VSO, the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.
We are recruiting to fill the position of:
Job Title: Value Chain Advisor
Location: Minna/ Niger, Nigeria
Role Overview
The Value Chain Advisor will provide day to day hands on leadership of all critical technical maize and or soya bean value chain activities, focus on developing and maintaining business relationships between small holder farmers,farmer collectives, private sector and other actors within the value chain.
He/she will also provide advice and identify business opportunities for farmers and processors.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required
You have relevant university degree with knowledge of Value Chain concepts; market development; Value Chain analysis; developing a vision for chain upgrading.
You have 8 years' work experience in value chain development.
You are resourceful and have the ability to solve problems.
You have strong written and verbal communication skills.
You have the ability ability to support others to adapt ideas to their own context.
Job Purpose
The Value Chain Advisor will provide day to day hands on leadership for all technical maize and or soya bean value chain activities, focus on developing and maintaining business relationships between small holder farmers,farmer collectives, private sector and other actors within the value chain.
He/she will also provide advice and identify business opportunities for farmers and processors.
Responsibilities
The volunteer will have a range of tasks and activities;
Analyze product and service delivery along the value chain and their impact on all systems and actors within the value chain
Assist in the development and tracking of farmer's collective marketing strategies and plans for new business development
Provide technical expertise in agriculture commodities
Explore opportunities to strengthen impact such as: build networks and relationships for partners to link with major strategic organizations (e.g. government agricultural department, INGOs, NGOs,) working in a similar field that may be able to support partner intervention through funding/knowledge sharing/joint working/to address major overarching issues e.g. access to inputs.
Work in collaboration with the monitoring & evaluation volunteer and the project coordinator to.
The Key performance indicators of this placement are that:
Target beneficiaries are able to sustain their livelihoods and the livelihoods of their families. This includes managing their own businesses, supply their produce to the markets and are always able to meet the market demands by having adequate produce for identified markets.
Below includes number indicators:
Number of beneficiaries who have increased their income and have businesses as a result of training and support received.
Number of beneficiaries able to reach the market demands through supplies of their produce.
Number of linkages along the value chain crops and value chain markets identified.
The degree of strategic alignment in the value chain
The degree of information transparency, seamless information and material flows between actors within the value chain.
The amount of profit from a given market sector.
Building and Sustaining working relationships:
The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with others for the benefit of a common goal.
Open Minded and Respectful:
A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture.
Seeking and Sharing Knowledge:
Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process.
Facilitating Positive Change:
The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches.
Adaptability:
A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations.
Resilience:
The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity.
Essential
Relevant university degree with knowledge of Value Chain concepts; market development; Value Chain analysis; developing a vision for chain upgrading
8 years' work experience in value chain development
Experience in process design
Good, clear communication skills; Good facilitation skills for working with chain actors and engaging in public-private partnerships
Experience in sustainable livelihoods development
Mentoring and coaching; Flexible and adaptable
Resourcefulness and ability to solve problems
Ability to maintain good working relationship
Ability to support others to adapt ideas to their own context
Creativity in problem solving & conflict resolution.
Desirable
Ability to speak Hausa
Previous work experience in West Africa would be an added advantage.