Inclusive Market Systems Development and Private Sector Engagement Specialist

Overview

Lead inclusive market systems and engage private sector for economic empowerment.

You have:

• Master’s Degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, Marketing, Rural Development, Development Studies, Project Management, International development or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of directly relevant professional experience in the area of local economic development/livelihood development private sector engagement.
• Working experience/knowledge in agribusiness and marketing across high value agricultural commodities.
• Strong experience in working with Government, private sector, NGO, and civil society groups.
• Research experience in conducting market assessment and value chain analysis.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, Power Point, STATA, Kobo tools, ODK.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation and reporting skills.
• Experience working with financial service providers both formal and informal financial Institutions to support producer groups.

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

Reports to: Resilience and Livelihood Technical Programme Lead.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Project Planning and Implementation.

• Provide technical leadership to THRIVE 2030 Project on value chain development activities and market systems development
• Provide technical leadership in Market and value chain analysis for all selected commodities and identify opportunities and constraints along the value chains for possible interventions
• Map and connect smallholder producers to key market actors to increase both income and profitability of the households
• Support in annual budget preparation with inputs on value chains and market systems related activities
• Ensure timely submission of request in relation to value chain and market systems development activities
• Work closely with Technical Program and project Officers, GESI Specialist, MEAL specialist, key partners and build their capacities on integrated market-driven approaches and support them to identify opportunities for replication and scale-up.
• Develop or make input into relevant training materials, manuals related to agricultural and non-agricultural marketing co-operative/collection center mgt. and value chain upgrading
• Identify and support the development of niche marketing opportunities such as high value crops and fair trade
• Explore different types of farmer- market linkages to offer opportunity for improving smallholder marketing;
• Support the development of sustainable livelihoods initiatives at the community.
• Identify emerging project risks and respond to the risk appropriately.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning and Knowledge Management.

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• Work with the MEAL officers to ensure effective monitoring and supervision of interventions related to market systems and value chain development.
• Co-ordinate joint planning, monitoring and reflection meeting with between staff, farmers and other value chain/ market system actors/ stakeholders.
• Develop data collection tools and techniques for monitoring project related interventions including marketing volume and value of commodities at collection centers and cooperatives
• Conduct monitoring visits to project activities to assess progress against targets and provide technical backstopping to activities in areas where improvements are needed.
• Ensure the documentation of lessons learned, best practices, success stories, case studies and project impacts for sharing at internal and external knowledge sharing forums.
• Support the THRIVE 2030 coordinator and MEAL officer to prepare and submit timely and accurate reports that meet donor requirements.
• Use innovative approaches to monitor and evaluate performance, effectiveness/impacts of livelihoods interventions
• Support in research and project evaluation activities such as; baseline and end line
• Conduct research related to sustainable livelihood and economic development.
• Lead periodic review of Thrive 2030 project to regularly update key stakeholders
• Document case studies/ best practices of market-driven approaches in programming that clearly demonstrate both social transformation and sustainable development outcomes of the interventions
• Partnering, Networking, External Engagements & Advocacy.
• Identify, profile and build strategic linkages, relations, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in value chain, market systems and financial inclusion space.
• Liaise with financial institutions and MFIs to identify potential sources of finance and support in product development to support commodity enhancement activities and assist commodity actors to access resources from financial institutions as well as SME and corporate finance;
• Ensure effective co-ordination and engagement among THRIVE 2030 project partners and stakeholders at different levels for successful implementation of the Economic Empowerment Business Plan.
• Build and maintain cordial relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry, other relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of economic development and livelihood component of the THRIVE project.
• Increase the visibility of the project through engagement with relevant stakeholders in value chain and market systems development
• Build and strengthen effective relations with networks and promote cross learning to enrich THRIVE economic development and livelihoods programs.
• Participate in networking meetings and guide members to obtain mutually beneficial and optimal ways to enhance livelihood activities.
• Attend national, international organization events and represent THRIVE project & resilience and livelihood sector in economic development and sustainable livelihood fora, meetings, workshops, conferences and contribute to technical interactions and discussions.
• Regularly meet with like-minded international and national agencies in-country
• Work out a mechanism to strengthen platforms that are relevant to selected focal commodities for project;
• Identify advocacy issues that affect project beneficiaries especially small holder farmers and engage relevant stakeholders for action and influence national and sub- national policies, remove barriers and promote access to agricultural commercialization
• Take lead on mapping identification selection engagement and coordination of the private sector for effective market system development.
• Grants Resource Acquisition.
• Identify problems and opportunities within AP and formulate them into concepts and proposal for donor
• Participate in development of concept notes/proposals for resource acquisition especially livelihood interventions.
• Generate quality data to support proposal writing on Thrive 2030 interventions
• Build and strengthen relationship with private sector players or donors to explore funding opportunity.
• Generate evidence from our work in the field to attract donor funding
• Work in collaboration with WVUS THRIVE team and other support offices to position for and pursue opportunities in livelihoods and resilience sector.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Minimum education, training and experience requirements to qualify for the position:

• Master’s Degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture Economics, Marketing, Rural Development, Development Studies, Project Management, International development or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of directly relevant professional experience in the area of local economic development/livelihood development private sector engagement.
• Working experience/knowledge in agribusiness and marketing across high value agricultural commodities;
• Strong experience in working with Government, private sector, NGO, and civil society groups.
• Research experience in conducting market assessment and value chain analysis.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, Power Point, STATA, Kobo tools, ODK.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Able to work with a wide range of stakeholders including community-based organizations, local NGOs, local government and officials, donors, and colleagues.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Quick learner, agile, flexible, adaptable, creative

• Excellent coordination and planning skills

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English

• Excellent team player with minimum supervision
• Excellent facilitation, presentation and reporting kills.
• Good understanding of inclusive and holistic programming such as; Climate smart approach, GESI responsive and transformative approaches, Market Led approaches and mainstreaming strategies and activities into livelihood sector.
• Experience in policy influence, advocacy or research related field
• Strong partnering, conflict management, and consensus building, negotiation and contracting skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines
• Experience working with financial service providers both formal and informal financial Institutions to support producer groups

Complete Travel and/or Work Environment statements if applicable.

• Work environment: Regional Office-based with frequent travel to the field
• Travel: 50% Domestic/international travel is required.
• On call: as required.

Advert start date: April 16, 2025.

Advert end date: April 23, 2025.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wvi.org