Agri-Digital Tools Coordinator NGO Job CABI

NGO Jobs. Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International Jobs

CABI is seeking an experienced agricultural professional to drive the uptake of its open-access decision-support tools, targeting agro-advisory service providers and farmers across Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and additional African countries. The role will work within CABI’s PlantwisePlus programme which is trying to solve some of the challenges facing smallholder production.

Due to increasing plant health threats, the indiscriminate use of highly toxic plant protection products is affecting product efficacy and human, livestock, and environmental health. Awareness of pesticide risks and knowledge of alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides remain low among smallholder farmers and agro-advisory service providers.

CABI has a range of digital advisory tools designed to support smallholder farmers produce high-quality crops while reducing reliance on highly toxic pesticides. The postholder will be responsible for raising the profile and increasing usage of these tools, particularly the CABI Bio Protection Portal, the Factsheet App, and e-learning courses, using their industry networks and connections with government agencies, Universities, agriculture service providers, and farmers.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct a stakeholder analysis and establish a network with high-profile agricultural organisations at national, international and community level (such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), NGOs, Farmer Associations & Cooperatives) that work with agro-advisory service providers, including agro-input dealers, and farmers in India.
• Identify and prioritise organisations to collaborate with on the promotion of the CABI suite of digital advisory tools, especially the CABI Bio Protection Portal and the Crop Sprayer App.
• In collaboration with these organisations, identify appropriate communication channels (e.g. social media, radio, WhatsApp groups, Telegram, village groups, etc.) that could be used to maximise reach to users of the CABI digital advisory tools and which languages should be used.
• Develop a suite of communication materials and tools, for example online and face-to-face training, social media messaging, flyers, posters, video instructional clips, etc., that can be used to send messaging to FPOs and other farmer organisations that are engaged in farmer welfare and education.
• Monitor usage of the CABI digital advisory tools to assess impact of communication events conducted and calculate the return on investment.
• Attend leading national industry events and conferences to give thought-leader presentations promoting use of digital advisory tools that support utilisation of biopesticides and low-toxicity chemicals in a rational manner.
• Recommend biocontrol manufacturers to the CABI Bio Protection Portal project manager for potential partnership, as well as recommendations for private sector sponsors and associates, in order to contribute to sustainability of the portal.
• Use your social media network (LinkedIn and/or Twitter) to raise the profile of CABI’s work and drive engagement with the digital advisory tools.
• Manage the budget and spend of your activities and regularly report performance against targets.
• Own and develop processes for managing the progress of your activities and improve efficiency.
• Communicate regularly with other staff working within the CABI PlantwisePlus programme to ensure awareness and alignment of activities within the broader programme.

Experience

• Experience working and communicating with government agencies, Universities, agro-advisory service providers, farmers, and other stakeholders
• Proven experience in marketing digital tools or products, with a strong understanding of marketing concepts and strategies
• Demonstrated ability to manage and cultivate partnerships with external organizations and stakeholders.
• Knowledge or experience in the agriculture or agribusiness sector is highly desirable

Skills

• Ability to work across cultures and geographic boundaries
• Strong team player with excellent technical management and communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and meet targets within budget
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, marketing, digital technology, communications or a related field.
• Fluent spoken and written English. Knowledge of African languages would be advantageous.

How to Apply

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