Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor – Soil Values- Office of Programs at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Position Summary

• The Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor is responsible for analyzing the business cases for each bundle and technologies the program promotes (to mainstream sustainable soil management in the Sahel region) together with the implementing partners. He/she will coordinate with the relevant Soil Value staff and partners to undertake the cost-benefit analysis of the key interventions both at the program and watershed level. Coordinates exchange and provide technical backstopping to the Soil Value staff and Local implementing partners.

Responsibilities
Specific task

• Assess opportunities for developing inclusive business models using the technologies/innovations promoted by the program and its partners;
• Provide “thought leadership” on how (product/ process, technological/ institutional) innovations promoted to enhance soil fertility can be diagnosed from commercial viability and inclusivity point of view;
• Develop a framework to support SMEs and MSMEs engaged in the distribution of inputs (seeds, fertilizer, farm equipment), services (extension, financial solutions), and technology, in relation to promoting sustainable soil management, in order to develop inclusive and commercially viable business models that offer a competitive playing field and maximize impact on local and regional food systems;
• Co-lead the leveraging activities of the program through private sector engagement;
• Support the Local Implementing Partners (LIP) and farmers-based associations to develop a service provision model that can be sustained without any public support in the long term;
• Coordinate and/ or support country and regional level analyses to identify opportunities for inclusive business and/ or to deepen understanding of competitive determinants of selected value chains that can be used to increase the rate of return (investment) for the smallholder farmers on their soil;
• Identify, group and list key value chain operators and to appraise relationships (e.g., relations between potential consumer markets/ segments and processors/ traders, between processors/ traders and farmers, among farmers themselves, and between agro-input suppliers and farmers, etc.);
• Coordinate market related interventions agreed upon at the partnership/watershed level. These activities may include the following:
• Organize Market insights research, interpret insights and translate into advice to the SMEs, MSMEs, farmers based organizations and other relevant stakeholders;
• Implement strategy workshop(s) with business actors/leads and relevant stakeholders to develop marketing & last mile input distribution strategy;
• Integrate, together with other SV staff, market (both input & Output) activities in partnership(watershed) related action plans, and secure budget for implementation through the leveraging strategy of the program;
• Build capacities (technical & organizational) through business model canvas (or any other marketing strategy) workshops and design/ implement follow-up activities, including empowerment programs.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in business management, agribusiness, & economics;
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in inclusive business development activities in West Africa;
• Proven track record in developing business models for inputs and output markets;
• Ability to understand marketing trends and develop strategies to tap market opportunities;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders;
• Experience in multicultural & multilingual environments;
• Fluency in speaking and writing English and French;
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the West African region.

Reporting and Work Relationships

The Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor is supervised by Deputy Program Director Partnerships. She / he benefits from the coaching of the Program Director and the other Deputy Program Directors. She / he works in close collaboration with the Broker lead, Country Coordinators and Soil Values colleagues from other consortium members and Knowledge partners.