Agribusiness Specialist (Livestock), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Background / General description

THE WORLD BANK GROUP: Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2014, the WBG committed $65.6 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $22.2 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188 member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally. The WBG consists of five specialized institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). IBRD and IDA are commonly known as the World Bank, which is organized into six client-facing Regional Vice-Presidencies, several corporate functions, and – as of July 1, 2014 – has introduced fourteen Global Practices (GPs) as well as five Cross-Cutting Solution Areas (CCSAs) to bring best-in-class knowledge and solutions to regional and country clients.

GLOBAL PRACTICES & CROSS-CUTTING SOLUTIONS AREAS

The new operating model is part of a broader internal reform aimed at delivering the best of the World Bank Group to our clients, so that together we can achieve the twin goals of (1) ending extreme poverty by 2030, and (2) promote shared prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population in every developing country.

THE ROLE OF THE WBG IN TRADE AND COMPETITIVENESS

The World Bank Group is renewing its commitment to systematically strengthen its engagement on trade and competitiveness issues in pursuit of the Twin Goals. A newly constituted Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice (T&C) brings together diverse World Bank and IFC Advisory units around a common vision: sustained economic growth, productivity gains, job creation, and rising incomes for developing countries to eradicate poverty and boost shared prosperity. T&C's mission is to serve as a trusted partner for countries that seek to develop dynamic and resilient economies, expand market opportunities, and enable private initiative.

To this end, T&C supports global and country efforts to boost the volume and value of trade, enhance the investment climate, improve competitiveness in sectors, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. T&C boasts a global footprint with about 500 staff working in over 80 locations around the world. T&C's current portfolio comprises 161 World Bank active and pipeline lending operations, totaling $5.5 billion in commitments; over $300 million in active IFC Advisory Services projects; and nearly 350 knowledge and advisory activities in over 100 countries.

To ensure that the Bank Group is at the forefront of knowledge and development practice, T&C has enriched its offerings and organized them under four global themes. Trade, investment climate, competitive sectors, and innovation and entrepreneurship form the core competencies of T&C. Under trade, the Global Practice supports trade policy and cooperation, trade facilitation and logistics, trade performance, and competition policies.

T&C's offering under investment climate covers business environment reform as well as investment policies. Competitive sectors work focuses on sector or industry-specific policies and growth, as well as spatial growth and investment strategies. Under innovation and entrepreneurship, T&C helps strengthen innovation and technology policies, strategies, and financing, and it promotes entrepreneurship and SME development. T&C is also creating space for Bank-wide collaboration on five cross-cutting topics. These are global value chains, connecting to markets and opportunities, catalyzing firm productivity, private sector development in FCS, and promoting green competitiveness.

This work will push the operational and knowledge frontiers. Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities

The Agribusiness Specialist (Livestock) for the Livestock Micro-reforms in Agribusiness Project (L-MIRA) will lead its project operations in Tanzania.

Project Overview

The Livestock MIRA project (600828) is an umbrella project covering Ethiopia, Tanzania and a third country to be determined. It is designed to support improved competitiveness in the Livestock sector and specifically in the dairy and poultry value chains and is expected to operate through approximately 2019. The project was designed by the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice (T&C) under the theme of Competitive Industries, and working in partnership with the WBG's Livestock Working Group and staff of the Agriculture Global Practice Group. The project is fully funded by a Gates Foundation grant and expected to begin implementation in 2015. The project is in early stages of development.

Funding was secured in late 2014 and the WBG approved the project concept and the associated project budget in early 2015. From April 2015 to Sept 2015, the project team will design country specific work plans and develop a baseline for measuring the reform outcomes that will directly trigger management approval for implementation. Upon implementation approval, the project will work to fulfill the approved work plan. Project Management: The project will be managed by an Agribusiness Specialist working in Ethiopia and an Agribusiness Specialist working in Tanzania, respectively.

