SNV recruits 01 Agribusiness Advisor
Agribusiness Advisor
Kigali, Rwanda
Contract
Contract type: International employment contract
Company Description
SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.
In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation – by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organisation, with decentralised management. Our Global Support Unit (70 staff) backstops our teams around the world.
For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org
Background
The SNV Landscape Management and Integrated Water Resources Management Project is a 3-year project funded by the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Kigali. The overall project is led by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and SNV will be leading the agriculture markets component of the Landscape Restoration Project in Sebeya and other catchments of Western Rwanda.
The project will implement activities to restore the Sebeya catchment using landscape approach through institutional capacity strengthening; village-based land use planning and action implementation; engaging with the private sector for market access; developing livelihood alternatives; and scaling up community-based approaches for restoration. The government of Rwanda is a major player in this project as they facilitate investment fund to enable action on the ground while the technical assistance will be provided by IUCN and SNV subsequently.
Job Description
Sustainable landscapes in Rwanda very much depend on efficient land use planning and sustainable land management practices on agriculture lands. While there is a close link between restoration and agriculture The Agribusiness Advisor will support The sustainability of the agriculture sector which dependent on robust business development services that contribute to creation of effective and efficient value chains and vibrant sustainable inputs and outputs markets. He will be responsible to provide technical leadership to achievement of the Landscape Restoration while improving sustainable livelihoods in remote areas of Rwanda at the same time fostering marketing systems and strengthening linkages development of the industry players,
He or she will be Working within a multi-disciplinary team, and diverse partners including direct link with Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA), Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and various NGOs, districts and communities to support market-oriented approaches, leading to effective inputs and outputs markets functioning primarily through increased performance of and improved linkages between farmers’ enterprises, civil society organizations, government departments and the private sector.
Key Responsibilities
1. Design overall enterprise and marketing development strategy; encompass market led / value chain development approach to be integrated in all outcome areas to
unlock growth; increase productivity, employment and income
enhance innovation adoption and uptake
embed sustainability; socio-economic and environmentally sustainability
2. Facilitate development of commercial / business linkages.
3. Design a strategy to strengthen linkages between stakeholders – governments’ representatives and the private sector.
Maintain working relations with relevant government line ministries and private sector / research institutions to coordinate the adoption and uptake of innovations and/or approaches in irrigation agriculture development, Climate resilient agriculture and sustainable soil and land management
4. Facilitating strengthening / business re-engineering:
Strategic business advisory
Due diligence and commercial reviews
Business planning and feasibility studies
Competitiveness and benchmarking
Market and commodity research
5. Design, facilitate, coach and mentor
Enterprises along the Value chains on business development and ensure that they have the right business attitude, develop a business plan targeting their anticipated market, and have adequate skills to meet the market needs.
6. Infuse commercial orientation in projects activities and undertakings;
Support identification of market-led / sustainable agro-based economic opportunities and assist in understanding and implementation of demand-driven, commercialization approach to rural development based on access to markets
7. Facilitate, identify and assist in coordinating relevant
Workshops in agricultural marketing issues
Field days / market fares / exhibitions
Trade missions
8. Develop or facilitate training modules for project staff related to the key decision-making tools for market analysis and program intervention design, including:
Value chain analysis
Participatory needs assessment
Participatory action planning
Sub-sector analysis
9. Provide support and guidance to the project manager to develop, review, oversee and review project strategy and activities related to the implementation of the project according to the project proposal
10. And any other duty that may be assigned by the project manager from time to time
11. Develop guideline for sustainable agriculture in Sebeya catchments.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 10 years’ related experience; or a Master’s degree and 3 years’ related post-graduation experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in the following or related fields: agriculture economics, business administration, public administration, agriculture policy, etc.
At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in value chain development and market access related, and/or analysis/research of agribusiness and/or socio-economic development projects.
Practical experience supporting the development of farmers’ and farmers’ enterprises.
Demonstrated capacity to work with private sector players (financial institutions, exporters, buyers, traders, transporters, input suppliers or processors)
Skill in training, facilitation, networking, interpersonal relationships and familiarity with commonly used tools for market analysis and program design
An understanding of climate-smart agriculture principles is preferred.
Higher than average competence in MS Office applications.
Fluency in English.
Additional Information
Contract Type: International
Contract Duration: 3 years
Expected Start Date: June, 2019
Duty Station: Kigali, Rwanda
Working at SNV
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org
How to Apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the above profile, we invite you to apply by submitting your CV that contains three referees in English with a cover letter stating fee rate before April 7, 2019.
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted