Market System / Value Chain Advisor at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2022-002
Location: Abuja
Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract)

Duties
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:

• Technically coordinate, implement, and monitor biofortified crops value chains.
• Support HarvestPlus partners and stakeholders in the implementation of projects and regular project reporting.
• Develop appropriate business models and plans for the implementation and delivery of biofortified crops value chains.
• Specifically work with seed companies to ensure production, distribution, and marketing of biofortified seeds.
• Work with seed companies and agro dealers to ensure access to seeds at state and LGA levels.
• Support seed value chains with demand creation exercises and demos to stimulate demand for biofortified crops.
• Facilitate contractual relationship between producers and aggregators.
• Integrate commodity brokers into the various value chains to support marketing of biofortified produce at the various commodity markets/hubs.
• Coordinate and network with relevant stakeholders/actors operating in the various biofortified value chains.
• Have experience in integration of stakeholders into value chains and be knowledgeable in identifying constraints and strengthening of weak linkages in value chains.
• Provide technical leadership for the implementation of activities using a market systems development approach.
• Build capacity of technical partners and stakeholders to foster market system upgrading.
• Implement diagnostics and assessments to evaluate market opportunities, identify partners, and design project partnerships and activities.
• Provide thought advice for the project implementing area private sector businesses, and other stakeholders in improving the market system.
• Work closely with the field team to strategize and implement activities aligned with the annual HarvestPlus project targets and be experienced in implementing value chain projects in Northern Nigeria.
• Implement value chains in crisis areas and work closely in collaboration with other members of HarvestPlus team.
• Prepare and implement operational plans and budgets for effective engagements with the development, private and public sector.
• Develop and implement technical, organizational and business advisory services and support to the creation of enabling environment.
• Work closely with the state and federal ministries of agriculture to integrate biofortification into their yearly programs.
• Develop and implement advisory services models that will deliver appropriate value chainwide technical support.
• Have sound knowledge of agricultural extension skills and smallholder capacity building and a focus of inclusive business models.
• Design and support the implementation of specific studies and request for proposals.
• Country specific contributions to monitoring, reporting to monthly, biannual and annual progress reports and evaluation of program activities.
• Prepare, moderate, document meetings and workshops and the organization of field trips as requested.
• Organize and implement field trainings and workshops.
• Coordinate the work of consultants/resource persons;
• Perform any other job-related task as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Agricultural Agriculture (Agronomy), Agriculture Extension, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics and Extension, Business Administration, or related field with a minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in food business, marketing and technical function or similar role in a well-structured environment or donor-funded organization.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must:

• Have additional training in the areas of value chain approach, cooperatives / social entrepreneurship, banking and finance, non-governmental organization (NGO) administration, business development services, policy formulation and advocacy ICT will be an advantage.
• Be experience in implementing nutrition-sensitive value chains
• Be experienced in agro-industries or development organization to facilitate and promote private sector agricultural development initiatives.

Remuneration
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.