IFDC Innovation Specialist

IFDC (www.ifdc.org) is an International Public Organization that focuses on broad based agricultural development in Africa and the Far East. 

IFDC seeks to employ an Innovation Specialist for a 5 year Agricultural Development project named 'Towards Strategic Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship (2SCALE) operating in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda.

The 2SCALE project adheres to the Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (CASE) approach and support will be based on Agribusiness Cluster Strategic Plans, Business Plans and Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreements with Small, Medium, Large Agribusiness and Farming Enterprises. Activities relate to the development of agribusiness clusters. 

These clusters are defined as collaboration between supply-chain actors (producers, input suppliers, financial services, processors, traders, business support services, etc.) needed to build profitable and competitive value chains. 

The agribusiness cluster approach is designed to support farmers move from subsistence to commercial farming.

To trigger and sustain competitiveness of value chains, investments in and adoption of successfully tested technical, (related) organizational and institutional innovations will be promoted. 

Technical innovations may involve but are not limited to improved seed varieties, (small scale) mechanization, improved fertilizer compositions, post harvest handling techniques, processing, financing and insurance products. 

Organizational innovations address value chain performance while Institutional innovations examples are public private partnership or contract farming arrangements. 

Both organizational and institutional innovations can be of a stand alone type and or in support of technical innovations.

Position Summary

The Innovation Specialist for 2SCALE is responsible for screening (pilot) tested technical, organizational and institutional innovations scenarios against broad based feasibility for further commercial development and out scaling within the clusters context. 

S/he will support developing, promoting, disseminating and documenting selected innovations.

Duty Location

This is a National position with a Regional scope open to Kenya nationals or persons legally allowed to work in Kenya i.e. do not require a work permit. 

The duty station will be Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel within the project target countries.

Visit the IFDC web site www.ifdc.org/Employment for a complete position description, application requirements and instructions.