Business Development Support for Agroprocessing 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: Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor

ID: 104
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time
Organization: GIZ Nigeria, Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE)

Background
GIZ. Solutions that work:

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world.
• GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German Government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our approximately 23,500 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national personnel, work in around 120 countries (July 2020).
• GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974. Since 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city Abuja. Currently, 361 national and 66 international employees, 19 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists, and 3 development workers are working in the country (June 2020).

The Project
Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE):

• The German Government and the Nigerian Government are addressing ongoing challenges in the Agri-Food System in Nigeria. The German Government through the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is supporting the Nigerian Government and especially the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the implementation of Nigeria's National Development Plan 2021 - 2025 and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) among others. Both strategies highlight the relevance of the agricultural sector in overcoming the economic downturn thereby fostering economic diversification. The GIZ Cluster “Transformation of Agricultural Systems” is implementing several projects in the agriculture and rural development sector with a total budget of over 60 Mio. Euro.
• The projects contribute to better yields and income of small-holder farmers, performance of agri-business, access to finance, promotion of jobs and rural development through a private business-driven value-chain approach and with this enhance the regional food supply in the rural target regions as well as transformation of the agri-food system by cross-sectoral approaches.
• The Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE) project, co-financed by the European Union and the BMZ, seeks to improve sustainable rural economic development by promoting specific agricultural clusters in selected "transition" states in Nigeria. The aim is to increase agricultural production, create lucrative employment opportunities and increase the incomes of the rural population, thus contributing to food security and strengthening the resilience of the population to external shocks.
• At the same time, it makes an important contribution to the effective transformation of the Nigerian agricultural sector. Project activities support existing enterprises to improve the quality and yield of production and subsequent processing and also generate opportunities for new businesses to emerge that will lead to sustainable outcomes in the rural and blue economy. Inclusive development principles ensure responsible approaches to social and environmental sustainability with a focus on the adoption of practices that are resilient to climate change, and which improve biodiversity, and combat desertification and deforestation.
• Improved opportunities for employment, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, are created at all stages of the value chains with a commitment to develop processing facilities reflecting EU standards in decent work and product quality to improve export opportunities.

Responsibilities & Tasks
Responsibilities:
The Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor will have the following responsibilities:

• Assess agro processing gaps including associated risks for the identified private sector multiplicators - exporters/aggregators and small holder farmers and identify and provide information that would be relevant for implementing intervention on agro processing.
• Analysis, utilization and presentation of existing project data and results for agro processing support for partners within the selected value chains.
• Develop recommendations for how to promote agro processing in the targeted value chains and states based on knowledge of industry and market needs, present and future to support crop production.
• Promote agro-processing investment by the identified private sector multiplicators in the targeted value chains and states, including post-harvest handling, aggregation, storage, and certification.
• Develop guides/templates for partners on appropriate packaging (including eco-friendly options as applicable) and presentation of products based on industry knowledge.
• Ensure a supportive business development ecosystem for private sector multiplicators to perform market-oriented processing for value addition of target commodities.
• Work with partners to understand how post-harvest products can be converted to value.
• Ensure a strong market link between agro-processors and small-holder farmers as suppliers.
• Assist private sector multiplicators, including farmers’ organizations, in identifying and applying appropriate value addition and processing technologies.
• Ensure a supportive ecosystem of support for strengthening community-based groups, associations, cooperatives, and enterprises for processing.
• Responsible for developing budgets and estimating expenses for program activities in the area of operation.
• Identifies and implements strategies to mainstream climate-smart considerations in agribusinesses, regenerative, agroecological, biodiversity, and agroforestry options.

Tasks:
Advising Project Partners:
The Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor:

• Supports the identification of MSMEs / inclusive business and other partners for engagement by the project.
• Supports in conducting assessments among MSMEs and businesses to establish gaps and opportunities while incorporating inclusivity approaches.
• Coordinates and assists with capacity development for MSMEs and other businesses based on the gaps identified to achieve the project´s objectives.
• Supports in data building for business decisions of beneficiary MSMEs in basic financial and economic analysis regarding factors of production accommodating as much financial detail as possible.
• In collaboration with other advisors, support beneficiary MSMEs to participate in scenarios to promote matchmaking and investment opportunities to improve their businesses.
• In collaboration with other advisors and beneficiaries supports preparing, implementing, and documenting training events, workshops, forums, team meetings, and other programme activities.
• Identifies and implements strategies to mainstream climate-smart considerations in agribusinesses, regenerative, agroecological, biodiversity, and agroforestry options.

