JOB PURPOSE
To provide technical support to BASIN project in the areas of Inclusive Market Systems Development (iMSD) for the selected on- farm and off- farm commodities, linking farmers to sustainable markets, liaising with value chain actors and supporters, and exploring opportunities for value addition to improve the well- being of children. H/she will work with Project team members and other collaborating project partners and community stakeholders to ensure project objectives are achieved.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Planning and Implementation- Work closely with regional technical experts and WVIV’s Livelihood Technical Program manager/ specialist to:
• Train and coach producer groups on business development planning: Collaborate with TPOs to provide training and coaching to producer groups on business development planning. This includes imparting skills in collective production, social entrepreneurship, negotiation, value addition, and marketing.
• Promote the use of digital platforms for production planning, monitoring, harvesting and market links.
• Undertake technical responsibility to BASIN Project on inclusive market systems development.
• Carry out gender- sensitive participatory market research and value chain analysis: In collaboration with Livelihood Technical Program Officers (TPOs) to work with consultants/ experts to conduct market research analysis, taking into consideration gender sensitivities.
• Guide project team and local partners on mapping and connecting smallholder farmers for a profitable, effective, commercial agriculture.
• Work closely with team members, key partners and build their capacities on integrated market- driven approaches and support them to identify opportunities for replication and scale- up.
• Explore different types of farmer- market linkages to offer opportunity for improving smallholder marketing;
• Undertake the development of sustainable livelihoods initiatives at the community.
• Conduct training for agriculture/livestock extension workers, and local partners such as Farmer Union, Women Union on improved agricultural practices: Work with TPOs and consultants/ experts to organize training sessions for extension workers to enhance their knowledge and skills in improved agricultural practices, climate- smart agriculture, nutrition- sensitive agriculture, and natural resource management.
• Develop or provide inputs into relevant training materials, manuals related to on- farm/ off- farm marketing; co- operative/collective group management, value chain analysis, value chain development planning and upgrading.
• Identify and lead the development of niche marketing opportunities such as organic and fair trade.
• Responsible for project annual budget preparation or request’s submission with inputs on inclusive market systems related activities.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning and Knowledge Management
• Conduct monitoring visits to project activities to assess progress against targets and provide technical backstopping to activities in areas where improvements are needed.
• Ensure effective monitoring and supervision of interventions.
• Co- ordinate joint planning, monitoring with relevant stakeholders.
• Use innovative approaches to monitor and evaluate performance, effectiveness/impacts of livelihoods interventions
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate reports that meet donor requirements.
• Ensure the documentation of lessons learned, best practices, success stories, case studies and project impacts for sharing at internal and external knowledge sharing forums
• Support in research and project evaluation activities such as; baseline and end line.
• Develop data collection tools and techniques for monitoring project related interventions including marketing volume and value of commodities at collection centres and cooperatives.
• Document case studies/ best practices of market- driven approaches in programming that clearly demonstrate both social transformation and sustainable development outcomes of the interventions
Partnering, Networking, External Engagements
• Identify and build strategic linkages, relations, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in market systems and financial inclusion
• Ensure effective co- ordination and engagement among BASIN project partners and stakeholders at different levels for successful implementation of the Economic Empowerment Business Plan.
• Build and strengthen effective relations with networks and promote cross learning to enrich BASIN economic development and livelihoods programs in market systems.
• Attend national, international organization events and represent BASIN project in economic development and sustainable livelihood fora, meetings, workshops, conferences and contribute to technical interactions and discussions.
• Identify advocacy opportunities that affect project beneficiaries especially small holder farmers and engage relevant stakeholders for action and influence national and sub- national policies, remove barriers and promote access to agricultural commercialization
Other responsibilities:
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by Direct Supervisor.
