Dutch Embassy Project Jobs – Agribusiness Cluster Specialist at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

  Agriculture Jobs in Uganda, Business Administration Jobs in Uganda, Economics Jobs in Uganda, NGO - Non-Government Organisations Jobs in Uganda, Uncategorized



Organisation: International Fertilizer Development Center
(IFDC)
Funding Source: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Duty Station:  Kabale, Uganda
About IFDC:
The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a public
international organization (PIO) governed by an international board of
directors with representation from developed and developing nations. The
non-profit center focuses on increasing and sustaining food and agricultural
productivity in developing countries through the development and transfer of
effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness
expertise.
About CATALIST Project:
IFDC is recruiting staff for the 4-year CATALIST-Uganda Project, funded
by DGIS through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kampala. The
project aims to enable over 110,000 Uganda smallholder farm families to produce
and market potatoes, cassava, rice, soybean and sunflower on a commercial
scale.
Job Summary: The IFDC Agribusiness Cluster Specialist (ABC
Specialist) will manage the development of agribusiness clusters for priority
the commodity—Irish potato—as well as crops grown in association with these
potato (usually as rotations). The ABC Specialist will coordinate the
identification, training, and activation of agribusiness clusters (ABCs). ABCs
are defined as a all actors collaborating to build profitable value chains
(producers and their organizations, input suppliers, financial service
providers, processors – warehousing – value addition, traders – buyers –
market-parties, business development services, others). The agribusiness
cluster approach is designed to support rural smallholders to move from
subsistence farming to farming-as-a-business through a sustainable improvement
in productivity and quality, leading to marketable surpluses and increased
family incomes.
The Agribusiness Cluster Specialist will also be responsible for
translating value chain opportunities into viable businesses in their region of
operation. S/he will facilitate and coordinate the formation of ABCs, then
facilitate agribusiness cluster interactions between value-chain actors that
lead to agreements that are mutually beneficial to the parties involved, and
provide support to value chain actors in business plan development. With the
assistance of the project ABC Advisor based in Kampala, s/he will be liaise
with larger companies (including national and Dutch agribusinesses) and
facilitate their contacts with cluster actors, and will also work with
financial service providers to develop financial instruments for the various
actors. S/he will identify local business service providers who can support
agribusiness clusters that want to target profitable agricultural market
opportunities. S/he will be supported by technical expertise available within
IFDC and partner organizations, including commercial companies that are
partnering with IFDC in the development of viable agribusiness clusters. The
ABC specialist will work closely with project agronomists, also regionally
based.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
  • Actively participate
    in the identification, analysis and evaluation of farmers’ constraints and
    in the assessment of the potential impact of a range of technological
    solutions in their region of operation.
  • Organize agribusiness
    clusters at various levels, and train cluster participants to identify and
    exploit business opportunities.
  • Conduct feasibility
    studies and formulate business plans.
  • Identify and recommend
    a range of on- and off-farm services, as well as service providers,
    required to facilitate the adoption of productivity-enhancing products and
    the commercialization of farm surpluses.
  • Significantly
    contribute in the design of strategies to strengthen the linkages between
    farmers’ associations, the private sector, government and civil society
  • organizations.
  • Facilitate market
    driven linkages between agribusiness producers, wholesalers, processors,
    and markets within Uganda.
  • Conduct regular field
    visits to project sites provide hands-on technical assistance and
    monitoring of program activities and implementation.
  • Offer capacity
    building support and mentoring to field-based Agribusiness Cluster
    Specialists as required.
  • Contribute to M&E
    activities, including data collection and reporting, in coordination with
    the project M&E and Innovations Advisor.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The candidate should
    hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (business, agriculture,
    economics, etc.)
  • Significant
    understanding and knowledge of the private sector, government and non-government
    organizations and farmer associations in their area of operation.
  • Prior experience in
    organizing farmers into larger clusters, involving other cluster actors.
  • Good working knowledge
    of value chain(s) for priority commodity(s) in their area of operation.
  • Practical knowledge of
    Uganda the private sector.
  • Past exposure and
    experience with gender mainstreaming in projects highly desirable.
  • Good networking
    skills; existing relations with government, private, and NGO value chain
    actors.
  • Proven ability to work
    and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including  the
    private sector, other projects, local governments and international
    agencies.
  • Previous experience
    agricultural/agribusiness development programs desirable.
  • Proven track record of
    achieving development impacts in a similar context.
  • Strong management,
    leadership, and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent
    communication and reporting skills in English
  • Knowledge of one or
    more languages spoken in area of operation.
  • Ability to work
    independently and to take initiative.
  • Good networking
    skills; existing relations with government, private, and NGO value chain
    actors.
  • Willingness to travel
    extensively in region of operation
How to Apply: 
 All candidates should endeavour to Apply Online
by clicking on the link below. Follow the instructions on how to create resume
and Apply
Deadline: 30th September, 2014
For More Ugandan Jobs, Please
Visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com  or
find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Related Jobs