Overview
The Seed System Specialist will support the implementation of a project aimed at strengthening harmonized and resilient seed systems across Africa by promoting regulatory coherence and supporting AU seed harmonization frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate national seed system assessments in Eritrea and Kenya.
- Map national seed policies and regulatory instruments against AU Seed Harmonization Guidelines.
- Organize and facilitate national consultations, technical meetings, and validation workshops.
- Engage with government agencies, regulatory authorities, private sector actors, RECs, and development partners.
- Support preparation and dissemination of policy briefs, technical guidance notes, and knowledge products.
- Coordinate development of detailed domestication roadmaps for pilot countries.
- Support the operationalization of the ASBP Secretariat.
- Facilitate preparation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
- Organize regional coordination meetings and technical exchanges.
- Lead mapping of ongoing biotechnology and biosafety initiatives.
- Identify policy gaps and opportunities for regulatory alignment.
- Support consultations aimed at advancing harmonization of biosafety and biotechnology governance.
- Prepare technical reports, workshop summaries, analytical outputs, and harmonization briefs.
- Contribute to FAO project reporting requirements.
- Ensure integration of gender-responsive and human-rights-based approaches.
Required Experience
- Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in seed systems, regulatory harmonization, or agricultural policy.
- Demonstrated experience working across multiple countries and/or regions, preferably in Africa, with strong exposure to multi-stakeholder and cross-border initiatives involving governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and continental institutions such as the African Union.
- Proven experience in seed system development, including policy and regulatory frameworks, seed value chain development, and implementation of harmonization initiatives at national and/or regional levels.
- Experience in aligning national seed regulations with regional or continental frameworks (e.g. AU, COMESA, ECOWAS, or SADC systems) is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated capacity to conduct technical diagnostics, policy gap analyses, and facilitate high-level stakeholder consultations.
- Experience working with public institutions, private sector actors, and development partners in designing and implementing policy reforms, roadmaps, or coordination mechanisms is required.
- Familiarity with African Union agricultural agendas, including seed harmonization frameworks, and coordination platforms such as the African Seed and Biotechnology Platform (ASBP) or similar initiatives.
- Knowledge of biotechnology and biosafety regulatory systems, and their linkages to seed sector development, is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in regional coordination and institutional strengthening.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Seed Science, Plant Breeding, Agricultural Policy, Agribusiness, Agriculture, or related field.
- Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
