Agriculture Value Chain Lead (Manager)

Description

FUNCTION: The Agriculture Value Chain Lead (Manager) is responsible for successfully bringing products and/or services through the phases of production to delivery to the final consumers and disposal after use. S/he is accountable for horticulture value chain management with a focus on improving business operations at the level of producers, processors, and other actors in the chain and/or the (contractual) relationships among them, flow of knowledge, and information and innovation. This position will also be responsible for fostering overall coordination in the value chain; participation of selected beneficiaries in local, national, or global value chains; reduction of entry barriers and a higher share of value addition for certain actors. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort) Inclusive agriculture value chain development (40%)

• Accelerate growth in the value chain of vegetable production and smallholder farmer producers.
• Work with the country team to map the value chain including main actors, flow of products, infrastructure facilities, financial institutions, and all supporting organizations.
• Conduct value chain assessments to identify gaps and develop recommendations on how to improve the selected value chains and maximize impact.
• Support business plan development and analysis for vegetable SMEs and agricultural cooperative (ACs).
• Provide technical support for the formation of cooperatives or producer groups for vegetable-based inputs.
• Develop and deliver capacity development activities in the areas of agribusiness, vegetable value chain and marketing development.
• Supervise and monitor the implementation of vegetable value chain activities with a focus on improving crops, productivity processing and input-output market enhancement.
• Conduct market assessments on vegetable production and markets.
• Support cooperatives to develop safe vegetable farming at a commercial scale. Agriculture/horticulture production capacity building (60%)
  • Develop the horticulture business model and vegetable prototypes based on needs assessments and market demands.
  • Design a training curriculum manual for vegetable farming including post-harvest management.
  • Provide TOTs on vegetable farming and post-harvest management to SHG/AC focal persons and project partners.
  • Initiate and develop the best practice option of climate smart agriculture for replication.
  • Lead in research development and develop options for improving horticulture production.
  • Ensure that products are well processed and appropriately packaged.
  • Be accountable for water resource management.
  • Be accountable for creating an enterprise enabling environment.
  • Support cooperatives to build safe vegetable storage facility infrastructure, i.e., cleaning, grading, cold storage, etc.
  • Scale-up safe vegetable producers to become MSMEs.
  • Promote the use of solar technologies for the agriculture value chain.
  • Increase smallholder farm productivity through the adaptation of innovative technology and improved valued chain. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
    • Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in agriculture, business, horticulture technical extension, international development, or a related field, plus at least seven (7) years of related experience OR Master’s degree plus five (5) years of related experience.
    • Demonstrated experience in community mobilization, social capital development, institutional development, capacity building, training, smallholder farmers/rural SMEs/co-ops, and base of the pyramid consumers.
    • Fluent in national language and English, spoken as well as written.
    • Have an interest in animals/agriculture/community development.
    • Skills with Microsoft Office package, internet browser, and other appropriate technology.
    • Ability to implement and maintain various capacity assessment tools for quality and accountability assurance of cooperatives and agribusinesses.
    • Working knowledge of sustainable livelihoods, value chain development and market systems development.
    • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to both help groups reach agreements and to represent collective perspectives.
    • Strong commitment to the shared leadership model. ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:
      • Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
      • Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
      • Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
      • Produce and present reports in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
      • Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner.
      • Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues, potential donors, and the public.
      • Constant setting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.
      • Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both locally and internationally.