The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to help cover the cost of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, and intends to apply half of the proceeds of that credit towards payments for consultancy services, to be engaged in the form of an individual consultant, as set out below.

Position Being Filled

Job Title: Administrative and Finance Officer

Reference No: FMWR / TRIMING / 2020 / INDV / CS / 02

Locations: Kano / Jigawa / Zamfara / Sokoto

Name of Project: Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria

Project ID No: P123112

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About the Assignment

  • TRIMING is seeking to engage individual Professional Experts (Consultant) in the field named above who have experience in funding operations connected with the running of Farmers Management and Service Centers at project sites: the Kano River Irrigation Scheme (KRIS) at Kadawa in Kano State; the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme (HVIS) at Auyo in Jigawa State; the Bakalori Irrigation Scheme (BIS) at Talata Mafara in Zamfara State; and the Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Scheme (MRVIS) at Goronyo in Sokoto State.
  • Operating as a team, the individual specialists will work under the supervision of their respective FMC Boards of Trustees (BoTs), mainly assisting the TRIMING Project Management Unit (PMU) with the management of the Farmers Management and Service Delivery Centers at each site.
  • The four Farmers Management and Service Delivery Centers (FMCs) were registered as companies limited by shares under Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 (CAMA).

Purpose of the Assignment and Its Duration

  • The FMCs exist to address the difficulties small-scale farmers face across four irrigation schemes — BIS, HVIS, KRIS and MRIS. The constraints identified include access to quality inputs, mechanisation services, advisory support and credit, although the list is not limited to these.
  • The FMCs are further expected to serve as catalysts that strengthen the managerial capacity of smallholder farmer cooperatives and apex cooperatives, which hold the majority of shares in the FMCs.
  • The goal is to turn irrigation agriculture into a commercially viable investment, delivering improved productivity, fewer post-harvest losses, better commodity quality and a more efficient and predictable marketing system.
  • Improving farmers’ access to financial services is another role the FMCs are envisioned to play.
  • Engagement of the individual subject matter specialists covers an initial period of two (2) years, with the possibility of annual renewal for the life of the project, subject to work requirements and satisfactory performance.

What the FMCs Will Do

Working alongside the National Project Coordinator (NPC), the FMCs will handle the following, among other responsibilities:

  • Developing warehouses, and pack houses for tomato, to attract large off-takers and to allow for cleaning, grading, insurance, farmers’ access to credit facilities through the warehouse receipt system, long-term storage and better quality of onward supply. Warehousing is also expected to help buffer paddy prices for farmers.
  • Facilitating the supply of inputs and supporting the development of agro-dealers
  • Facilitating mechanisation services
  • Facilitating finance along scheme value chains
  • Market facilitation, supporting the establishment of long-term offtake contracts and contributing to more competitive, inclusive and resilient market systems
  • Providing technical and advisory services — extension, enterprise development, accounting and bookkeeping — to cooperatives and others

Duties of the Role

The officer will support FMC management in the following areas:

  • Keep bookkeeping and financial management systems in place so that the FMC records transactions accurately and operates smoothly
  • Ensure that the FMC’s books of account remain up to date
  • Ensure statutory financial returns and reports are filed (deductions, remittances, and the filing of local taxes including personal income tax (PAYE) and withholding tax (WHT)
  • Check supporting documents for accuracy, relevance and validity before entries are recorded
  • Manage FMC bank accounts, prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements and reconcile FMC petty cash every month
  • Prepare monthly and annual management accounts; initiate and coordinate the annual internal and external audit of FMC accounts and books
  • Coordinate and confirm that resources — financial, equipment and other materials — are organised and available to meet planned production and marketing targets
  • Finalise operational budgets for the work plan and coordinate the monthly production of cash forecasts so that funds are managed effectively
  • Maintain and coordinate the implementation of accounting and internal control procedures
  • Assist the general manager in running a management system that tracks progress against FMC operational plans, monitors achievement of production and marketing targets and ensures that variances are identified and addressed promptly through appropriate action
  • Support information management across the FMC, establish a central database of contacts and identify local sources
  • Provide other administrative support to staff and farmers as may be required from time to time
  • Carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the general manager

Qualifications

  • A degree in Accounting or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
  • He or She should have three to five years’ experience in administrative and accounting fields; experience in an agribusiness organisation is an added advantage.
  • Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping packages.
  • Must be able to use basic packages and spreadsheets to generate presentations and reports, and to work confidently online for email and sourcing information.

Knowledge and Skills Required

  • Administrative skills and the ability to meet deadlines
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels inside and outside the organisation
  • Ability to manage and resolve conflict among aggrieved staff
  • Knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting, and of accounting software
  • Knowledge of local tax laws and regulations, and their application where and when necessary
  • Ability to define problems, gather and analyse data, organise information and draw valid conclusions
  • Fluency in English; knowledge of Hausa is an added advantage.

Expression of Interest and Shortlisting

  • Individual consultants who are interested must submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) with all required documents attached, such as copies of engagement letters and any other supporting information showing that the CV demonstrates the qualifications and relevant experience needed to carry out the services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

  • Evidence of the consultant’s general qualifications (education, training and work experience)
  • Adequacy for the assignment: evidence of general experience in the fields of expertise listed above
  • Evidence of specific experience in the particular field of expertise — general administration, workshop and equipment management, administration and finance or related areas — as relevant to the field of expertise
  • Demonstrated experience in project management, administration and financing, particularly in Nigeria’s private sector.

Remuneration

Negotiable.

Deadline for Applications

2.00pm (Nigeria local time) on 7th August, 2020.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit an expression of interest by email or hard copy, together with all relevant documents, to the address below, depending on their location:

ATTN: National Project Coordinator,
Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project,
Federal Ministry of Water Resources,
Plot 1402, Abba Kyari Street, Off Adesoji Aderemi Street,
Apo – Abuja, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348038391469, +2348052048706.

Important Information / Notice

  • Consultants’ attention is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and employment of Consultants (under IBRD loans and IDA Credit and Grants) by World Bank borrowers, January 2011 edition and revised in July 2014 (Consultants Guidelines), which sets out the World Bank Policy on Conflict of Interest.
  • Interested consultants may obtain further information from the address given in the application section during office hours between 08:00 and 17:00 (Local time Monday to Friday) and /or send an electronic mail to the National Project Coordinator at [email protected]
  • The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the position can be found on the following website: www.triming.org
  • Each successful candidate has to make arrangements for his or her personal security in the course of discharging his or her official duty.