ACDI / VOCA Value Chain Investment Advisor in Isiolo County, Kenya

Since 1963 and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. 

Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. 

ACDI/VOCA has approximately 76 projects in 36 countries and revenues of about $170 million.

Value Chain Investment Advisor, Kenya 

We currently seek a Value Chain Investment Advisor for a project in Kenya, based in Isiolo County for one year, and then Nairobi with significant travel to Marsabit and Isiolo Counties in subsequent years. 

This person will report to the Chief of Party for the project and provide supervision over a team of technical specialists for a project that aims to improve the competitiveness and inclusiveness of the livestock industry in the arid lands of Kenya, particularly Marsabit and Isiolo Counties. 

The successful candidate will be subject to donor approval.

Responsibilities 

• In collaboration with the team and partners, design and implement a market-driven strategy that creates incentives for commercial investment in the livestock sector and results in private-sector led solutions to myriad market constraints
• Lead research and writing of in-depth value chain analyses of the livestock market system—including hides and skins, meat, and dairy value chains—which will serve as the basis for work planning and strategy formulation 
• Based on constraint analyses and in consultation with pastoralists, identify and implement activities to expand markets into rural areas, including the rehabilitation of market structures through community-driven grants, as needed, and working collaboratively with other partners to ensure effective, fair governance and management of markets 
• Monitor the investment climate and engage the GoK and other stakeholders in dialogue on reforms needed to enhance the incentive framework for increased private participation and profitability
• Identify, vet and broker innovative business plans, models and concepts that increase access to markets, financial services, and secure transactions across the range of gender, age, socioeconomic/wealth levels, and demographics; support these initiatives through targeted risk mitigation using grants from the project’s Innovation Fund 
• Identify capacity building needs of private sector and other value chain actors and facilitate access to relevant trainings and support services as needed 
• Promote learning and innovation among stakeholders that leads to improved competitiveness, greater inclusion of poorer pastoralists and women herders and traders, and greater transparency throughout the value chains 
• Ensure that the technical staff employ appropriate market-driven strategies and methodologies to achieve maximum benefits toward short- and long-term project goals. 
• Provide mentoring support on value chain approaches to project staff as needed

Qualifications

•  Minimum of 8 years of regional/international experience in economic growth, trade, value chain competitiveness, livestock, agricultural development, and/or food security programs; preference will be given to candidates with considerable working experience in pastoral areas 
• Demonstrated success in implementing programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness and inclusiveness of value chains using facilitation approaches 
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development (i.e., USAID’s value chain and facilitation approach) that reaches women, youth, the poor and very poor, creativity, willingness to innovate, think systemically and design catalytic interventions 
• Effective communication skills—written and verbal—to ensure effective dissemination of project information and collaboration across projects 
• Strong background in gender integration and women empowerment 
• A minimum of a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with an additional 7 years’ experience to the required minimum above; fields of discipline and experience should be from areas such as Animal Science/Livestock Development, Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Agric. Economics, Agribusiness, and/or Entrepreneurship Development

How to apply:

To be considered for this recruitment, please e-mail your resume to REGALAG@joinav.org. 

Please include the position title in the subject line. 

No phone calls please. 

Only finalists contacted. 

Women and minorities encouraged to apply. 

EOE. 

Please apply by close of business, May 17, 2013.