Vacancies and How to Get a Job at IITA (Salary, Roles & Application Guide)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is hiring for a senior Country Coordinator position in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The role will lead the implementation of the I-Youth 2.0 Project while supporting youth employment, agribusiness development and entrepreneurship.

For professionals searching for IITA jobs in Sierra Leone 2026, this is a major opportunity for an experienced development professional. The position requires a Master's degree and at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including five years in senior management or leadership.

The initial contract is for three years, and IITA states that it offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars. Applications close on 1 September 2026.

About IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is a not-for-profit agricultural research and development organisation focused on tackling major challenges including hunger, malnutrition, poverty and natural resource degradation in Africa.

IITA works with partners across sub-Saharan Africa to improve livelihoods, strengthen food and nutrition security, create employment and promote sustainable use of natural resources. It is also a member of CGIAR, a global agricultural research partnership.

This particular recruitment reflects IITA's growing focus on young people as part of Africa's agricultural transformation. The Country Coordinator will combine programme leadership with youth network development, making the position broader than a conventional project management role.

Available Position

The current IITA recruitment includes:

• Country Coordinator – Sierra Leone
• Location: Freetown
• Employment type: Full-time
• Recruitment type: Internationally recruited position
• Initial contract: Three years
• Closing date: 1 September 2026

1. Country Coordinator – Sierra Leone

What You'll Do (Simplified)

The Country Coordinator will provide overall leadership for the I-Youth 2.0 Project in Sierra Leone.

The person appointed will be responsible for turning the project's plans into actual results while coordinating government institutions, development partners, private companies, financial institutions, research organisations and other stakeholders.

The main responsibilities include:

• Leading the planning and implementation of the country's I-Youth 2.0 activities.
• Preparing annual work plans, budgets, procurement plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinating technical activities covering enterprise development, workforce development, capacity building, digital transformation and monitoring.
• Managing and supporting the country project team.
• Ensuring project activities meet donor requirements and IITA's standards.
• Building partnerships with government, private-sector organisations, financial institutions and development partners.
• Supporting the establishment and operation of Agribusiness Parks and enterprise incubation programmes.
• Monitoring project performance against agreed targets.
• Overseeing budgets and ensuring responsible use of project resources.
• Managing project risks and addressing implementation challenges.
• Coordinating technical, financial and donor reporting.
• Representing the project at high-level meetings, conferences and policy discussions.
• Identifying opportunities to expand the programme and mobilise additional resources.

The Youth Agribusiness Responsibility

One of the most interesting aspects of this vacancy is that the Country Coordinator will also serve as the national focal point for IITA's Youth in Agribusiness (IYA) model.

This involves building and maintaining a national network of young agripreneurs who have participated in IYA training, incubation or related programmes.

The successful candidate will also:

• Maintain the national IYA youth and alumni network.
• Coordinate mentorship and youth communication activities.
• Connect young agripreneurs with mentors and development opportunities.
• Link Sierra Leone's IYA activities with the wider continental network.
• Promote the Agribusiness Park and incubation model.
• Document success stories and lessons learned.
• Support youth participation in regional competitions, exchanges and knowledge-sharing events.
• Help increase visibility and resource mobilisation for the IYA model.

Who This Role Is Best For

This is a senior management position, not an entry-level opportunity.

Applicants must have a Master's degree in a relevant area such as:

• Agriculture
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural Economics
• Business Administration
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Project Management
• Public Administration
• International Development

A project or programme management certification such as PMP or PRINCE2 is an advantage.

The employer requires at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five years in a senior management or leadership role.

Strong candidates will also have experience managing donor-funded programmes involving multiple partners and stakeholders. Experience in youth employment, agribusiness, enterprise development, workforce development, agricultural transformation or rural development is particularly relevant.

Estimated Salary

Negotiable based on experience.

IITA states that the position comes with an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars, but the vacancy does not publish a specific salary figure.

How to Apply

Applications must include:

• A cover letter explaining how your experience matches the position.
• An updated CV.
• Names and addresses of three professional referees.

One of the referees must be the head of your current or previous organisation or your direct supervisor/superior.

Applicants should complete the online application through IITA's recruitment portal.

Click here to apply online

The application deadline is 1 September 2026.

How to Increase Your Chances

This is a position where a generic development-sector CV is unlikely to be enough.

Your cover letter should directly connect your experience to the responsibilities of the Country Coordinator role.

For example, highlight:

• The size and value of programmes you have managed.
• Donor-funded projects you have led.
• Government partnerships you have developed.
• Teams and locations you have supervised.
• Experience managing complex budgets.
• Youth employment or entrepreneurship programmes.
• Agribusiness or agricultural development experience.
• Strategic partnerships with financial institutions and private companies.
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation and results-based management.
• Examples of programmes you helped scale.

If you have managed dispersed teams across districts or regions, make this particularly clear. The position requires strong coordination across different locations and stakeholder groups.

How to Successfully Apply for Jobs at IITA

A successful application should make it easy for the recruitment team to see that you have already handled responsibilities similar to those expected in the position.

Useful keywords to naturally include in your CV and cover letter, where they accurately describe your experience, include:

• Programme management
• Project leadership
• Agribusiness
• Youth employment
• Enterprise development
• Agricultural transformation
• Workforce development
• Donor-funded programmes
• Stakeholder engagement
• Government relations
• Strategic partnerships
• Resource mobilisation
• Financial management
• Risk management
• Results-based management
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Team leadership
• Agripreneurship
• Rural development
• Programme scaling

Do not simply insert these words into your CV. Support them with evidence.

For example, instead of saying "experienced in stakeholder engagement," explain the government agencies, donors, businesses or development organisations you worked with and what the partnership achieved.

Your cover letter is especially important because IITA specifically asks applicants to explain how their background and experience relate to the duties of the position.

What IITA Is Likely to Value in This Role

The vacancy points to a combination of technical, managerial and interpersonal strengths.

The successful candidate needs to be comfortable making decisions, managing people, working with senior stakeholders and representing an organisation publicly.

Strong communication and negotiation skills will be important because the role involves government officials, donors, development partners, financial institutions, research organisations, private-sector actors and young entrepreneurs.

Integrity, diplomacy and accountability are also essential for someone managing donor resources and representing IITA at national and international events.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying with a generic CV: Tailor your application specifically to programme leadership, agribusiness and youth employment.
• Underestimating the seniority of the role: The position requires at least 10 years of relevant experience and five years in senior leadership.
• Ignoring the cover letter requirement: IITA specifically asks candidates to explain how their experience relates to the position.
• Listing responsibilities without achievements: Show the results of programmes you have managed.
• Providing unsuitable referees: Check that your three referees meet the stated requirements.
• Waiting until the deadline: The application closes on 1 September 2026, so give yourself time to review your documents before submitting.

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