Principal Agribusiness Development Officer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Principal Agribusiness Development Officer

Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Grade: PL4

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.
• The complex objectives are:
  • To develop, policy and strategy;
  • Provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions;
  • Develop new financing instruments;
  • The VP will act as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department provides support for the delivery of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, 2016-2025.
• The strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self-sufficiency in 15 priority commodity value chains specific to the continent’s agro-ecological zones.
• Realizing the objectives set forth in the strategy requires increased productivity; value addition; investment in infrastructure; an enabling agribusiness environment; capital flows; and inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition.
• The Department leads the effort to transform African agricultural systems for greater competitiveness, inclusivity and sustainability, and for enhanced job creation and poverty reduction.

The Position

• The Principal Agribusiness Development Officer will provide technical support to the development and implementation of projects within the flagship programs under the Feed Africa High Five such as Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), ENABLE Youth, Postharvest Loss Prevention Facility, etc.
• He/She will also work with the Flagship Coordinators in both AHAI (agriculture and agro-industry) and AHFR (agricultural finance and rural development) departments.
• The Principal Agribusiness Development Officer works across technical, geographic and institutional boundaries to support the delivery of development solutions for a diverse set of clients in the rural (and urban) space and in the public and private sectors in line with the Agricultural development, Agribusiness and Agro-Industry agenda of the AfDB Group. 
• Using a value-chain approach, he/she will support the implementation of this agenda in Regional Member Countries (RMCs), with specific focus on providing technical input for the design, and supervision of projects which:
• Promote value chain development, value addition and primary and secondary processing of crops and livestock;
• Catalyze private sector entry and growth in African agribusiness;
• Promote agri-SME (small and medium enterprise) growth and the commercialization of agriculture, particularly addressing access to finance needs;
• Create farm to fork market linkages;
• Facilitate the development of agro-poles and agro-processing hubs;
• Support the development of an agribusiness enabling environment, and;
• Invest in hard infrastructure (including roads, markets and irrigation), soft infrastructure (Human capital, i.e., trained potential employees, ICT, etc.); enable policies and reforms, for transformation of African agriculture into viable, profitable businesses.
• The principal Agribusiness development Officer will need to work closely with private sector experts at the Bank to scale up investments in agribusiness and will design and coordinate the delivery of client solutions and all project management aspects of the deployment of such solutions.

Key Functions

• Under the direct supervision of the Manager, Agricultural Production, Research and Sustainability Division (AHAI.2) and working closely with other Managers in the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department (AHAI), in the Agriculture Finance and Rural Development Department, in the Financial Sector development, in Private Sector Development, Industry and Trade Development departments, with the Director Generals and other Directors, and with external stakeholders, the Principal Agribusiness Development Officer’s role includes but is not limited to:
• Develop coherent programmatic approaches in line with the Bank’s agenda, based on identified needs, priorities and demands of Regional Member Countries.
• Formulate public and private investment proposals in agriculture value chain development, and promote an enabling environment by the public sector for private sector investment and involvement in agriculture (Agro-industrial parks).
• Carry out technical, economic and sector analysis that will guide and support both public and private sector investments in agriculture (agricultural policy).
• Design technical pathways, estimate funding requirements and propose governance models that will strengthen the performance of agricultural value chains from input supply, agricultural production, harvesting, transportation, storage, marketing and distribution (including export) for greater value addition, improved quality, reduced postharvest losses and reliability of product supply to consumers (Agro-Industry/Value addition).
• Design and recommend technical services to increase the quality and sustainability of agricultural infrastructure projects intended to scale up production, processing and postharvest handling of agricultural commodities.
• Assess the requirements for hard infrastructure (energy, water, transport, logistics, information, communication technology (ICT)) and soft infrastructure (knowledge basis, quality management systems, organizational systems) in projects within the overall Bank infrastructure pipeline as well as with outside partners.
• Carry out technical and economic feasibility studies on initiatives proposed for the strengthening and expansion of agricultural value chains, including market centers, warehouses, cold and dry storage facilities, feeder roads, etc. (agro industry and agribusiness).
• Contribute to the establishment of an Africa-wide policy matrix detailing the five groups of key policy changes required to enable the transformation sought by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA); key policy areas would be (i) land tenure:
  • Input subsidies,
  • Incentives for local production and processing, (iv) financial sector deepening, and
  • Regional integration and trade (Enabling Policy Environment in Agriculture).
• Participate in initiatives and programs to increase women and youth employment and enhance skills in agribusiness and agripreneurship by providing appropriate technical content.
• Provide technical expertise in agriculture and agro-industrial development programs in the area of vocational/agricultural training and farmer extension activities, including institutional capacity building for farmer organizations such as cooperatives (with Rural Development program).
• Assist in the development of off-grid rural energy investments for increased agricultural processing opportunities (rural development).
• Assess financing needs and technical assistance requirements of producers and retailers, and design postharvest loss prevention programs for agricultural cooperatives and SMEs – small and medium enterprise - (with agro-industry clusters).
• Prepare and review reports and papers in agribusiness subject matter as requested by senior management

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold a minimum of Master's Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Agricultural Economics, or related Social Science disciplines.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant progressive experience in a private agribusiness company, an internationally recognized financial or development institution.
• Knowledge of agro-industry and agribusiness concepts and challenges facing the African continent.
• Capacity to analyze trends, constraints, policies, institutions and provide technical support to related agribusiness and agro-industries sectors.
• Ability to design appropriated agro-industry programs for solving issues in the sector.
• Ability to identify the appropriate methods and techniques to conduct economic studies and present the results.
• Extended and relevant experience in project formulation and technical backstopping.
• Ability to work in a team and work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work effectively in partnership with client contacts and seek feedback to improve work processes.
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competences in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.

Application Closing Date
9th March, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online