Senior Agriculture Business Advisor, Southern Africa

Since 1963 and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 60 projects in 30 countries and total revenues of $173 million.

Senior Agriculture Business Advisor, Southern Africa

We are currently seeking a Senior Agriculture Business Advisor for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub Program. The project’s primary focus will be to provide expert technical assistance to help farmers and firms, through private sector associations, to efficiently meet market requirements of quality and volume and succeed in the regional and international market place. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve regional competitiveness of target commodities at all levels of the value chain. Focus of those strategies should be on investment attraction and facilitation, commercial partnerships, and trade expansion.
• Work with producers and enterprises across Southern Africa to develop their capacity to identify and respond to regional and international business opportunities in the potential value chains.
• Use a market led, facilitative approach to identify and remedy enabling environment barriers to agricultural trade.
• Develop and advise on policies that will support sector competitiveness and trade.
• Improve the competitiveness and develop the demand for service provision.
• Facilitate strategic, commercially viable partnerships between value chain actors.
• Facilitate private sector engagement and investment among various levels of target value chains including but not limited to producer, processor, wholesaler and exporter levels.

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S., M.B.A., or other post-graduate degree in trade, agricultural development, marketing or other relevant field.
• Strongly preferred Master’s degree or equivalent in international trade, agricultural economics, public policy, business administration, agricultural development or related area or equivalent.
• At least ten years of relevant experience, five of which should be in developing countries, preferably in Africa.
• Strongly preferred extensive experience related to developing an enabling environment for agricultural investment and trade.
• Demonstrated ability policy development and technical assistance in implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs.
• Excellent English.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply online at http://acdivoca.maxhire.net/cp/?E55C6D361D43515B7E59192F7757196C0C627B4D. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE