Community Development Advisor (ILM)

About SNV

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. Driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably, SNV strengthens capacities and catalyses partnerships that transform agri-food, energy, and water systems. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we support our partners in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia, tailoring our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create more equitable lives for all.

Project Background

The Dutch government, through its Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS), has funded a ten-year “Soil Values” programme (2024-2033) in Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Mali. The project is implemented by IFDC (lead of consortium), SNV, and Wageningen University, together with several leading knowledge partners (https://ifdc.org/projects/soil-values/). Soil Values project aims to support the large-scale adoption of proven soil health technologies and approaches, ensuring social inclusion, that improve soil fertility on 2.0 million hectares of arable land for 1.5 million smallholder food producers in 40 watersheds.

The programme seeks to sustainably improve soil health to boost agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly for smallholder farmers in the Sahel, including marginalised groups. It focuses on three main areas: promoting agroecology, developing inclusive markets and finance, and fostering supportive institutional environments. SNV is responsible for integrating community and landscape approaches, combining local knowledge with nature-based and external solutions to improve soil fertility and water conservation through participatory, community-driven watershed management.

SNV in Nigeria is currently seeking applicants for a full-time position as Community Development Advisor (ILM) on its Soil Value Project.

As Community Development Advisor, you are leading Soil Values community engagement approach in NIGERIA. By doing so you contribute to the component 2 – INTEGRATE – of Soil Values project. Capitalizing on the landscape assessments and ILM guidance provided SNV, IWMI, IFDC and other knowledge partners across several river basins, you drive a strategic agenda which engages partners and stakeholders towards next-stage landscape transformation on the following topics:

1. Facilitate entry into project communities and maintain strong relationships with local stakeholder, Support community-based planning and participatory decision-making processes as well as the Inclusive Landscape Management (ILM) and watershed planning, organise stakeholder consultations, community dialogues, and sensitisation activities and Promote ownership of project interventions among beneficiary communities
2. Conduct Participatory Assessments: Lead participatory analyses with communities using PRA tools and Geoportal data to understand landscape constraints and identify sustainable land management opportunities.
3. Design and deliver training programmes for community groups and local partners, strengthen capacities of farmer organisations, cooperatives, watershed committees, and community institutions, Facilitate Farmer Field Schools (FFS), demonstration plots, and participatory learning platforms Develop simplified training materials in relevant local languages where necessary.
4. Support community participation in watershed and landscape management activities, facilitate development of Community Action Plans and Local Development Plans, promote sustainable land management, soil fertility improvement, agroecological practices, and climate adaptation measures and strengthen conflict-sensitive approaches to natural resource governance and support collaboration with stakeholders and programs such as the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and DGIS funded Program to mobilize investments.
5. Support monitoring and knowledge sharing: Track progress of community watershed plans, document lessons learned and contribute to reporting and knowledge sharing within the Soil Values program.

Together with the FSRP, DGIS-Funded programs field teams, Country Field Lead and Local Implementation Partners (LIP), you facilitate the Community engagement and the ILM process to strengthen their capacity to guide and implement potential solutions. During the process, you pay special attention to climate-resilient aspects of the solutions and conflict management on natural resources, such as land, water, pastures, and forest. You make yourself familiar and further develop facilitation methods described in the Inclusive ILM guide to ensure that women, youth, pastoralists, and other vulnerable groups contribute to the discussions and that the solutions chosen also to address their specific problems.

You are a trusted and experienced partner for internal colleagues and external stakeholders, particularly at community and local government levels. As an organized and strategic practitioner in community engagement and inclusive landscape management, you are able to manage multiple priorities while facilitating collaboration among diverse actors. Through strong facilitation, guidance, and coaching, you support communities and local partners in developing and implementing sustainable soil fertility and land management practices. 

You are skilled at managing change and building trust, enabling you to work effectively with farmers, community leaders, government institutions, and development partners. You are able to bridge the perspectives of consortium partners with the realities and needs of communities and national stakeholders, ensuring that interventions remain locally relevant and inclusive. Working in a results-oriented, flexible, hands-on manner, you are committed to achieving SNV and Soil Values program objectives. As a practitioner in community-based landscape and watershed management, you demonstrate cultural sensitivity and build strong relationships with communities and partners across the program’s intervention areas.

You actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring the meaningful participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in project activities and decision-making processes. In this role, you facilitate stakeholder engagement and community participation processes, support the development of community landscape management plans, and coordinate with local implementation partners and Field Leads to ensure effective implementation and learning within the Soil Values program.

Duties & Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Community Development Advisor will include the following points:

• Mobilize communities, local authorities, technical services, and women’s and youth organizations around a shared vision of sustainable landscape management;
• Conduct participatory assessments to identify challenges related to soil fertility, water management, land degradation, and land-use conflicts;
• Facilitate the development of inclusive integrated landscape management plans, defining priorities, roles, community commitments, and coordination mechanisms;
• Organize training sessions and community learning initiatives on integrated soil fertility management, agroecology, land restoration, and water conservation;
• Support farmers, community facilitators, and local groups in adopting and disseminating sustainable practices;
• Promote the meaningful participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in line with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) approach;
• Establish mechanisms for feedback, participatory monitoring, and adaptive management of interventions;
• Document activities, results, lessons learned, and recommendations through reports, field notes, and knowledge-sharing materials.

To be considered for this role, you are expected to bring:

• University degree (master’s degree) in the field of rural development (Community Development, Agriculture, Sociology, Geography, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge on Integrated Landscape Management, or related field is a plus.
• 7 years of relevant working experience in a leadership role in the private sector, government agency or knowledge organization
• 7 years of experience in spatial planning, community-based watershed development, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, and/or agroecology/regenerative agriculture
• 5 years of working in consortiums, with good communication skills, experience working with government and local implementing partners (local authorities, land commission, civil society)
• Deep knowledge, interest and expertise in sustainable landscape development, and specifically to natural resource management linked to drylands and savannahs, land conflicts, and the reality of developing & fragile economies
• Results-oriented skills and attitude as well as a commitment to working with local partners and in remote and fragile areas
• Willingness to extensively travel in the region, at least 25% of your time (also in fragile and conflict areas)
• Fluency in English both written and spoken is required. Excellent intercultural leadership, teamwork, coaching, communication, networking and organizational skills.

• Type of contract: Full time on national contract
• Initial contract duration: One (1) year with possibility of extension
• Location: Kano, Nigeria
• Expected start date: September 1, 2026

Working at SNV 
At SNV we challenge and inspire and offer continuous growth. We offer meaningful opportunities to shape the future, expand your skills, and collaborate with a vibrant, global network of experts. At SNV your contribution matter, and your development is our priority.

We are home to 57 cultures working in 22 countries, with about 95% of our team members holding the nationality of the respective countries we work in. We promote (international) career development. Our workforce consists of a mix of both people with longstanding tenure, willing to share their institutional knowledge, as well as people with external backgrounds and experience. All with an inquisitive view and united in ‘ONE SNV’ working towards our purpose.

Together, we are committed to the effective and efficient stewardship of resources and maximising positive, lasting impacts. Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, technical knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Application and Selection Process

How to apply 

If you meet the key requirements and feel inspired by this opportunity, we warmly welcome your application. Please submit your CV and motivation letter by August 12, 2026 via Smart Recruiters.

To ensure a focused and respectful recruitment process, we kindly ask that you apply only if you meet the essential qualifications and are available to work in the specified location.

If this role isn’t the right fit but you’re interested in joining SNV in the future, we invite you to follow us on LinkedIn and our career page Vacancies | SNV to stay updated on new opportunities that match your profile.

Reference and vetting check

At SNV, our belief in the CARE principles — Commitment to impact, Adaptive to Context, Respecting Difference and Expertise in Practice — shapes how we work with each other and every interaction we have with our colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve. These values guide how we welcome new team members, ensuring our workplace remains a place of trust, safety, and dignity for all.

As part of our commitment to a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace, we carry out reference and background checks for all determined positions, with particular attention to safeguarding. You will be invited to provide the contact details of [two] referees, and we will only approach them once you have given your permission. We handle this process with care, empathy, and strict confidentiality, using the information solely for purposes related to your application and the role you have applied for.

SNV is committed to safeguarding and to protecting children and adults from all forms of harm, with zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or any other form of misconduct. As part of creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment, all staff, consultants, and partners are expected to uphold SNV’s safeguarding, child protection, ethical standards, and CARE principles. In line with these commitments — and as a participant in the Inter‑Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) — SNV will request a Statement of Conduct from your previous employer(s), covering any substantiated findings of misconduct, to ensure a recruitment process that safeguards and protect the communities we serve.