What's Happening?
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is recruiting for the position of TAAT Country Engagement Officer – East Africa Regional Coordinator. This role is crucial for advancing agricultural transformation across East Africa by engaging
strategically with countries, aligning policies, and scaling proven agricultural technologies. The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, funded by the African Development Bank, aims to double productivity in crops, livestock, and fish, reaching over 40 million smallholder farmers across Africa. The program is part of the AfDB's Feed Africa Initiative, integrating validated agricultural technologies into large-scale investment programs. The TAAT Clearinghouse, co-funded by the AfDB and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, links TAAT Compacts with country-level agricultural projects, positioning governments as primary scaling partners.
Why It's Important?
The recruitment of a TAAT Country Engagement Officer is significant as it supports the broader goal of transforming agriculture in East Africa, which is vital for food security and economic growth in the region. By embedding TAAT-vetted technologies into AfDB-funded agricultural investments, the initiative aims to strengthen national seed systems and catalyze sustainable technology adoption at scale. This role will also involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including governments, CGIAR centers, and private sector actors, to ensure coordinated efforts in agricultural development. The success of this initiative could lead to increased agricultural productivity, improved livelihoods, and enhanced food security for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa.
What's Next?
The selected candidate will lead Clearinghouse engagement across East African Regional Member Countries, focusing on embedding TAAT-vetted technologies into agricultural investments. They will also support the integration of these technologies into new or underperforming projects, participate in AfDB project reviews, and provide technical input to project appraisal reports. Building strong engagement with ministries of agriculture and national authorities will be crucial. The role will also involve strengthening partnerships with organizations such as COMESA and ASARECA, and providing technical assistance to enhance national seed systems.
