Senior Programme Officer, Food Security and Agriculture

About this role

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is seeking a Senior Programme Officer to lead and coordinate food security and agricultural development programmes across the Southern African region. Based in Gaborone, Botswana, this senior-level position sits within the SADC Secretariat and is primarily responsible for facilitating the development, implementation, and monitoring of policies, strategies, and programmes aimed at boosting agricultural production, productivity, and competitiveness to ensure regional food security and promote sustainable economic growth. The post holder will manage a team, oversee consultancies, and coordinate regional stakeholders including member states, development agencies, research institutions, and policy bodies. Core responsibilities include coordinating the development, strengthening, and harmonisation of agricultural strategies, policies, regulations, standards, and systems across SADC structures, and facilitating their adoption and implementation by member states.

The role involves commissioning research and studies to identify policy and regulatory gaps relating to agriculture production, food and nutrition security, and agro-industry, as well as managing a centralised database and disseminating relevant information. The post holder identifies key intervention areas, coordinates the development of long-term, medium, and short-term strategic plans aligned to the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and the Regional Agriculture Policy, prepares annual business plans, and supports resource mobilisation for programme implementation. Further duties encompass coordinating initiatives to enhance agricultural science, technology and innovation, managing regional value chain and value addition programmes for crops and livestock, and developing frameworks to reduce social and economic vulnerability and build long-term resilience for food and nutrition security across the region. The position requires at least a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics or a closely related field from a recognised institution, accompanied by a minimum of ten years of post-qualification experience in agriculture and food security within a public or private sector, regional, or international organisation, including at least four years in a line management role.