🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ GIZ – Junior Advisor for Agribusiness in the Rice and Cashew Value Chain

Job Description

Overview

On behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and with a co-funding of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will be implementing the „Market-oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE)”. The project aims at increasing the productivity in the rice and cashew value chains and improve the quality of the commodities. Within the rice value chain, the aim is to significantly improve the livelihoods of small-scale rice farmers in selected African countries by increasing the competitiveness of domestic rice supply to meet increasing regional demand in the ECOWAS region. MOVE will be implemented in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone. The MOVE project is a merger of the existing regional programs Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew) and Competitive Rice Initiative (CARI).




The project is built around 5 different pillars

1. Increasing the value creation of processing in the ECOWAS region.
2. Improve the economic/environmental sustainability of agricultural systems.
3. Improving the marketing of regional products.
4. Disseminating good practices in promoting inclusive business models.
5. Strengthening public-private cooperation in policymaking

The junior advisor shall predominantly work on pillar 1, 2 and 4 in both value chains but may also support other colleagues under pillars 3 and 5. The position is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Responsibilities

The expert is a professional responsible for:

• Maintaining close exchange and update meetings with country responsible based in Ghana as well as regional advisors based in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.
• Supporting the project implementation within the agreed timelines and budgets in close exchange with the regional MOVE team.
• Facilitating the information exchange and knowledge management across the partners including other GIZ projects, partners on the ground, other organizations, and key stakeholders of the value chains with regards to the project ground activities.
• Monitoring and managing incoming consultants and ensuring that they provide cost-effective services

Tasks

Under the supervision of the project Country Responsible, the expert translates the responsibilities above autonomously and efficiently into action in line with planned targets. This comprises the following tasks:

• Expertise in the rice and cashew value chain in Sierra Leone and technically advice partners, stakeholder, and actors of the value chains. Prepare collaborative arrangements with partners as required.
• Support public and private partners in the preparation of project ideas for matching fund proposals
• Support the selection and contracting partners and consultants for project activities and supervise them under the leadership of the Country Responsible.
• Develop information material on the project approaches and activities which prove suitable in Sierra Leone.
• Support the roll out of farmer training such as Sustainable Rice Production (SRP) and Farmer Business School (FBS) for both the cashew and rice value chain.
• Support the establishment of contract farming schemes in the value chains with private companies as well as the public sector.
• Establish and maintain communication with other team members of the project and partners in Sierra Leone and in other project countries.
• Work in close coordination with an external consultant to support the establishment of the national rice platform and multi-actor platforms.
• Coordinate and collaborate with major rice projects in Sierra Leone and implement joint activities.
• Select actors of the rice and cashew value chains to participate in regional learning exchanges.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation unit in data collection activities in Sierra Leone

• Other tasks

• Provide contributions to annual progress reports in line with the deadlines and requirements for content and quality.
• Present and support the concepts and experiences of the project during national events.
• Contribute to the preparation and the implementation of project evaluations.
• Preparation, moderation and documentation of meetings and workshops and the organization of field trips as requested.
• Preparation of concept notes for project interventions, studies and data collection process.
• Any other instructions given in furtherance of project operations and management.

Required qualifications, competences, and experience

Qualifications 

Undergraduate or Masters/MSc in agriculture with specialization in agribusiness, agricultural economics or equivalent

Professional experience

• At least 2-3 years of experience in agricultural value chain development / human capacity development in rural areas /private sector development and/or business advisory
• Previous experience and expertise in the rice and/or cashew value chain is an asset
• Previous experience with GIZ is a strong asset
• Experience working in the context of international cooperation is an advantage
• Experience with agricultural projects and working experience with international donor agencies
• Fluent in English and knowledge of French is a strong asset

Other knowledge, additional competences 

• Excellent communications skills verbally and orally
• Willingness to travel
• Capacity and sensitivity to work in a multinational environment
• Demonstrated ability to co-design, manage and implement training and extension activities.
• Provide services and support private sector development activities in agricultural training and extension in agribusiness and public private partnerships.
• Facilitation of discussions and workshops (preparation, implementation, and documentation).
• Precise and efficient organization of autonomous work coupled with the ability and willingness for dialogue on identified support needs.
• Presentation skills.
• Computer skills in up-to-date MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Publisher would be plus).

Personal Skills

• Clear and diplomatic communication (spoken and written)
• Ability interdisciplinary / multi-institutional teams (units / research organizations, NGOs and Governmental agencies and donors) to communicate adequately with farmers and private companies.
• Teamwork and constructive attitude in case of difficulties or conflicts
• Capacity of reflection of own work and willingness to learn
• Developed attitude and awareness of service delivery.

Duration of the Assignment 

01st January 2023 – 31st December 2023 with potential for renewal.

Duty station: Freetown, Sierra Leone with high field travel intensity (local and regional)

Mode of Application:

Suitable candidates are invited to apply not later than 14.10.2022

Applications include:

• Cover letter
• CV (including work experience and references)
• Photocopies of certificates

have to be submitted to the email address:

[email protected]  

Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

GIZ-Sierra Leone is an equal opportunity employer, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.