Country Coordinator – Sierra Leone

About the role

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking a Country Coordinator for its I‑Youth 2.0 Project in Sierra Leone. This senior position provides strategic, technical, operational and administrative leadership to drive youth agribusiness development across the country.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, planning and execution of the I‑Youth 2.0 work plan, budget, procurement and implementation schedule.
• Supervise technical interventions covering capacity building, enterprise development, workforce development, digital transformation, M&E, communication and safeguarding.
• Manage and develop the country project team, including field coordinators, ensuring performance, staff development and delivery of results.
• Engage with national and sub‑national government bodies, development partners, private sector, financial institutions, research and educational institutions, and civil society to build strategic partnerships.
• Oversee the establishment and operational performance of Agribusiness Parks and enterprise incubation initiatives.
• Serve as the custodian of IITA’s Youth in Agribusiness (IYA) model, strengthening the national network of youth agripreneurs, coordinating alumni mentorship and linking activities to the continental IYA network.
• Ensure compliance with donor agreements, institutional policies and quality standards.

Required profile

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Agriculture, Rural Development, Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum 7‑10 years of experience in project management, preferably in youth‑focused agribusiness or development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi‑disciplinary teams and managing large budgets.
• Strong knowledge of the Sierra Leone agricultural sector and stakeholder landscape.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with government, NGOs, private sector and academia.

Required skills