Market & Finance Advisor - BWC at TechnoServe

Requisition Number:  MARKE01342
Job Category: Operations

Description

• We're looking for a Market and Finance Advisor (Kano, Nigeria)

About the Project

• TechnoServe Nigeria, in partnership with Exxon Mobil plans to Increase the Economic Opportunity of 1000 Women rice farmers and processors in Kano and Jigawa by increasing their incomes through training, access to quality inputs, access to suitable and affordable land, access to financial services, and linkage to market through aggregation.

Primary Purpose

• The Markets and Finance Advisor under the leadership of the Project Coordinator is expected to strengthen and drive the sustainability of women farmer groups through technical support provided in the form of business empowerment (including route to market and access to finance) and capacity building.
• The ultimate goal of the Market and Finance Advisor is to create stronger, self-reliant farmer groups that are more professional businesswomen, able to access medium and long-term affordable financial services and products.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Periodically carry out an assessment of all farmer groups already established on the project to identify cooperatives’ key capacities on operations, governance structure, key areas for improvement, etc.
• Provide guidance to the Business Advisors and Local Farmer Trainers in facilitating group formation amongst women farmers in project locations
• Develop practical and targeted training curriculum that helps in strengthening farmer groups based on assessment conducted
• Identify and link farmer groups to affordable and sustainable financial assistance that support the groups’ business activities
• Identify and link (using a sustainable approach) farmer groups to markets (old and new) that protect the economic interest of the groups
• Provide guidance to Business Advisors and Local Farmer Trainers in structuring viable and sustainable groups saving culture, using the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) or the Savings and Internal Lending Committees (SILC) model
• Ensure that agribusiness records of farmer groups are well maintained and that up-to-date data and information on groups are provided on a regular basis
• Support the Project Coordinator in designing and executing the planned project interventions
• Identify and perform a thorough assessment of emanating, existing, and envisaged challenges and proffer solutions
• Assist in implementing plans to help resolve any occasional discrepancy and irregularity
• Adherence strictly to the timeframe of assignments in the project life
• Any other tasks that may be assigned.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Business Management and other relevant fields;
• Fluency in Hausa and English
• At least 4 years’ experience in capacities relating to either Agribusiness, Education, Marketing, Business development or Advisory services
• Practical experience facilitating VSLAs or SILCs
• At least 2 years’ prior experience with development organizations
• Demonstrable group management skills
• Prior experience supporting community-based/ farmer-groups
• Prior experience working on gender-focused projects is a plus
• Ability to work as an effective member of a large team
• Ability to provide leadership and guidance to others
• Ability to actively engage with stakeholders, particularly community leaders, farmer groups and private sector actors
• Ability to develop well written, cohesive analyses and reports
• Ability to take initiative and work with limited supervision
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Experience with relevant software packages, including Microsoft Excel.