The Specialist in Ethiopia will also serve as the lead technical specialist for the Project's work in each country and engage regularly with the Tanzania Agribusiness Specialist by providing guidance and assistance to program operations. This team will work and coordinate with the Trade and Competitiveness (T&C) Global Practice Group and the Agriculture Global Practice Group representatives in Ethiopia and Tanzania (or wherever those team members are located (Kenya and Washington DC are possibilities). Immediate supervision will be provided by the T&C Competitive Industries regional program manager based in Nairobi.

Project Description

The project focuses on targeted regulatory and institutional reform that supports improved regulatory good practice and improved institutional efficiencies, as diagnosed by the OIE's PVS Pathway; better access to markets, cost savings to firms/livestock producers and the facilitation of investments to stakeholders in the value chain. The objective of this project is to increase the access of smallholder farmers and pastoralists (‘livestock producers') to (i) improved services and technologies and to (ii) more stable, predictable income generating market opportunities. The technical focus on dairy and poultry value chains, with possible intervention in small ruminants.

The program has been designed and approved with the following five components

• Component 1: Legislative and Regulatory Reforms for Animal Health ;
• Component 2: Institutional Reforms for Animal Health
• Component 3: Trade Reforms for Livestock Inputs and Outputs;
• Component 4: Market Reforms for Livestock Inputs and Outputs; and
• Component 5: Reform for Investment Facilitation in Livestock Value Chains.

The specific design of country-level projects will be done consultatively with the Government clients, drawing from the above five-component offering. The Agribusiness Specialist (Livestock) will be responsible to support initial country project design, project delivery and stakeholder and client relationship management of the L-MIRA project in Tanzania from his/her base in Dar Es Salaam. He/She will be responsible for program work and will effectively engage the Ethiopian based Agribusiness Specialist and the Regional T&C Competitive Industries Program Manager for support to help assure the delivery of high quality of advice and service.

The Country Agribusiness Specialist will:

• Contribute to the design of the country program and research necessary to provide baseline information on the potential impact of proposed reforms.
• Provider project oversight and contribute to technical engagement for the L-MIRA project in Tanzania.
• Initiate and maintain a quality high level engagement and dialogue with key stakeholders, including government, civil society and private sector on regulatory and policy issues concerning livestock in the three countries;
• Work across sectors with staff of the Tanzania WBG Country Office other Global Practices to ensure coherence and integration of the livestock portfolio;
• Lead the collaborative work planning process to be conducted in conjunction with the State Ministry for Livestock in Tanzania;
• Develop and assure the execution of the workplan and the meeting of proposed benchmarks;
• Providing periodic reports on progress under the L-MIRA Project as required by the Program Management and as solicited by the donor-client.

Selection Criteria

• Masters in an agricultural related discipline, including a focus on livestock;
• At least five years of experience on livestock sector development issues – relevant private sector experience is an advantage;
• At least 2 years of project management experience;
• Some technical and analytical skills in the range of issue of relevance to veterinary service delivery, and market development for dairy, poultry and small ruminant production a strong advantage.
• Prior experience leading or working on policy and regulatory reforms and/or issues of relevance to veterinary service delivery is highly desired;
• Understanding of Tanzanian public administration in central and local level; experience with government institutions as well as private sector entities would be a substantial advantage;
• Knowledge on the functioning of WB's international and regional technical partners (e.g. ILRI, FAO, OIE, etc.) desirable;
• Excellent report writing, communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and team skills with ability to find balanced, pragmatic and implementable solutions;
• Fluency in English essential; knowledge of Swahili would be an advantage;

Desirable Competencies

• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Translates technical knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies; interacts with clients at the policy level.
• Policy Dialogue Skills - Anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.
• Agricultural Economics - Proficient understanding of most of the economic concepts used in agriculture, with some relevant experience.
• Agriculture Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Solid understanding of agriculture policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.
• Sector Dialogue - Able to conduct a dialogue with the client on familiar topics, with a narrow scope, based on a solid understanding of the sector.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Helps to share good practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.
• High degree of discretions, ethics, tact and sensitivity in handling confidential and sensitive information;
• Very high level of energy, initiative and self-motivation coupled with willingness to travel extensively and work under challenging conditions;
• Ability to work under pressure while retaining perspective and a sense of humor.

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