The organization IITA is looking for an Executive Assistant who will work directly with the Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse. The role based in Cotonou requires you to function as a strategic facilitator who will oversee partnerships and knowledge management and operational activities for a program that connects to 40 million farmers. We require a candidate who speaks both French and English at an advanced level and possesses relevant work experience and proactive problem-solving abilities. The opportunity allows you to apply your expertise toward a mission that holds historic significance.
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Executive Assistant, TAAT Clearinghouse
Position Reference: NRS2026-05
Location: Godomey, Atlantique Department, Benin (On-site)
Organization: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Program: Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Clearinghouse
Contract Type: Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS)
Initial Contract Duration: 2 years (with possibility of renewal)
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Organizational Context and Role
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) functions as a top research institution which operates as a non-profit organization within the One CGIAR network. Our organization creates agricultural solutions which address the most critical issues facing Africa, including food insecurity, nutritional deficiencies, economic hardship, and environmental resource deterioration.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) provides funding for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, which serves as a continental flagship program that enables smallholder farmers to access established agricultural technologies through accelerated expansion efforts. The TAAT Clearinghouse operates as a strategic connection which receives funding from both the AfDB and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to give technical support which helps implement technologies into national systems while establishing government agencies as key partners for technology expansion.
The organization requires a professional who possesses exceptional organizational skills and displays initiative while maintaining confidentiality to work as Executive Assistant for the Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse. This crucial position based in Cotonou, Benin provides complete administrative and operational support at the highest level to coordinate functions of the organization. The operational functions of the Clearinghouse will run smoothly because you will handle key communications while enabling leadership to dedicate their efforts towards achieving strategic goals which will revolutionize African agriculture.
Key Responsibilities
1. Executive and Administrative Support:
- The Head of Clearinghouse requires meeting arrangements and official travel needs to be scheduled through proactive management of his complex calendar.
- The team needs to handle and respond to multiple incoming messages and phone calls and information requests because it handles a large number of inquiries.
- The Head of Clearinghouse requires me to write letters and briefing documents and reports and presentations on his behalf.
- The team needs to organize complete travel and visa and accommodation arrangements for two separate missions and three workshops and two conferences which involve the Head and team experts.
2. Coordination of Meetings and Partnerships:
- The organization needs to manage and execute both internal and external meetings which include TAAT compacts and PMU and country partner meetings.
- The TAAT Clearinghouse requires him to function as the main point of contact between IITA administration and CGIAR system partners and external organizations.
- The team needs to document meeting minutes while monitoring action items and following up on all decisions and assigned responsibilities.
3. Knowledge Management:
- Develop and maintain organized electronic and hard-copy filing and archiving systems for all Clearinghouse documentation.
- Manage administrative databases to ensure efficient operations and easy information retrieval.
- Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
4. Financial and Budgetary Support:
- The first task requires me to create operational budgets together with financial reports.
- The second task requires me to monitor spending activities which I need to report to budget, and I will immediately notify stakeholders about any differences I find.
- I need to create and submit financial justifications together with documentation which I will submit through Oracle and other systems according to IITA and donor requirements.
- The Clearinghouse needs my assistance to help them acquire the goods and services which they need through the procurement process.
5. Monitoring, Coordination, and Other Duties:
- observation of staff and consultant work progress together with their assigned tasks and required deliverables and reporting obligations.
- The team requires your support which helps them communicate with one another and work together while connecting with other IITA units.
- The Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse will assign me additional tasks which I will perform.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma in Executive Secretarial Studies, Administrative Management, Office Management, Project Administration, or a closely related field.
Experience:
- The candidate needs to have at least five years of experience working as an Executive Assistant Senior Administrative Assistant or another position which requires high-level support.
- The preferred candidate should have work experience in international organizations or research institutions or large donor-funded programs.
- The applicant has shown his ability to assist top executives by managing their travel arrangements and event planning for international events which required him to organize multiple scheduled activities.
Required Competencies and Skills
- The required language proficiency includes advanced written and spoken French abilities while English proficiency must be demonstrated at a functional level.Professionalism demands exceptional integrity combined with discretion and confidentiality and professional judgment.
- The candidate demonstrates proactive behavior through their problem-solving capacity while showing strong ability to predict upcoming requirements.
- The candidate demonstrates exceptional organizational skills which enable them to handle various tasks while meeting strict deadlines and maintaining productivity during challenging situations.
- The candidate demonstrates strong independence and teamwork skills while working with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. The candidate demonstrates excellent ability to communicate with senior officials, partners, and various stakeholders.
Duty Station and Contract
- Duty Station: Cotonou, Benin Republic.
- Contract: An initial two-year contract is offered, with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and the availability of funds.
Equal Opportunity Employer
IITA practices equal employment opportunities because the organization wants to create a workforce that includes people from different backgrounds. The organization encourages all qualified women to apply and it welcomes their applications. The recruitment process will acknowledge all applications but only selected candidates will receive contact for upcoming recruitment steps.
