INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)

TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION (TAAT)

TAAT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT UNIT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES

SECTOR: Agriculture

CONSULTANCY SERVICES:  TAAT Program Coordinator and Head of TAAT Program Management Unit (PMU) Consultant

Recruitment Type:  International Consultant

Financing Agreement reference: P-Z1-AA0-139

Project ID No.2100155041681

Issue Date: 17 March 2026

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This request for expression of interest (REOI) follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared on the African Development Bank Group’s Internet Website (www.afdb.org)  12th August 2022.

The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Phase II and intends to apply part of the agreed amount of this grant to payments under the contract for TAAT Program Coordinator and Head of TAAT Program Management Unit (PMU) Consultant, who will be based in IITA Headquarters Ibadan, Nigeria.

The services included under this assignment are to Provide leadership in the overall implementation of the Regional Technology Delivery Infrastructure (RTDI) of the TAAT Program; and head the PMU in the implementation of financial and fiduciary, administrative and reporting activities of the program.

The selected consultant will, among others, ensure the successful implementation of the TAAT program by providing overall leadership on the various elements (PMU, CH, PSC and Compacts) of the RTDI of the program; oversee the day-to-day implementation of all program’s administrative and monitoring activities undertaken within the PMU; ensure that the TAAT program work plans and budgets are prepared and submitted for review and approvals by the Bank within agreed deadlines. This shall be accomplished in close collaboration with the Head of the Program Clearinghouse; Organize the timely transfer of program resources to the various institutions leading the Commodity value chains and Enablers as well as to partners who have signed implementation sub-grant agreements with the various implementation institutions of the program; Coordinate the compilation and review of Quarterly and Annual Technical and Financial reports from the various program compacts, for timely submission to the Bank, and enhance the visibility of TAAT through the communication unit; Oversee the preparation of TAAT Annual Corporate Report with compelling success stories and lessons learned across the program in collaboration with the TAAT Clearinghouse; Prepare and organize periodic program audits by Internal and External auditors and ensure that the reports are compiled and submitted to the Bank on time and ensure a follow up for the implementation of all audit recommendations; Elaborate and continue to update an administrative and financial management manual/template of procedures and processes and ensure its full implementation within the PMU and across the compacts; Ensure that funding eligibility criteria such as the establishment of special bank accounts are followed by the implementing institutions/partners and these institutions/partners accurately and timely account for fund utilization; Join the AfDB and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) teams in the formulation of large investment programs both at country and regional levels and participate in the development of the project proposals for funding consideration by appropriate donors; Review the performance of PMU staff and consultants and make contract renewal or non-renewal recommendations; Coordinate the preparation of robust procurement plans and ensure that they are efficiently and effectively implemented in accordance with Bank rules or institutional procedures where applicable; Coordinate all program activities including monitoring and evaluation, procurement and financial management, biannual supervision missions, midterm and project completion reviews; Coordinate the supervision of special studies including outcome and impact studies, independent program evaluation, environmental and social safeguard studies, gender studies, as may be applicable; Ensure effective communication and participation of CGIAR and non-CGIAR centers in country engagement missions in collaboration with the Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse; Organize all TAAT stakeholder technical meetings and workshops and liaise with the Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse and Compact Leaders to ensure the presentation of results aligned with the monitoring and evaluation framework of TAAT; Provide oversight on the implementation of the TAAT II Addendum from the Federal Republic of Germany, to support the TAAT program in accordance with the AfDB rules and procedures; Coordinate the recruitment of new staff and consultants in accordance with Bank procurement rules or institutional procedures where applicable; Represent the TAAT program and make presentations at various forums to which the TAAT program is invited; Undertake any other program-related or non-related tasks assigned by the Director General of IITA or his designated representative.

The selected consultant will be the Head of the TAAT PMU, based in Ibadan, Nigeria, and will report to the IITA Deputy Director General (DDG) Partnership for Delivery and Scaling, who will grant all approvals for travels outside the base location. The assignment will commence in December 2025, for an initial period of one year, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability from the donors.

Requirements

The selected consultant should possess: an advanced University graduate degree in areas of agricultural development, international development, international relations, economics, and/or related areas; at least ten years of relevant job experience with multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and other multilateral organizations with specific work in agriculture projects; experience working with government institutions and international or non-governmental organizations supporting agriculture transformation and development work; capacity to work under pressure, with tight deadlines in a rapidly changing organizational environment with attention to details; strong project management and organizational skills; excellent command of the English language; with proficiency in French as an added advantage; and ability to collaborate effectively across multicultural teams and contribute timely to delivery of outputs with demonstrated leadership across the program. 

IITA now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must submit an expression of interest for the position. Your expression of interest should contain a written justification of your candidature, highlighting achievements relevant to the role.

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Framework, October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (0800-1630hrs).

Expressions of interest should be sent to the address below on or before 8 April 2026.

 

Attn: Tahirou Abdoulaye; PhD

Deputy Director General; Partnership for Delivery and Scaling

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, www.iita.org

Headquarters & West Africa Hub

PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo State, Nigeria

International Mailing Address: IITA, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon, CR9 3EE, UK

Tel: +234 2 7517472   | USA Tel: +1 201 6336094 | Fax: +44 208 7113785 | Mobile No: +234 8169020531

Email: T.Abdoulaye@cgiar.org

and

Copy: m.a.bakare@cgiar.org

Benefits