Career Opportunities

Administrative and Financial Support Officer (DeSIRA LIFT+ Facility)

About the position

Agrinatura is implementing the DeSIRA LIFT+ Facility, funded by the European Commission (DG INTPA), to support the DeSIRA+ initiative promoting agroecological, ecosystem, and nature-based transitions in Sub-Saharan African agriculture and food systems. The facility strengthens dialogue among partners, provides tailored services to DeSIRA+ projects, and generates actionable knowledge to foster innovation at scale.

Agrinatura has delegated implementation of DeSIRA LIFT+ activities to a consortium of specialised organisations, coordinated by iCRA as the lead consortium member. On behalf of the consortium, iCRA is recruiting an Administrative and Financial Support Officer to support the management and implementation of the facility.

Purpose of the role

The Administrative and Financial Support Officer will support the smooth administrative, financial, and logistical implementation of the DeSIRA LIFT+ Facility. Working closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU), the Agrinatura EEIG Director and Senior Portfolio Officer, the iCRA Financial Controller, and consortium partners, the officer will contribute to budgeting, contracting, procurement, reporting, and coordination of project activities in compliance with European Commission rules and procedures.

Key responsibilities

Specific:

• Ensure smooth administrative, financial and logistical management of DeSIRA LIFT+ operations under the supervision of the Project Manager;
• Support budgeting, expenditure monitoring and financial reporting in compliance with EU regulations.
• Prepare financial reports, procurement files and other contractual documentation required by DG INTPA.
• Support contracting processes, including preparation of ToRs for Non-Key Experts;
• Ensure logistical arrangements for meetings, missions and other project events in close coordination with the Project Management Unit (PMU) and Long-Term Non-Key Experts (LT NKE), where relevant.
• Support to the Project Manager in overall PMU functions, including preparation of minutes, management of document repositories, and reporting.
• Ensure administrative follow-up of Non-Key Expert mobilisations and deliverables;
• Report directly to the Project Manager and in liaison with the Agrinatura EEIG Director, Senior Project Portfolio Officer and iCRA Financial Controller.
• Support compliance with ethical and data protection (GDPR) requirements related to project activities.

Generic:

• Ensure smooth day-to-day administrative, financial, and logistical operations of the project.
• Support the effective coordination between project stakeholders, partners, and service providers.

Managing Self:

• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good communication and negotiation skills.
• Have an ability to work well with others in a team.
• Demonstrate good IT skills.

Additional Requirements:

• Adhere to and promote the EU policies on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Information Security.
• Support and promote the EU Sustainability policies.
• Ensure compliance with European Commission rules and procedures, particularly regarding Service contracts and financial reporting.
• Adhere to current legal requirements and best practices related to administration and financial project management.
• Undertake any other duties as requested by the Project Manager or senior management.

Key performance indicators

• Timely and accurate financial and administrative reports and audit-ready financial records.
• Properly prepared and managed contracts and procurement files.
• Well-organised meetings and events with complete administrative follow-up.
• Accurate monitoring of budgets, expenditures, and expert timesheets.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential:

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar administrative and financial position, with demonstrated practice of EC regulations (financial, reporting, contracting).

It would be an asset:

Experience with service facilities or framework contracts.

Skills

Essential:

• Administration of contracts, financial, and other project documents.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Good in Microsoft Office suite (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PPT, etc.)
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

It would be an asset:

• Fluency in French.
• Experience with additional project management or financial management tools.
• Financial reporting in line with EC regulations.
• Drafting of Terms of Reference (ToR).
• Experience in organizing and facilitating interactions, events, workshops.

Qualifications

Essential:

Relevant minimum bachelor’s degree in administration, finance, project management, or a related field.

It would be an asset:

Training or certification in EU project management or financial management, capacity to support facilitation of exchanges, events.

Duty station

Brussels, Belgium (hybrid work possible).

What we offer

• Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact EU initiative supporting agroecological transitions in Africa.
• An international and collaborative working environment within the DeSIRA LIFT+ consortium.
• Competitive remuneration based on iCRA contractual terms and experience.
• Access to internal learning opportunities and career growth across the iCRA and Agrinatura networks.
• Hybrid working arrangements with duty station in Brussels.

This is a 80-100% time position offered on a one-year renewable contract, subject to performance and funding availability.

The gross monthly salary ranges between €3,000 and €3,800 (equivalent to €36,000–€46,000 gross per year), depending on experience and level of input. The contract is governed by Belgian employment regulations and includes holiday allowance, transport allowance, and pension contributions, in line with applicable standards.

The expected start date is April 2026.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to send their CV and motivation letter (in English) to:

info@icra.global (subject: Admin-Fin Support Officer – DeSIRA LIFT+).

Deadline for applications: 15 March 2026.

Every candidate will get a confirmation that their application has been received, and non-selected candidates will get a rejection email. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews (two stages).

About Agrinatura

Agrinatura is a unique alliance of over 30 European universities and research organizations, dedicated to the co-development and implementation of agricultural and environmental R&D projects in tropical low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Guided by the frameworks of the EU Green Deal and the European Commission’s Global Gateway, Agrinatura aligns its work with the United Nations Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). In addition to implementing projects, Agrinatura acts as a think tank, capitalizing on, disseminating, and valorizing project outcomes while fostering dialogue between science and society. This includes engagement with policymakers, the private sector, local and regional authorities, and civil society organizations. Given that most of its members are universities, Agrinatura also actively promotes education, capacity building, and knowledge sharing across its initiatives. Agrinatura’s robust scientific approach to societal challenges is grounded in the principles of credibility, relevance, legitimacy, and timeliness, demonstrated across its past and current projects. These projects address pressing global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable food systems, malnutrition, rural poverty, unemployment, and the degradation of renewable resources. They leverage key drivers of transformation including innovation systems and processes, agroecological transitions, agricultural productivity, technological alternatives, knowledge exchange, science-policy interface, impact assessment, risk analysis, and foresight methodologies. All activities incorporate elements of action research, stakeholder participation, knowledge management, inclusivity, gender sensitivity, training, policy engagement, and long-term partnerships.

About iCRA

iCRA is a Dutch non-profit foundation established in 1981. Based in Wageningen, iCRA empowers professionals and organisations in agriculture, food systems, and education to make agribusiness more inclusive and sustainable. Through its training, coaching, and institutional strengthening work, iCRA connects farmers, researchers, agripreneurs, and policymakers, fostering innovation and collaboration in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. iCRA has built a strong reputation in agri-education, capacity development, and value chain facilitation, working with development partners and educational institutions to strengthen local food systems.