Market Systems and Livelihood Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS is a global leader in agricultural livelihoods programming, and promotes resilience building in impoverished, disaster-affected, and climate change-impacted areas around the world.  CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently works in 32 of Nigeria’s 36 states, focusing on agriculture and livelihoods, health, and emergency programming.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Market Systems and Livelihood Specialist

Job Ref Code: MSL290419
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department: Programs/ Rural Resilience Project
Band:  9
Reports to: Deputy Chief of Party
Work Environment: Abuja office

Context

• CRS is preparing for an anticipated multi-million-dollar, multi-year USAID/Nigeria Rural Resilience Program, which will support poverty reduction for vulnerable households in Nigeria. 
• This effort will contribute to CRS’ agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin. 

Job Summary

• The Market Systems and Livelihood Specialistwill provide strategic guidance in market systems / value chains across the program. 
• S/he will lead the program’s efforts to invest sustainably in agribusiness particularly targeting smallholder farmers. 

Specific Job Responsibilities

• Provide overall strategic guidance and leadership on viable value chains across the program; ensuring thorough assessments and analysis of commercial viability (return on investment, Cost – benefit, profit margins, cash-flow requirements, supply and demand modelling) of potential value chains before investment.
• Working jointly with other stakeholders and relevant government ministries and department agencies (MDAs), develop sustainable intervention strategies for prioritized value chains.
• Work closely with other project managers to demonstrate and promote commercial viability of selected value chains and agribusinesses.
• Liaise with private sector partners to promote sustainable commercial markets for prioritized value chains.
• Support adoption of appropriate technologies in agricultural production and post-harvest processing to reduce costs and increase commercial viability of selected value chains.
• Ensure compliance with CRS and USAID policies and requirements.

Agency Wide Competences (for all CRS staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results:

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Accountability and Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
• Committed to Continuous Improvement and Innovation
• Has a Strategic Mindset

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in Agriculture, Economics, or Business Administration;
• Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience with USG or other similar development projects focused on market systems and livelihood development, preferably with an understanding of the Nigerian context including gender and youth issues;
• Strong technical experience in market system approach to development.
• Prior experience on donor-funded projects of a similar size (over US$ 10M) and scope in developing countries.
• Demonstrated ability to reach under-served communities and design products for excluded population segments including young women and men.
• Experience programmatic and financial reporting requirements especially on small and medium size enterprises.
• Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa required.  Prior experience in Nigeria preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Required Travel:

• To field locations in Nigeria

Application Closing Date
14th May, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their expression of interest (EOI) along with a detailed resume as a single attachment on MS word document to: tenders.ngr@crs.org using the Job Title and Job Code as the subject.

Note

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Use of incorrect email subject will lead to disqualification
• Only applicants who send in their application in the required format will be considered
• Multiple applications will be disqualified
• “CRS is an equal –opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management’. etc.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply”
• ‘’CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation’’.