Chemonics International Job Vacancies: Agricultural Value Chain Expert, Environmental impact Assessment Expert and Finance Expert

Chemonics International seeks qualified candidates for an anticipated three month consultancy to assist with the development of a Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) - a delimited area of high agricultural production where the provision of dedicated infrastructure facilities, inducements and benefits will be given a high priority to attract local and global investments into enhancing the production, storage, preservation, processing, distribution and marketing of local agricultural produce to boost Agro-industrialization in Nigeria.

1.) Agricultural Value Chain Expert

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive value chain analysis including structural analysis (govemance
• structures and linkages, partnerships and networks in the value chain), economic and market
• analysis, (including costs, margins, and competitiveness, existing and alternative markets, marketing options, and standards), environmental analysis (including improved resource productivity and environmental performance) and development analysis (including potential income distribution, employment and livelihoods of the beneficiaries in the value chain).
• Examine the existing marketing arrangements in the SCPZ with a view to determining constraints and offering solutions to marketing output and processing facilities. This shall include an assessment of the existing markets and transport system and road infrastructure, as well as their potential fordevelopment. In addition market prices, transportcosts and farm prices shall be predicted, as related to the expected increased volume of production.
• Identify, based on production figures of the primary crops, the size of processing and/or storage facilities that will be required in the processing zone as part of the marketing strategy.
• Assess the possibilities of utilizing the value chain approach to ensure (incentives for) market development and propose operational modalities for processing/storage facilities in areas of ownership, utilization, maintenance.
• Assess the possibilities of utilization of contractual arrangements with core investors and farmers within the value chain to ensure value addition and commercialization.
• Determine credit requirements and methods of providing credit to the small farmers and study past experience with credit delivery and administration.
• Assess potential for utilizing innovative approaches such as matching grants and concession loans to ensure financial availability and accessibility.
• Review prices for both inputs and outputs and make recommendation on government pricing policies and measures that will be taken to improve returns to farmers and core investors in the SCPZ.
• Assess the governance structures, linkages and partnership networks based on commodity lines and potential for upgrading and innovation.
• Analyze the overall value chain development in terms of potential income distribution, employment and livelihood advantages and incentives to drive the commodity value chain for each SCPZ.
• Provide an assessment of agnculture and nutntion nexus within the concept of the SCPZ in Nigeria.

2.) Environmental impact Assessment Expert

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide an account of all regulatory licenses and approvals to be obtained for the proposed SCPZ project to ensure that they are in line with sound environmental management practices and are in compliance with relevant existing legislations in Nigeria.
• Undertake wide consultations with relevant stakeholders (interested and affected stakeholders) and evidence of consultations shall be required.
• Provide a concise description of the study area and relevant physical, biological and socioeconomic resources and conditions, including, site topography and drainage systems (water courses); the existing biodiversity of the proposed area by identifying and analyzing composition, function and structure of species and habitats such as protected, endemic, and rapidly declining species as well as rare habitats,
• Identify the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed program; focusing on both the positive and negative effects as well as effects to the biophysical, social, economic and cultural components of the environment. The potential impacts to be assessed to include those related to project location, design, construction and operation.
• Provide information on the groups of beneficiaries of the proposed project, components of the project, command area of irrigation where necessary and environmental impact assessment for the core processing area.
• Describe main activities to be undertaken in implementation of the proposed SCPZ. In the description include the type of machinery to be used, the estimated costs for the activities, the type of chemicals to be used and proposed period for implementation and the potential impact and mitigation measures.
• Update appropriate measures/strategies to eliminate reduce reverse or mitigate the identified negative impacts/effects identified including the measures to enhance the positive effects.
• Propose an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) in tabular form specifying the predicted impacts mitigation measures/enhancement measures cost of mitigation measures schedule of the measures and responsible persons and institutions.
• Propose an Environmental Monitoring Plan by which all mitigation measures recommended in ESMP will be monitored. The plan should include activities, the frequency of monitoring, the key monitoring indicators, resources required and the authorities responsible for monitoring.
• Provide an Environmental assessment, mitigation, and potential for Green Growth/Climate- Smart agricultural practices.
• Provide recommendations for Pest management plan and a phyto-sanitary assessment and plan.

3.) Finance Expert

Duties and Responsibilities

• Recommend appropriate access to financial services for the key stakeholders namely farmers, investors and managers of infrastructure in the SCPZ (assessment will include modalities for accessing credit insurance payment systems financial incentives etc that are available within and outside the country).
• Provide Financial Feasibility Assessment for the management of the infrastructure in the core processing zone under different scenarios (Pnvate management Public Management and PPP management arrangements).
• Provide Cost tables (guided by the inputs of the infrastructure engineers and an economic cash flow analysis for the management of the infrastructure in the core processing zone under different scenarios (Private management, Public Management and PPP management arrangements) over a 20 year period.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelors degree with a Masters degree preferred
• 10 years of relevant experience with expertise in the technical area and experience on USAID or other donor- funded projects.
• English fluency is required.
• Individuals who meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world and demonstrate leadership, versatility, and integrity in their work.

Application Closing Date
22nd January, 2013

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, a CV, and a list of 3 references with contact information to: recruitment@nigeriamarkets.org.  Iindicating the position you are applying for in the subject line

Note: Applicants must be willing to work and travel throughout Nigeria . Applications will be reviewed as they are received. No telephone inquiries.