CIMMYT Agribusiness Development Officer Job in Kenya

Vacancy: Agribusiness Development Officer - CIMMYT

About our organization: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org), is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries, and through offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 

Through strong science and effective partnerships, we create, share, and use knowledge and agricultural technologies to increase food security, improve the productivity and profitability of farming systems, and sustain natural resources in developing countries. 

We participate in an extensive global network of people and organizations who share similar research and development goals, including the public and private sector, non-governmental and civil society organizations, farmers, and the development assistance community.
 

About the position
 

The Agribusiness Development Officer has the responsibility of assessing small-scale mechanization opportunities with special emphasis on service demand and supply; support the Regional Agribusiness Development Specialist (RADS) to develop new commercially viable business models and help to assess enhance the performance among others.
 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess small-scale mechanization opportunities with special emphasis on service demand and supply at both country- and site-specific levels, including market and demand assessment and their implications for agribusiness development.
• Appraise and analyse the financial viability of the conservation-based mechanization technologies for small holder farmers.
• Identify national and local stakeholders (farmers, importers, manufacturers, mechanization and business service providers, financial institutions etc.) involved or interested in supporting the provision of mechanization services amongst smallholder farmers.
• Support the RADS to develop new (or upgraded) commercially viable business models and associated development strategies to deliver small-mechanization options to smallholders.
• Facilitate linkages and contracts between business model stakeholders including importers, distributors, operators, local promoters and farmers.
• Support the RADS in developing appropriate financial products targeting rural service providers and smallholder farmers in consultation with collaborating financial institutions.
• Assist the RADS to train farmers, importers, local manufacturers, equipment hirers, local promoters and associated businesses in business management, financial management and marketing.
• Contribute to the development of promotional materials and marketing strategies by the private sector to support small scale mechanization.
• Assess and enhance the performance of the business models and develop upgrading strategies.
• Diagnose national institutional constraints in the delivery of small-scale mechanization to smallholders and formulate policy options.
• Any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• MBA or MSc in Agribusiness, Agricultural Development, or a related field, from a recognized University.
• Minimum of 5 - 7 years’ experience in agribusiness development or a related area.
• Experience in the provision of business services.
• Experience with public-private partnerships.
• Experience with agri-business development, market and financial analysis.
• Familiarity with agricultural development and technology delivery issues in Kenya.
• Experience with conservation agriculture, agricultural mechanization and business services will have clear advantage
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
• The job holder needs to be a dynamic, innovative, self-motivated, and service-orientated professional.
• Ability to work with different nationalities, as a member of a diverse work team.
• Ability to analyze complex data, carry out and explain computations or to resolve complex problems.
• Experience with conservation agriculture, farm level economic analysis, agricultural mechanization and business services is of advantage.

Terms of offer
 

We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women. This position is remunerated on Local terms. The appointment will be for an initial period of three (3) years, subject to a six (6) months’ probation period.
 

How to apply
 

Go to http://worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf/vacancies
 

Applications will be considered until 14th March 2014.

Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry Centre by accessing our web sites www.cimmyt.org andwww.worldagroforestry.org