Market and Enterprise Development Advisor at the Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD)

Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD) - The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a credit from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the implementation of Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

The VCDP will address the constraints along the cassava and rice Value Chains in Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Taraba, Niger and Ogun States. The programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components viz: Agricultural Market Development; Smallholder Productivity Enhancement: and Programme Coordination and Management.

The specific objective of the Programme is to enhance on a sustainable basis, the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the participating states.

For effective programme take-off, the FMARD is constituting a National Programme Management Unit (NPMU) at the Programme Headquarters in Abuja. Consequently, part of the proceeds of the VCDP credit will be applied to engage the services of the following officer at the Programme Headquarters, Abuja.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title:  Market and Enterprise Development Advisor

Location: Abuja

Responsibilities

• The Market and Enterprise Development Advisor (MEDA) will work in close collaboration with SPMU Business and Market Development Officer (SBMDO), the SPMU Agricultural Processing and Quality Enhancement Officer and the National Authorities.
• Overall, The NMEDA will lead the sub-component designed to increase value addition and improve access to markets by small and medium-scale producers and processors.

Specific Duties:

• Coordinate the development, implementation and monitoring of VCD measures and activities in supporting policy and regulatory framework for promoting enabling environment for VCD.
• Provide the leadership, technical guidance and supervision for the initiation and execution of support measures, activities and processes for quality control and standardization of processed products under the VCDP.
• Lead and supervise the formulation and implementation of measures and interventions for increasing the access of VC operators to market information and improving market linkages between producers, processors and market operators.
• Develop and supervise the execution of VCDP measures and interventions designed to strengthen the business management capacity of post-harvest VC operators (individuals and organizations) for improved business, organizational and
  corporate performance and sustainability.
• Give technical direction and management leadership in identifying actions and mechanisms for the implementation of the measures and activities in promoting the use of value addition technologies including post-harvest handling, processing, storage and packaging.
• Deal and interact with national and state government agencies in consultative and collaborative activities.
• Select service providers where necessary and formulation of TDRs and scope of work for the service providers.
• Supervise, monitor and certify the work of service providers for the various activities and assignments.
• Provide technical supervision of the Work of States' Business and Market Development Officers and the State Agricultural Processing and Quality Enhancement Officers.
• Provide technical guidance and coordination for the acquisition of agro-processing equipment and technologies under the VCDP Source and use information from various sources for the implementation and coordination of activities and measures for the promotion of value addition and improvement of market access by VC operators: and
• Design capacity building and technical assistance measures and activities iv the areas of policy and regulatory support, value addition, market access, business management, quality control and standardization.

Terms of Appointment:

• Two year contract, subject to renewal for a maximum of 6 years, based on performance.

Qualification and Experience

• Master's Degree in Business Management, Marketing, Agribusiness, or related fields.
• Strong background in business and marketing blended with practical skills and at least 7 years work experience iv issues and
  programmes relating to agricultural commodity marketing, agro processing and agro-industnial development and MSME promotion.
• Good negotiation, inter-personal and relational skills.
• Previous experience in working with government and private sector will be a great advantage.

Application Closing Date
18th February, 2014.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to:

The Director,
Federal Department of Rural Development
No. 30 127, Algiers Street,
Beside PDP National Secretariat,
Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.

Note: 

• This position is open to serving public officers as well as other interested candidates.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications must bear the positions applied for, on the top right hand side of the envelopes.