Focal Person for Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT (IGAD)
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title: Focal Person for Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub
Reference: IGAD-FSHH
Duty Station: Djibouti
Applications Deadline: 4^th December 2026

Expected Start Date: Immediate

1. Background

Africa’s agriculture is central to the continent’s economy and livelihoods, yet widespread soil degradation continues to undermine agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and food and nutrition security. In response, the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH) of May 2024 adopted a comprehensive action plan to restore soil health through coordinated regional action. Building on the Summit’s Declaration, the Soil Initiative for Africa, the Kampala CAADP Declaration (2025), the IGAD Regional Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (2025–2034), and guidance from the IGAD Ministers of Agriculture, IGAD has established a Regional Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub to coordinate regional efforts and support Member States in addressing fertilizer and soil health challenges.

The Regional Hub envisions healthy soils and the sustainable use of fertilizers across the IGAD region by promoting policy harmonization, capacity development, evidence-based decision-making, integrated soil fertility management, and resource mobilization.

The Hub is financially supported by the World Bank Financed Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) at the Agriculture and Environment Division (AED) of IGAD and IGAD AED serves as the secretariat of the Hub. FSRP is built on four pillars including (re-)building resilient agricultural production capacity, supporting the sustainable development of natural resources for resilient agricultural landscapes, getting to market and promoting a greater focus on food systems resilience in national and regional policymaking.

As the secretariat of the Hub, AED is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Regional Fertilizer and Soil Health activities, which are organized around six Key Performance Areas (KPAs):

1. Policy and Advocacy Support
2. Capacity Strengthening

• Soil Information Systems and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM)

1. Research and Innovation
2. Markets, Trade and Supply Chain
3. Resource Mobilization

The Hub involves multiple implementing partners, including Member States, research institutions, development partners, private sector actors and other technical organizations. The Secretariat therefore requires a dedicated focal person to serve as the focal person responsible for facilitating implementation, monitoring progress, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring timely reporting across all Key Priority areas of the hub.

2. Objective of the Position

The Programme Officer will serve as a Focal Person for IGAD Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub and will coordinate the implementation of program activities by facilitating collaboration among implementing partners and stakeholders. The officer will ensure effective planning, coordination, monitoring, communication, and reporting and serve as the Secretariat’s focal person for implementation of all IGAD Soil Hub activities.

2.1 Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Programme Officer/ Focal Person for IGAD Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub, under the supervision of the FSRP coordinator, will undertake the following tasks:

• Oversee the implementation of IGAD Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub Activities.
• Coordinate preparation of annual and quarterly work plans in collaboration with the technical steering committee of the HUb.
• Consolidate implementation schedules from all implementing partners.
• Ensure timely execution of planned activities.
• Track implementation milestones and deliverables/ Maintain an updated dashboard of activity progress.
• Develop and maintain an implementation tracking system.
• Monitor progress against agreed outputs and indicators.
• Compile quarterly, semi-annual and annual implementation reports.
• Identify implementation bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions.
• Organize coordination meetings of technical and sterring committees and other meetings as required.
• Prepare meeting agendas, briefing notes and background documents.
• Record and disseminate minutes and action points.
• Follow up on implementation of agreed actions.
• Maintain regular communication with Member States and implementing partners
• Facilitate collaboration among technical institutions, regional organizations, development partners and the private sector.
• Coordinate engagement with development partners and regional institutions.
• Support information sharing among stakeholders.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange across the six thematic areas.
• Ensure proper documentation of lessons learned and best practices.
• Support dissemination of achievements and success stories.
• Support preparation of funding proposals and concept notes by coordinating technical inputs from relevant experts.
• Compile information required for donor reporting.
• Take other responsibilities as required.

3. Expected Deliverables

Based on the Hub’s establishment and implementation documents, the focal person is expected to ensure coordination of institutions, convening of stakeholders, generation/sharing of knowledge, and support implementation across the hub’s priority areas.

He/she is responsible for delivering the Hub’s technical products in addition to the day-to-day implementation responsibilities.

The IGAD Soil Hub Focal Person is responsible for ensuring the Hub delivers on its promises through:

• Formulation, validation and endorsement of regional fertilizer and soil health policy frameworks, with Member State domestication support facilitated.
• Generation, sourcing, validation, and dissemination of regional soil information products, evidence-based technical recommendations, and research-informed solutions for sustainable soil health management
• Strengthening regional human and institutional capacity for sustainable fertilizer use and soil health management through coordinated capacity-development and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
• Scaling up of sustainable Integrated Soil Fertility Management across IGAD Member States
• Strengthening regional research, innovation, and technology-transfer mechanisms to generate and disseminate context-specific solutions for fertilizer use and soil health management
• Strengthening regional fertilizer markets, trade, quality assurance, and supply-chain systems to improve access to affordable, quality fertilizer and soil health inputs
• Establishment and implementation of a coordinated resource-mobilization and partnership framework

Operational Responsibilities include:

• Coordinated implementation of all planned Hub activities in accordance with the approved annual work plan.
• Consolidated IGAD Soil Hub implementation tracking matrix showing the status and progress of all planned activities.
• Quarterly, semi-annual, and annual progress reports submitted on time and meeting quality standards.
• Stakeholder coordination and engagement mechanism established and maintained, including regular communication with Member States and implementing partners.
• Coordination meetings (technical committees & working groups, steering committee, and partner meetings) successfully organized, with agendas, minutes, and action points documented.
• Action tracker maintained, with timely follow-up and reporting on the implementation of agreed decisions and recommendations.

4. Key Educational Qualifications and Professional Experience

4.1 Academic Qualification

• At least Master’s degree in Agriculture; Soil Science; Natural Resources Management; Environmental Science; Agricultural Economics; Development Studies; Project Management or a related field.

4.2 Professional work experience

• At least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience coordinating regional or multi-country programs.
• Experience working with governments, regional organizations, and development partners.
• Experience in program monitoring and reporting.
• Experience supporting donor-funded projects is an added advantage.

4.3 Essential Skills and Competencies Required

• Excellent coordination and organizational skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong planning and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and project management tools.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

4.4 Language requirements

Excellent command of English, both written and spoken, is required. Working knowledge of French is considered an added advantage.

5. Remuneration

In accordance with IGAD salary scale and applicable policies, taking into account the candidate’s and qualifications and relevant experience.

6. Duration of Assignment

The appointment shall be for an initial period of one year, renewable subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance, with the first three months constituting a probationary period. The assignment is expected to require a full-time professional level of engagement throughout the contract period.

7. How to Apply

Interested candidates should send their applications in PDF format accompanied by a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of academic credentials, copy of professional certification, copy of passport’s biometric page / national identity card and three reference persons including one from the last employer.

Applications should be submitted via email to the addresses: recruitment@igad.int with the subject line: ‘IGAD-FSHH’.

The deadline for submission of applications is 4^th December 2026 at 11:59 PM, Djibouti time (GMT+3). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

Due to anticipated large number of applications, only successful candidates who meet the required experience and qualifications for this position will be contacted.

IGAD is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Download the attached ToR document in PDF below
Vacancy Announcement Programme Officer_Focal Person for Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub