Market Linkages Advisor At TechnoServe Kenya – APPLY NOW

• Job TypeFull Time
• QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience3 – 5 years
• LocationNairobi
• Job FieldAgriculture / Agro-Allied  , Sales / Marketing / Retail / Business Development 

The Market Linkages Advisors may have one or more direct report(s). A key success measure for this position is quantifiable improvements in first and last mile delivery business models which ultimately result in improved access and affordability of safe and nutritious food in a resilient food system.

Key Roles and Responsibilities: 

Identification of critical agri-intermediaries in the local food systems through systems analysis and strategy development

• Identify key constraints, bottlenecks, and opportunities along the value chains that limit the efficient and reliable delivery of products to consumers.
• Work closely with the Regional Implementation teams and Technical Integration teams to identify business and market opportunities within the local value chains
• Work with the Technical Integration team and grants team to design annual program statements and RFAs to source agri-intermediaries that are, or could be, providing critical functions in the market system
• Design innovative, market-based approaches that engage private sector actors (e.g., logistics companies, technology providers, financial institutions) to improve first mile and last mile delivery.
• Ensure the strategy is consistently aligned with the program’s overall objectives and contributes to the enhanced performance of local food systems.

Inclusive Business Plan (IBP) and Inclusive Marketing Plan development

• Lead the development of IBPs/IMPs, by conducting research and analysis into agribusiness operating models, to identify existing challenges and opportunities, and design commercial models for greater support to smallholder farmers (e.g. training delivery, communications, credit finance etc)
• Identify potential capacity gaps within agribusiness management team and propose areas of training and support
• Present ideas and opportunities to agribusiness management and incorporate their feedback to develop commercially viable solutions
• Manage Technoserve fellows and third party consultants supporting delivery of IBPs (provide strategic direction, provide commercial and technical quality control of their output, and support in communicating the solution to key stakeholders)
• Manage IBP/IMP operations effectively (recruitment, timeline, budget, compliance)

Multi-stakeholder dialogues, Business-to-Business Forums, Networking, Market Linkages

• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including local government agencies, private sector entities, and community organizations that constitute local food system actors – at the national and county levels.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and workshops to foster collaboration, align interests, and develop coordinated food system investment action plans.
• Work with sector associations, and using market information, co-design business-to-business forums that bring together upstream and downstream actors, with an emphasis on developing new contracting or partnership agreements for the purchase of raw or final commodities

Partnership Strategy, Origination and Investment Mobilization (pipeline development)

• Support the development of the LFS grants investment strategy to catalyze innovative solutions and incentivize private sector participation in enhancing the local food system.
• Contribute to the LFS’ grants program, including the support in the development of application processes, selection criteria, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Working with the regional teams, mobilize additional investment from the private sector, financial institutions, and other development partners to scale up successful interventions.
• With support of relevant technical leads and region implementation teams, coordinate provision of technical assistance (TA) to partners.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Contribute to the implementation of the program’s monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the performance and impact of the program’s interventions specifically drawn from agro-intermediaries.
• Analyze data, document lessons learned, and identify best practices to inform the ongoing adaptation and improvement of the performance measurement and tracking strategy.
• Actively share knowledge and insights with the broader food systems development community to contribute to the global evidence base.
• Produce monthly and quarterly agro-intermediary summary progress reports and for each individual grant that is under implementation.
• Additional tasks that may be assigned in an agile program implementation approach.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

• Preferably a Master´s degree in agribusiness, agricultural economics, business administration, or a related field, with about 3-5 years of related experience  or a Bachelor’s degree and 5 years plus experience in a related field.
• Relevant experience in agribusiness development, market systems, or value chain strengthening, preferably in the East African context
• Experience with USAID investment mechanisms or private sector investment modeling and stakeholder engagement an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of the Kenyan agricultural sector and food systems, including the key actors, constraints, and opportunities
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing market-based approaches to address first mile and last mile delivery challenges
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and communication skills
• Experience in programs with grant or commercial investment mechanisms, and mobilizing private sector investment
• Proficient in data analysis, monitoring, and evaluation
• Strong compliance skill and attention to detail, with minimal supervision, able to prioritize and manage a high volume work flow.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and relevant computer software skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel and Word).
• Fluency in English; proficiency in Swahili is an advantage
• Willingness to travel extensively within Kenya
• The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to personal integrity.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified? Go to TechnoServe Kenya on recruiting.ultipro.com to apply.