Agribusiness Market/Value Chain Development Specialist , South Sudan

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Associates was ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms in 2012 and also named one of the top 40 international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in nearly 40 countries.

Abt Associates’ International Economic Growth Division conducts projects in agriculture, economic development, labor, privatization, environment, and trade. We work in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Our clients include the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and multilateral financial institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.

Opportunity:

Abt Associates seeks an Agribusiness Market/Value Chain Development Specialist for the Food, Agribusiness and Rural Markets (FARM) Program in South Sudan. The FARM program is a 5-year activity funded by USAID and implemented by Abt Associates and its partners: ACDI/VOCA, Action Africa Help International, Sheladia, and RSM Consulting. The Program is designed to rapidly increase agricultural productivity in selected commodities, increase trade, and improve the capacity of producers, private sector and public sector actors in South Sudan to develop commercial smallholder agriculture. The FARM Program will foster economic growth to reduce poverty and food insecurity by improving the competitiveness of staple food value chains in which large numbers of smallholders participate. FARM will invest in market access and/or vertical coordination and smallholder productivity, and in interventions that address the constraints faced by selected value chains and the private sector. The FARM Program will initially focus on the three states of Western, Central, and Eastern Equatoria - areas of great agricultural potential, but where conflict has destroyed much of the agricultural production capacity.

Most of The FARM Project’s work during the first half of the project has primarily focused on agriculture production in the following cereal value chains: maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cassava, and beans. The main interventions in this area include improved seed distribution, agronomic training, land reclamation and preparation, post-harvest storage, and community farmer-based organization development. Although farmer adoption to these interventions has been relatively slow due to risk-adverse farmers, we expect production gains among lead farmers which will soon yield surplus harvests. Therefore, The FARM Project will place much more emphasis on developing markets for smallholder farmer surplus production for the final two years of the project.

This position will work closely with existing project teams on developing and implementing programs to ensure that the value chain/private sector component of the program is well integrated with all other project work. The FARM Project also works closely with government counterparts at all levels of national, state, and local governments and therefore this position will have key coordination and capacity development responsibilities with these public-sector counterparts.

Below will be the primary activities in which this position oversee and support through existing project staff. Other areas of support and technical assistance will be assigned by the Chief of Party.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The position will provide technical assistance, mentoring and support to staff and contribute to on-going activities within the agricultural trade component including:

(1) Market Assessment: Oversee completion of market assessments and farmer surplus productions surveys and link farmers’ surplus production to markets;

(2) Trader/Farmer Linkage Development: Strengthen business relations between Traders and Farmers through ongoing project activities aimed at building understanding and capacity among the two groups and building trust between both parties.

(3) Cooperative Development: Continue work on identifying six Farmer-Based Organizations which have the potential to become functioning cooperatives in South Sudan. Design and build an initial program where these “pilot” cooperatives would be eligible for more intensive technical assistance and training support as well as grant funding from the project. The program should be aimed at developing the capacities of these pilot cooperative to purchase surplus crops from farmers and FBOs, provide transport of surplus crops from farm locations to collection points, provide adequate storage, processing, handling and grading of crops, and sell aggregated surpluses to a market.

(4) Value Chains: Oversee expansion of cassava chip and groundnut processing programs through exploration of appropriate technologies, procurement of equipment, training of users, and assistance for marketing and selling final product. Oversee the assessment of the charcoal value chain in South Sudan identify successful practices from his value chain which can be applied to the five value chains currently being supported by the project.

(5) Marketing Information: Work with marketing and field extension teams and home office Client Technology Center on implementing trial use of SMART phone technology to collect production and market data in Central Equatoria and determine feasibility for broader and more scalable use.

(6) Organization Development of FBOs and Cooperatives: Work with Finance and Business Coordinator to further develop capacity of formed and registered FBOs to improve their governance and management capacities and helping them become “bankable” for credit financing through local bank lending programs with potential support through USAID’s DCA program.

Skills Prerequisites:

(1) Minimum seven years of experience providing hands-on support to smallholder farmers and other downstream value chain actors in the area of market and trade development.

(2) Minimum seven years of experience in assessing and improving staple crop value chain efficiencies.

(3) Minimum five years of proven ability to design and implement programs that create market opportunities for small holder farmers, small-scale processors, primary traders, and other downstream value chain actors.

(4) Proven facilitative leadership abilities through developing and leading project teams and closely collaborating with other areas of project.

(5) Demonstrated ability to work with and develop capacity of local government counterparts.

(6) Sub-Sahara Africa Experience strongly preferred.

(7) English language skills required.

(8) Ability to travel extensively in South Sudan.

How to apply:

Interested candidates should apply through the Abt Associates website here