MAIN TASKS

1. The staple crops program manager

The staples crops manager coordinates and supervises the implementation of the staples crops program, ensure strategic patnerships/ linkages and represents CORAF/WECARD both internally and externally. Critical tasks include annual and medium-term planning including financial management, financial resource mobilization and allocation, intra and inter-program co-ordination and quality assurance. The manager engages in team building / mobilization, including identifying specific skills training for project leaders.

2. The biotechnology/biosafety program manager

The biotechnology/biosafety program manager coordinates and supervises the implementation of the priority projects in the biotechnology/biosafety program, with activities aimed at addressing the featured constraints within the biotechnology/biosafety sub-sector. The biotechnology program manager ensures strategic partnerships / linkages and representation of programs both internal and external to CORAF/WECARD. Critical tasks include annual and medium-term planning including financial management, financial resource mobilization and allocation, intra and inter-program co-ordination and quality assurance. The manager engages in team building /mobilization, including identifying specific skills training for project leaders.

 

DELIVERABLES
Expected deliverables from the staple crops program

1. 5005 producer groups in at least 10 countries have received capacity strengthening to respond to their relevant needs, including linkage to technology, input sources, credit and markets;

2. At least 10 new market-responsive varieties released in the sub-region (selected among rice, millet, sorghum, cassava, yam, plantain, cowpea);

3. 400 producer groups in at least 10 countries have adopted improve in land valley management practices for multiple cropping -- (complementing the research activities of the WARDA inland valley consortium) and support promotion using partnership arrangements;

4. 400 producer groups in at least 10 countries have adopted integrated crop management (IPM, ISFM, NRM and agronomic) practices to control pest and diseases in selected priority staple crops;

5. 400 producer groups in at least 12 countries are using modern agricultural inputs (fertilizers, seeds and plating material, labour-saving equipment);

6. A sub-regional networking facility in product quality improvement and marketing is established at CORAF/WECARD.

Expected deliverables from the biotechnology/biosafety program

- A wide distribution of Rymvl varieties to at least 1000 farmers, in at least 10 West African countries for rice production and rice seeds multiplication;

- An improvement of the capacity of the sub region's rice breeders in MAS technology

- An improvement of the laboratory capacities of participating institutions in basic molecular biology equipment for MAS;

- The negotiation of an agreement for the transfer of Bt- Cowpea in West and Central Africa;

- The testing and evaluation in at least 2 West and Central African countries of available Bt- cowpea varieties;

- The reinforcement of the technical and infrastructural capacities of participant countries in biosafety;

- The production and distribution, in at least 5 countries, of quality planting material (cuttings), produced by combining in vitro tissue culture and other multiplication techniques, necessary to plant 1000 ha of cassava that can be used subsequently for more cutting production and wider distribution.