Value Chain Competitiveness Specialist , Malawi

DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

Description

Value Chain Competitiveness Specialist Feed the Future Integrating Nutrition In Value Chains / Malawi DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For more than 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments. Background DAI is currently implementing 3-year, $24.6 million dollar USAID funded “Feed the Future: Integrating Nutrition into Value Chains” (FtF-INVC) program. The goal of FtF-INVC is to advance the vision of Feed the Future and Global Health Initiative in Malawi by implementing agriculture and nutrition interventions that will sustainably reduce rural poverty and improve nutrition. The delivery of targeted technical assistance assists civil society, working through local partners (farmer associations) to help improve smallholder production, productivity, prosperity including value adding support, and the private sector and government, to realize the advantages of greater collaboration, commercialization, and competitiveness across three targeted value chains: Soy bean, groundnuts, and dairy.  The project is expected to lead to agricultural transformation across the three value chains resulting in the achievement of the following objectives: Improved productivity (land, water, labor) through soil and water management practices; Increased competitiveness of the legumes and  dairy value chains to mitigate food insecurity and increase incomes of the rural poor; Reduced chronic under-nutrition; Improved value chain competitiveness and nutrition outcomes through the fostering of innovation in adaptive technologies and techniques that will increase participation of the poor in agriculture-led growth; and Enhanced capacity of local organizations and institutions developed to promote sustainability and climate change resilience.  DAI is seeking a long-term, resident Value Chain Competitiveness Specialist to play a lead role on a project based in Lilongwe, Malawi. The VC Competitiveness Specialist will design and lead activities with project partners to build the competitiveness of staple food value chains to increase household production of nutritious crops and milk and improve the nutritional status of mothers and children less than five years of age. The position is available immediately, May 2015 and runs through April 2015. Responsibilities: Manage the development and implementation of upgrading plans in soybean, groundnut and dairy value chains with a focus on improving  smallholder crop and livestock productivity  and net revenues using market-led approaches; Supervise the work of three (3) value chain specialists and associated staff; Facilitate market driven linkages between smallholder farmers, input/output dealers, wholesalers, processors, and marketers;  Oversee agricultural production activities, focused on “best bet”  agricultural technologies with national-level working groups to spur sector-wide innovation with project partners; Lead value chain training and ensure the diffusion of  value chain diagnostics, mapping, action planning, and business-to-business matching capacities; Facilitate implementation of approved workplan activities through implementing partners to improve the competitiveness of staple food value chains; Promote bank lending to agricultural enterprises, including increasing the products that are used for financing beyond inventory credit and warehouse receipts Improve marketing systems with stakeholders involved in three value chain associations and increase the use of business service providers to improve marketing plans, working with selected food processors, implementing partners, and suppliers. Provide technical guidance and capacity building services to grantees/implementing partners; Provide technical input to initial environmental assessments and relevant environmental risk management and mitigation plans for project-supplied grants; Monitor and report progress towards achievement of established targets and objectives utilizing indicators agreed in the Monitoring &Evaluation plan. Qualifications: At least six years of professional work experience in value chain development, with a minimum of 5 years in the private sector. This experience should include capacity building with community-based organizations (e.g. outgrower operations, co-ops, producer associations, marketing associations), improving market linkages with value chain actors, and improving value chain actors’ access to financial and business development services; Experience in developing and strengthening agribusiness activities supporting smallholders will be key; Experience working in Eastern or Southern Africa preferred; Past experience leading and building the capacity of agricultural value chain teams to meet program deliverables and due dates; Good knowledge of financial analysis for farm management, non-farm rural enterprise, agribusiness and/or food marketing companies; Demonstrated experience with gender mainstreaming in agriculture projects; Excellent verbal and written communications skills (writing samples are required), and strong facilitation skills; Must be a team player ; Previous experience on USAID-, DFID-,  GIZ-, or EC-funded agricultural/agribusiness development programs, including contributing to M&E, quarterly and annual reporting, and designing and leading program activities;  and Master’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or other related field is required; or equivalent work experience. Start Date:  on or about May 15, 2015 End Date:  on or about April 15, 2015 APPLY