Program Officer-Post Harvest & Infrastructure / Grain Bank Officer at COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

We are  recruiting to fill the position below:

 Job Title: Program Officer – Post Harvest & Infrastructure / Grain Bank Officer

Location: Gashua / Bade, Yobe

Overall Responsibilities

• The Post-Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain Bank Officer will provide technical support for the operationalization,  management, and sustainability for five Community Grain Banks (CGBs) and five post-harvest aggregation and processing hubs under the Agri-Food System Transformation and Innovation (AFTI) project in Bade LGA, Yobe State.
• The position will support farmers, Producer Marketing Organizations (PMOs), Grain Bank Management Committees, youth operators, aggregators, and other value chain actors to improve grain aggregation, drying, storage, processing, quality control, and value addition.
• The Officer will ensure that Community Grain Banks and post-harvest hubs are operated safely, efficiently, inclusively, and under appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), user agreements, maintenance plans, and cost-recovery mechanisms.
• The role will contribute directly to the project target of reducing post-harvest losses by at least 20%, increasing adoption of improved post-harvest technologies, strengthening aggregation systems, and ensuring sustainable management of community-owned agricultural infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/Technical Lead the Post Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain Bank Officer will be responsible for:

Grain Bank and Infrastructure Management:

• Support the operationalization and effective management of Community Grain Banks (CGBs) and post-harvest hubs.
• Conduct routine assessments of warehouses, equipment, and facilities and identify maintenance and improvement needs.
• Support the formation and strengthening of inclusive Grain Bank Management Committees.
• Develop and implement SOPs, user agreements, safety procedures, and maintenance plans.

Post-Harvest Management and Technology:

• Provide technical guidance on grain receiving, weighing, drying, cleaning, grading, packaging, storage, and stock rotation.
• Supervise the installation, operation, and maintenance of post-harvest equipment, including dryers, cleaners, shellers, threshers, milling machines, moisture meters, and hermetic storage systems.
• Train and coach community and youth operators on equipment use, occupational safety, hygiene, quality control, and routine maintenance.
• Promote improved post-harvest practices, food safety, pest and moisture control, and value addition to achieve at least 20% reduction in post-harvest losses.

Aggregation and Market Support:

• Support grain aggregation, revolving stock mechanisms, inventory management, and accurate stock records.
• Mobilize farmers to utilize CGBs and post-harvest services in collaboration with Business Advisors and Community Mobilizers.
• Work with the Market Linkage Officer to ensure aggregated commodities meet buyer specifications, quality, volume, and delivery requirements.
• Support sustainable fee-for-service and cost-recovery models for CGBs and post-harvest hubs.

Monitoring, Coordination and Reporting:

• Maintain equipment inventories, stock records, maintenance logs, and hub utilization records.
• Monitor facility performance, service utilization, revenue, maintenance funds, and technology adoption.
• Coordinate with government institutions, extension services, private-sector suppliers, processors, aggregators, and other technical partners.
• Promote inclusive and safe access to infrastructure for women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, environmental, safeguarding, protection, and occupational health and safety standards.
• Collect and report data on CGB utilization, post-harvest services, equipment functionality, and loss reduction.
• Contribute to monitoring visits, technical assessments, success stories, lessons learned, and periodic reporting.
• Identify technical challenges and recommend corrective actions.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of developments in conflict sensitive programming and humanitarian response.
• Perform other duties as necessary, commensurate with professional background and experience, as deemed by the supervisor.
• This Terms of Reference outlines the key responsibilities and expectations for the Post Harvest and Infrastructure/Grain bank Officer under the WFP/BMZ-funded project.

Education & Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree or HND in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Food Science and Technology, Post-Harvest Technology, Crop Production, Agricultural Extension, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in post-harvest management, grain storage, agricultural infrastructure, warehouse management, aggregation, or agricultural value chain development.
• Practical knowledge of grain drying, cleaning, grading, moisture management, storage, pest control, packaging, quality assurance, and post-harvest loss reduction.
• Experience operating or managing post-harvest equipment such as solar dryers, grain cleaners, shellers, threshers, milling machines, moisture meters, weighing scales, and hermetic storage systems is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of warehouse inventory management, stock reconciliation, commodity tracking, or warehouse receipt systems is an advantage.
• Experience working with farmer cooperatives, PMOs, aggregators, community structures, government  agricultural departments, private-sector actors, or NGOs.
• Fluency in English and Hausa and/or relevant local languages spoken in Bade is essential.

Application Deadline : 8th September, 2026.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Interested and qualified candidates should use link below to Apply.

Click here to apply online

Note

• Interested candidates should click on the link below to apply.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Qualified female applicants are especially encouraged to apply and people with disabilities.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• Cooperazione Internazionale is an equal opportunity employer.
• We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
• COOPI does not charge any fee at any stage of the  recruitment process.