Community Extension Agent at CARE International

• Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. doing business as CARE International in Ghana (“CARE”) is seeking qualified candidates for a role as Community Extension Agent. The full-time position will be based in a project community and will be required to travel to other project communities in the Daboase district of the Western region to provide extension service.

Candidate Profile

• The Community Extension Agent (CEA) will be responsible for providing extension services to a minimum of 11 communities in the Wassa East district, writing weekly and monthly reports on his/ her activities and submitting them to the Project Manager, as well as undertaking any project activities that may come up. Specifically, the CEA will be responsible for leading, with support from the Project Manager, in the implementation of farmer-based interventions in the project communities.

The CEA will report directly to the Project Manager.

Key areas of responsibility of the Community Extension Agent will include:

• Lead In The Implementation Of Farmer-Based Interventions – Asses the needs of farmers in assigned communities to inform segmentation, providing service support or targeted training to specific needs of farmer categories in assigned communities, support individual farmers or groups of farmers to develop their Farm management plans, facilitate the transfer of responsibility for maintenance of community-owned demonstration farms to Cocoa Cooperative societies and Community Development Committees. Use the Farmer Field Business School approach to train farmers in sustainable production of variety of food crops i.e. cassava, plantain, maize etc. in assigned communities.
• Ensure The Development Of A Learning Portfolio – Develop, manage and supervise relationships and activities of assigned beneficiary communities and collaborating partners, Support assigned communities in the development and review of Community Action Plans (CAPs). Lead community sensitization and interventions in assigned communities in collaboration with partners and in line with project objectives, support the PM and Project Officer in the dissemination of information and knowledge generated through the project widely and effectively to stakeholders including Mondelez International Programme Coordinating Unit (PCU).
• Work With Project Manager In Preparation Of Work Plans, Capacity Building Modules, Planning And Delivery Of Project Activities And Other Partners At The District Level – Support the PM to design, develop and implement project strategies and plans, ensuring they are in line with the project objectives, strategies and principles, and CARE’s mission and vision, support the PM to design and implement project approaches and methodologies aiming towards community empowerment, partner capacity building, partnerships and policy influence as well as lesson learning. Work with Sub Office M&E Officers to design project monitoring and evaluation plan and support all M&E processes of the project.

Required Skills or Experience

• A diploma or degree in Agriculture, or related field
• At least Two years’ post qualification of practical experience in cocoa extension service delivery in a cocoa communities, working with community groups,, Community, Farmer-based Organizations (FBOs) and other NGOs
• Relevant experience in capacity building activities and working with cocoa farming communities, CBOs NGOs and public sector agencies
• Excellent communication skills and good team player
• Experience in facilitating linkages, relationship building and networking
• Experienced in smallholder agri-business and capacity building
• Good speaking and writing skills in English and ability to communicate in Twi (Akan
• Well developed written and oral communication skills in English. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders (strong demonstrable report writing skills).
• Strong facilitation, People Skills, Integrity and Resilience / Adaptation and flexibility
• Ability to multitask and work within deadlines;
• Proficient in use of Microsoft applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Outlook
• Experience in community mobilization and training is an added advantage