Local Sales and Marketing Advisor

Consultant Finance & Economy Programme & Policy

Overview

Develop and implement a local sales strategy for fresh farm-based products in Eswatini.

You have:

• Masters or University degree in business administration, communications, marketing, sales or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in sales and marketing
• Experience working in communications (print or digital media) highly desirable
• Documented Experience of successful face to face sales & marketing processes & relationship building
• Experiences working agribusiness industry (agro-food sales, quality compliance or related areas) highly desirable
• Good understanding and direct knowledge of the agribusiness sectors in Eswatini or Southern Africa, specifically on permaculture and local food systems
• Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to produce documents/reports
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, efficiency, competence, and integrity and in harmony with people from different backgrounds

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The Consultant will submit a monthly report on the progress and completion of project activities for validation, as follows: Output 1. Sales strategy is drafted and submitted for review on farm-based products, targeting the local market in Eswatini, 30 May 2025 Output 2. Report is submitted on outreach to potential clients and actions to develop new customers’ base and relationships, 30 June 2025 Output 3. Report submitted and validated on models of increasing public sales within the direct public sales sector, 31 July 2025 Output 4. Marketing materials for general public are produced/finalized to promote the ethics & values of the permaculture farmers’ network to existing & new customers, 31 August 2025 Output 5. The sales strategy draft is updated, including number of clients reached, number of sales, and recommendations, 30 September 2025 Output 6. Training materials for farmers (guide with at least 10 pages, and a presentation) is developed and validated with, 31 October 2025 Output 7. At least 3 mentorship sessions on key sales strategies delivered to farmers, 30 November 2025 Output 8. Final report (15 pages) is submitted and validated on detailed activities, including final version of sales strategy, sales results and recommendations, 31 December 2025.

Work Location

Home-based in Eswatini

Expected duration

01.05.25 - 31.12.25

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. The Eswatini Government identifies agriculture as one of the main drivers of growth and jobs as stipulated in the Eswatini National Development Strategy and Vision 2022 and developed the Economic Recovery Plan 2020 which identifies the private sector as an engine for economic growth. In collaboration with the Eswatini Government and through funding from the European Union, ITC is supporting the Eswatini Government to achieve its development objectives through the implementation of a Programme comprised of three interconnected projects, namely: “Support for Job Creation and the Investment Climate (JC & IC); Support to the implementation of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP)”. The programme aims to unlock the key constraints to competitiveness in Eswatini by improving the policy and regulatory framework for private sector development and through the development of selected value chains; and supports the enablement of a public-private platform for improving the country’s national competitiveness. With a major focus on the development of agriculture and agri-business value chains and crafts, the Eswatini programme is designed to achieve two key outcomes: (1) adopting and implementing business-friendly, inclusive, and responsible national policies and legal frameworks, and (2) strengthening productive, processing, promoting, and marketing capabilities of and for targeted value chains. This assignment contributes to: “Support for Job Creation and the Investment Climate (JC & IC) The specific objectives of project are the following: Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Competitiveness’ of the value chain actors assessed and capacity of support ecosystem analysed Specific Objective 2 (SO2): Public Private alliances convened in selected value chains resulting to improved jobs and growth Specific Objective 3 (SO3): Capacities of business support institutions and associations enhanced with improved and a more inclusive delivery of support services to MSMEs Specific Objective 4 (SO4): MSMEs, SEs and Producers association investment strategies developed The direct beneficiaries of the project are:  MSMEs  Social enterprises  Producer Associations-including cooperatives, farmers’ organisations and farmers/artisans groups  Smallholder farmers  Arts and crafts producers  Support institutions defined during the project's inception phase  Trade and Investment Support institutions (TISI)  Business support and training institutions  Professional associations  Farmers support institutions  Financial institutions ITC’s Division on Sustainable and Inclusive Trade/ Green and Inclusive Value Chain (DSIT/GIVC) is responsible for developing and disseminating sector level expertise for sustainable market driven solutions in ITC, including the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodology. A4A is a participatory partnership model that engages smallholder farmers and MSMEs to manage risk and facilitate networks that provide the required technical expertise and capacity building. They aim to increase competitiveness of value chain actors while ensuring compliance with environmental, economic, and social requirements through mapping of the key environmental, economic, and social risks affecting value chain operations in Eswatini. The objective of this assignment is to: i. Develop a local sales strategy for fresh product from small holder farmers using permaculture practices. ii. Implement the sales plan, increasing number of business relationship in B2B and B2C DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Project Manager in close collaboration with the A4A market expert, the national MSME Sustainability Expert and the partner BSO to undertake the following duties: 1. Create a sales strategy for farm-based products (with focus on fresh produce, including herbs, and with value-added products as diversification opportunities) to the local market, focusing in three targets: i. Hospitality sector (Hotels, Restaurants, Guesthouses etc) ii. Direct to the public (individuals) iii. Institutions - The market research will include retailers, such as supermarkets, to build a comprehensive strategy. 2. Include the following steps in the strategy report for the target markets: - Prepare a business plan, using the existing market research - Develop database of procurement contacts with all key hospitality industry in central eSwatini - Provide recommendations on sales platforms and models to increase public sales - Generate an up-to-date product price list benchmarked against other wholesalers and ensures maximum revenue returns to farmers. - Provide logistic recommendations and solutions to consolidate product distribution and packaging - Explore future possibilities to supply local supermarket networks with surplus produce 3. Deploy the sales strategy with the aim of increasing the volume of sales, managing the following aspects: - Outreach to potential clients and develop new customer relationships within the hospitality sector: i. Introduce the offers ii. Secure orders iii. Oversee packing processes, delivery schedules & ensure accurate & timely invoicing data passed to admin team iv. Manage customer relationships using proactive communication strategies, collecting feedback & responding. This include the set yop of WhatsApp Business for direct sales, customer updates, and order coordination. - Develop new customer relationships within the direct public sales sector: i. Trial & research new modes of increasing public sales. • Increase Veg Box system/pop up shop/farmers market sales • Explore additional models and modes of increasing public sales ii. Provide basic guidance on effective communication strategies - Continually develop and fine tune ordering, sales, delivery & feedback systems - Design and produce marketing materials to promote the ethics & values of the permaculture famers network to existing & new customers. i. Create and manage email marketing to maintain relationships with customers 4. Develop and deliver training materials and mentorship sessions for farmers on key sales strategies.

Qualifications/special skills

Masters or University degree in business administration, communications, marketing, sales or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in sales and marketing Experience working in communications (print or digital media) highly desirable Documented Experience of successful face to face sales & marketing processes & relationship building Experiences working agribusiness industry (agro-food sales, quality compliance or related areas) highly desirable Experience in working with clients and partners from diverse backgrounds Ability to design, develop, monitor and coordinate business plans and take corrective actions; Good understanding and direct knowledge of the agribusiness sectors in Eswatini or Southern Africa, spefically on permaculture and local food systems Good team working and interpersonal skills Adaptable and able to respond to changing demands of a growing company environment Capacity to travel in the country and network with stakeholders and partners; Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to produce documents/ reports Good knowledge of Microsoft Office. Ability to work with minimum supervision, efficiency, competence, and integrity and in harmony with people from different backgrounds.

Languages

Fluency in written and speaking of English. Ability to work and communicator confidently in English & Siswati

Additional Information

Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org