Technical Assistant to the Procurement Officer

The Kano State SAPZ Program – Technical Assistant to Support the SAPZ Program

The Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources is a prominent government body established in 1967 tasked with driving agricultural growth, ensuring food security, and improving rural livelihoods in Kano State, Nigeria.

Kano State Program Implementation Unit of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program now invites eligible and interested candidates to fill the position below:

• Job Title: Technical Assistant to the Procurement Officer
• Location: Kano
• Estimated Duration of the Assignment: twelve (12) months with the possibility of extension based on program needs, satisfactory performance and conduct

Background

• The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has secured a facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to implement a five-year ADB/IFAD/IsDB-Assisted Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program in partnership with the State Governments and Private Investors in seven (7) participating states of Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the first phase of program imple-mentation.
• The implementation of a govemment enabled private sector driven SAPZs is a major investment program of the Federal Government of Nigeria, driven by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in collaboration with relevant Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop agro-processing clusters in areas of high agricultural production across the country. It is a strategic move to rapidly develop modern Agro-processing capacity to serve the vast and growing local markets, create sustainable market for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses of local agricultural produce and thereby create wealth for farmers, promote import substitution and create sustainable agriculture-related jobs.
• This clustering approach is to help address investment challenges in the development of Agro-processing enclaves across Nigeria, including poat access to quality infrastructure, inadequate feedstock supplies and other challenges confronting agro-processing environment. SAPZs, therefore, will be developed with requisite infrastructure for Agro processing environment which will help reduce: cost absorptions and engender competitiveness in agro-industrial production that is critical to further unlocking the potentials of Nigeria's agriculture to create ready markets and wealth for farming communities and reduce rural poverty.
• "The SAPZ is made up of two building blocks which include the Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATs), which are community-based rural institution within the host community, supported with provision of quality production drivers for the production of feedstock and the Aggregation Centre (AC) for primary stor-age; and the Agro-Industrial Hub (AlH) equipped with desirable infrastructure to create modern Agro-processing environment where secondary value addition will take place.
• The Agro-Industrial Processing Hub (AlH) will draw its processing feedstock from the ATs where activities of the production clusters and Aggregation Centres are being coordinated.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

The TA will assist the SPO with the following key tasks:

Procurement Planning and Management:

• Assist in developing, monitoring, and updating the project's procurement plan to align with donor guidelines and program timelines.
• Support in managing the procurement processes to ensure they are executed efficiently and in a timely manner.

Preparation of Procurement Documentation:

• Aid in the preparation of procurement documents, including drafting requests for proposals, request for expression of interest, terms of reference, technical specifications, and bid evaluation criteria.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of all procurement documentation in line with relevant procurement laws and guidelines of the Bank (IsDB).

Contract Management and Oversight:

• Help monitor contract performance, ensuring timely and quality deliveries according to contractual obligations.
• Assist in tracking milestones and enforcing sanctions where applicable for non-compliant contractors.

Technical Support and Capacity Building:

• Provide technical assistance to procurement teams in participating states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as directed by the State Project Management Advisor.
• Contribute to capacity-building initiatives, including training and mentoring on procurement best practices.

Reporting and Data Management:

• Aid in preparing quarterly procurement status reports and contributing to financial monitoring reports as needed in accordance to Bank procedures and guidelines.
• Assist in maintaining an up-to-date procurement database, tracking contracts, deliveries, and supplier performance in accordance to Bank procedures and guidelines.
• Assist in maintaining an up-to-date contract register.

General Administrative Procurement Support:

• Support the SPO in administrative tasks and any other duties as may be directed by the NPO, ensuring effective communication and coordination across procurement activities.

Qualifications and Skills

• Required
• A minimum of Master’s Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Purchasing and Supply, or a related field is desirable.
• A minimum of Five (5) years of relevant experience in procurement or project management, preferably in donor-funded projects.
• Strong familiarity with procurement laws, processes, and best practices, particularly those aligned with international standards and donor requirements (e.g., AfDB, IFAD, IsDB).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Project) and experience with procurement management software is advantageous.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with an ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

Application Closing Date

13th October, 2026; 12:00 noon local time.