Networking and Cooperation:
The Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor:

• Helps identify the needs of government ministries, departments, and agencies, private sector, NGOs, and other identified stakeholders relating to their role in improving the business enabling environment for agro processors.
• Assists on aspects relating to incentives and business/climate-smart innovations promotion initiatives.
• Supports in Identification of partners for Public Private Partnerships, networking support of SMEs and working closely with other advisors to leverage investments, climate change adaptation, etc., in the agricultural value chains.
• Supports in identifying the needs of government ministries, departments, and agencies, private sector, NGOs, and other identified stakeholders relating to their role in improving the agricultural value chain.
• Supports in identifying the relevance and opportunities represented by other projects and accommodates them, where possible, to bolster any business opportunities and models created.

Knowledge Management:
The Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor:

• Collects, processes, and distributes relevant information, monitors communication, and interacts between government institutions, partners, NGOs, and other project beneficiaries through analyses of the media, direct dialogue, participation in meetings, and seminars, etc.
• Develops and maintains contact with all important stakeholders.
• Provides relevant information to the project management and other advisors as required.
• Develops and maintains database(s) of all beneficiary MSMEs, climate adaptation innovations as well as other innovations implemented by the project and records documentation regarding them.
• In collaboration with the other advisors, disseminates success stories through existing platforms.
• Provides technical inputs on reports and activities as required by the project.

Project Management Tasks:
The Business Development Support for Agroprocessing Advisor:

• Coordinates relevant activities in collaboration with other advisors as well as in cooperation with the project beneficiaries to ensure efficient implementation and organization of the project.
• Prepares input for project/programme reports and draws up documents in accordance with project standards on communication and presentation.
• Participates in formulating programme action plans and helps synchronize the planning and budgeting system with counterparts in the project.
• Administers all project-related documents in accordance with the project financial systems ensuring the integrity of the project is upheld through proper accountability and accuracy in documentation.
• Performs other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience
Qualifications:

• University Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Rural Development, or any related field of study. A specialization in climate-smart and transformative Agric food systems will be an added advantage.

Professional Experience:

• 5+ years demonstrated and verifiable experience in working in Nigeria in the agricultural sector.
• 5+ years work experience in agribusiness development or agribusiness marketing.
• Experience in smallholder farmer agribusiness capacity development and knowledge of the agro-processing sector in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated and verifiable experience in delivering business development services in Nigeria in the agricultural and agro-processing sector.
• Deep understanding of business growth strategies in the agricultural sector, including climate adaptation-relevant sectors in accordance with project goals.
• Ability to strategically build and maintain networks in the private sector, including processors aggregators and others.
• Previous coaching, teaching, training, or facilitation experience preferred.
• Good networks in climate adaptation-relevant sectors (e.g., agriculture, food, water) with public institutions, research organizations, and the private sector in Nigeria.
• Previous experience in working in the Northern and Southern states and understanding of any prevailing dynamics preferred.
• Good contact within public institutions, research organizations, and the private sector in Nigeria.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences:

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills as well as multi-stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent project management, team-working, planning, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Exceptional networking skills and strong experience working with and/or influencing donors, development agencies, government, and other critical stakeholders.
• Highly motivated to work in a multicultural environment and ability to function sensitively in a diverse working environment.
• Strong organizational competence.
• Strong awareness and passion for gender and other inclusivity considerations.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English; additional Nigerian languages would be an added advantage.
• Ability to think and act strategically and analytically, with quick comprehension and attention to detail.
• Flexibility to take on additional responsibilities as assigned/delegated.
• Willingness to undertake intensive fieldwork.
• Proactive, independent, and flexible working style.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4.

Application Closing Date
18th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using "vacancy no. 104" as the subject of the mail.

Note

• 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