Private Sector Development and Economic Cooperation Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Private Sector Development and Economic Cooperation Advisor

Vacancy No: 067
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

The Project

• On behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the Market Oriented Value Chains for Job and Growth in ECOWAS – MOVE. The aim of the project is to promote market- oriented and future-proof value chains that contribute to income and employment generation in the ECOWAS region. The focus will be put on the cashew and rice value chains and the proejet will build on the successes of Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew) and Competitive Rice Initiative (CARI).
• MOVE is a very complex project with 3 independent co-financing (EU 1, BMGF, EU2)
• MOVE project will be implemented in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. The overarching strategy of implementation is built on making value chains more resilient, collaborating with large companies and SMEs, integrating Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA), developing a more conducive local/regional business climate, and then scaling for achieving broad impact in ECOWAS. MOVE objectives and outputs focuses on the following:
  • Increasing the share of value added in the ECOWAS region
  • Enhancing the viability of production systems
  • Increasing the demand for regional products
  • Scaling good practices in supply chain development
  • Strengthening policy advice and public-private cooperation

Responsibilities
The Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following:

• Supporting all rice/ cashew activities in Nigeria under project MOVE with a special focus on private sector development as well as policy.
• Processing technical aspects and further developing VC specific technical competences
• Maintaining good flow of communication and information between all involved institutions and counterparts and GIZ

Tasks
Management and coordination:
The Advisor:

• Is a liaison between project partners in project countries, primarily Nigeria, and MOVE management.
• Manages consultants engaged to implement discrete workplans within MOVE
• Advises private sector partners of MOVE in Nigeria and potentially in other MOVE countries.
• Assists and supports the MOVE Private Sector Development (PSD) team in the development and management of the existing and upcoming Matching Fund projects in Nigeria.
• Assists the project with organisational and management issues.

Communication and Networking:
The Advisor:

• Communicates with key project partners on a regular basis.
• Develops and maintains contact with all important stakeholders in the rice/cashew sector, including public sector partners such as: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), ECOWAS, ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO), National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NICAN) and private sector partners.
• Supports cooperation, regular contact and dialogue with partners, assists with public relations work.
• Cooperates with local communities, relevant organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals in the project environment and with other projects to improve and maintain good working relationships.
• Provides technical assistance to local and international experts.

Networking and cooperation:
The Advisor:

• Oversees the strategic development and management of key relationships with partners.
• Encourages sharing ideas and information for the benefit of the programme.

Data management, analysis and monitoring:
The Advisor:

• Tracks project statistics in the designated project areas.
• Compiles, processes and manages the database of key beneficiaries of the project.
• Is responsible for preparing and reviewing documentations, files and data in the project area.
•  progress and keeps the M&E database up-to-date.
• In collaboration with the MOVE PSD team, sets up a strict follow-up structure with the Matching Fund partners to ensure timely submission of project reports (both financial and technical).

Knowledge management:
The Advisor:

• Ensures knowledge management, collects processes and distributes relevant information, monitors communication and interaction between government institutions, NGOs and society through analyses of the media, direct dialogue, participation in meetings and seminars etc. • Ensures knowledge transfer in the programme.
• Develops and prepares training materials for deployment in the implementation of the project.
•  Enables the adoption of training materials by local partners, including government structures, and other development organisations. • Assists with research activities and studies on issues to support programme implementation and learning.

Coordination tasks:
The Advisor:

• Assists with project planning and develops project concepts and strategies including preparation, organisation and moderation of planning exercises and their implementation, monitoring, quality management, evaluation, communication and documentation.
• Assists in coordinating and prioritising relevant project activities at technical level (in the regions) in cooperation with the partners, both as regards the organisational preparation and implementation of the activities.

Other duties/ Additional tasks:
The Advisor:

• Performs other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience
Qualifications:

• University degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Economics, Biotechnology, Food Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree is an added advantage.

Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years’ professional experience in a comparable position.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment, with strong interpersonal relationship and negotiation skills.
• Experience in both rice and cashew value chains with comprehensive knowledge of the landscape and stakeholders involved in these value chains in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and establish effective relationships with private companies and government personnel.

Other knowledge, Additional Competences:

• Strong organizational and management skills.
• Ability to independently manage time and responsibilities.
• Proficient in ICT technologies (software, phone, fax, email, internet) and computer applications (e.g., MS Office).
• Proven analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and change management abilities. • Excellent communication skills for building and maintaining effective relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• Fluent in written and spoken French.
• Fluency in English is highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of any Nigerian local languages is beneficial.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4.

Application Closing Date
12th July, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Letter of Motivation as one document with complete contact details to: [email protected] using "vacancy no. 067" as the subject of the email.

Note

• Please include vacancy no. 067 in mail subject
• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race, and religion are encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.