-society organisations.

• Represent the project at state-level meetings and technical forums.

• Facilitate linkages between Farmer Organisations and market actors.

• Coordinate identification and mobilisation of participating Farmer Organisations.

• Support institutional strengthening and leadership-development activities.

• Promote Farmer Organisations as sustainable advocacy and market-coordination platforms.

• Coordinate farmer-led advocacy activities.

• Support Farmer Organisations to identify and pursue advocacy priorities.

• Oversee community mobilisation, peer-learning and demonstration activities.

• Promote inclusion of women, youth and underserved groups.

• Monitor performance against project indicators and targets.

• Ensure programme data is collected, verified and submitted on time.

• Document lessons learned, success stories and implementation challenges.

• Ensure activities meet technical and operational standards.

• Monitor compliance with donor and organisational requirements.

• Support audits, donor monitoring missions and evaluations.

• Identify operational risks and support mitigation measures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Development Studies, Public Administration, Agribusiness, Social Sciences or related field.

• Professional Project or Programme Management certification is an advantage.

• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible experience.

• Experience implementing agricultural, rural-development or market-systems programmes.

• Demonstrable field-team leadership experience.

• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.

• Experience working with Farmer Organisations and cooperatives.

• Experience working with government institutions and private-sector partners.

• Experience implementing donor-funded programmes.

• Strong understanding of agricultural market systems.

• Strong stakeholder-engagement and community-mobilisation skills.

• Excellent leadership, coordination and report-writing ability.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Ability to communicate effectively in the dominant local language.

• Applicants should reside in Ekiti State or be prepared to relocate immediately.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit:

• Updated CV.

• One-page cover letter.

Send applications to:

info@ikorefoundation.org

Deadline: 30 September 2026.