Organization Description
Most of the world’s poor are farmers, representing the largest and most uniform group of poor people in the world. One Acre Fund is a start-up NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi that is innovating a new way of helping farm families to achieve their full potential. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in farm income. Our "investment bundle" includes education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and export market access. We target subsistence farmers, and help them to generate a lasting, 100%+ gain in farm income per acre.
We have been operating since January 2006, and our 500+ field staff currently serve 55,000 farm families. We are growing quickly; our target is to serve 100,000 farm families in the next 12 months, and 1,100,000 families by 2019. One Acre Fund will generate revenues of nearly $5m in 2011, and our goal is to generate more than $100m per year, by the year 2019. One Acre Fund has achieved high validation as an innovative social start-up, winning grants from the highly competitive Echoing Green and Skoll Foundations, and the global Financial Times/ IFC award for “basic needs financing” in 2010 and 2011. Website: www.oneacrefund.org
Job Description
We are seeking exceptional professionals with 2+ years work experience, and a demonstrated long-term career interest in international development. They will serve in a career-track position that combines both field and management experience in Africa.
The work of One Acre Fund is increasingly of potential relevance to the policy of African governments. Our program work has started to earn us a seat at the policy table. We have begun jointly implementing work together with government. Further, our close relationship with farmers is also giving us new insights into particular policy items that we would like to help promote together with African governments. The overall goal of policy engagement is to find new ways to multiply our humanitarian impact, by helping as many farmers as possible.
We are looking for someone who will report mainly to our Rwanda country director (who primarily lives in rural Rwanda). This on-the-ground position will support One Acre Fund’s policy work:
- Relationship management: This position will be responsible for making new government contacts, and helping to maintain a network of existing contacts among mid-level government managers.
- Country-level and regional policy agenda research: The East Africa government relations analyst will conduct research to support the creation of a well-informed policy agenda for our organization, for Rwanda, Kenya, and the greater region.
- Business development: This position may help with general business development. This will include networking with bilateral organizations such as USAID/ DFID, and targeted networking with other NGOs that are relevant to our work.
- Policy publications: One Acre Fund increasingly is gaining traction with well-respected policy organizations. For example, we have recently had significant mentions in pieces by WorldWatch Institute and in Foreign Affairs. This position will be responsible for research supporting the promulgation of our work among well-regarded publishers.
- Communications: This position will provide some on-the-ground and writing support for communications work, such as gathering and writing of farmer profiles, writing of six-month reports, some limited grant-writing work, etc.
Qualifications
We are looking for somebody truly extraordinary for this role. This is not a stint in Africa – this is an extremely competitive posting for a career-track role. Only 3% of applicants make it to a phone screen. Therefore, please only respond if you fit these criteria:
• Demonstrated experience and interest in international development work, including ideally at least one full year of living in a developing nation.
• Strong work experiences. Examples include a high-level professional work experience, or some kind of successful entrepreneurial experience (e.g. starting a field program in a developing country, leading a conference, starting a business, solid Peace Corps accomplishments)
• Relationship-building and communications skills. Our organization is not necessarily looking for a slick salesman. We want a likeable person who is able to strike an appropriate balance between humility and confidence, speak intelligently about our program, and systematically manage relationships
• Top-performing undergraduate background (include GPA and test scores on your resume)
• No ego or drama. We are all stable people who are fun to be around. We are looking for others that combine strong leadership skills with a humble approach to service
• Required: English and French bilingual
• Ability to cook/ laugh/ extraordinary patience – all desirable
Preferred Start Date: Flexible
Compensation: Starts very modest. However, this is a career-track role eventually paying a real and livable salary for a long-term placement in developing nations.
Benefits: Health cover, immunizations, flight, room and board. 2 annual home flights provided.
Career development: Quarterly management consulting-style career reviews, and significant investment in career development. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development.
Sponsor International Candidates: Yes
More / LessHow to apply
To Apply
Email cover letter and resume to careers@oneacrefund.org (Subject line: E Africa Gov Relations Analyst + name of the site that referred you)
Mr. Paul Youn
One Acre Fund
330 Myrtle Street, Redwood City, CA 94062
Email: careers@oneacrefund.org (Subject line: E Africa Gov Relations Analyst + name of the site that referred you)
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