Agri-preneur Facilitator at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of the tropics. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.

We hereby invite applications for the position below:

Job Title: Agri-preneur Facilitator

Job Code: IITA-HR-NRS2015-016
Location: Ibadan, Oyo State

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

• Building on local platforms scope for project partners in Government, NGO and private sectors;
• Scope small and medium enterprise (SME) business opportunities with special emphasis on youth agribusiness development;
• Appraise the technical, market and financial feasibility of the agribusiness opportunities;
• Design partnership agreements towards the sustainable supply of high quality seeds, inoculants and legume-specific fertilizer with special emphasis on youth entrepreneur involvement;
• Design awareness campaigns for new, existing youth entrepreneurs or project promoted partner internship programs, calls for interest and a selection procedures for promising candidates;
• Support the youth to develop new (or upgraded) commercially viable business models and associated development strategies along the legume value chains.
• Identify youth Agri-preneurship training needs and design training programs based on them;
• Train the youth in business management, financial management and marketing.
• Train youth in writing fundable business plans for private financial and public grant institutions;
• Assess and enhance the performance of the business models and develop upgrading strategies;
• Develop appropriate financial products targeting rural youth in consultation with collaborating financial institutions.
• Facilitate linkages and contracts between business model stakeholders including importers, distributors, operators, local promoters and farmers.
• Contribute to the development of promotional materials and marketing strategies by the private sector to support small scale youth businesses along the legume value chain.
• Diagnose Borno State institutional constraints in the development of youth targeted businesses and formulate policy options.
• Conduct group facilitation and organization.

Qualification and Experience
Qualification:

• MBA/M.Sc in Agribusiness, Agricultural Development, or a related field, from a well-recognized university.

General Information

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

Application Closing Date
16th April, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package.

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