SNV Business Development Advisor Job in Nairobi, Kenya

SNV Netherlands Development Organization is looking for a:

Business Development Advisor (Level IV)

(Local staff on full time OR International staff on consultancy/part-time placement)
Based in Nairobi with frequent travel to the field, KENYA

SNV is a Dutch based international Development Organization that provides Capacity Development Services to local institutions and organizations in more than 30 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.  

Started in 1967, SNV program in Kenya is organized in 3 multidisciplinary portfolio teams of about 8 core advisors each. The program is organized in three portfolios based in South Rift (With an office in Nairobi), Northern Kenya (With an office in Nanyuki) and North Rift (With an office in Eldoret).

SNV Kenya focuses its work on poverty reduction through achieving impacts in two major areas: (1) ‘sustainable and equitable Production, Income and Employment (PIE) and (2) access to Basic Services (BASE). Our advisory services are focused on three sectors: Agriculture (value chain development), Renewable Energy, Water and sanitation. 

Governance is an important cross-cutting issue; Accountability, Sustainability, gender equity and social inclusion are key (good) governance principles pursued by SNV within the sectors. SNV contributes to poverty reduction by providing capacity development services to partner organizations at “meso” and national level in order to improve their performance, so that they can make better deliberate choices, deliver appropriate services to their constituencies (or members) and defend the interests of poor people.

SNV has partnered with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in a four year program/project named “Procurement Governance for Home Grown School Feeding Project” which aims to enable 10,000 smallholder farmers in 15 districts in Kenya to derive increased and stable income through effective participation in Home Grown School Feeding programs that use open, transparent and accountable procurement practices in their implementation: affecting all stakeholders along the supply chain.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

The Business Development Advisor (BDA) provides business development support for designing and implementing a multi-layered project to improve smallholder farmer access to the structured market demand represented by Homegrown School Feeding programs.  

The Business Development Advisor will be based in Nairobi working under the supervision of his/her Country Coordinator to provide Business Development Advise to the HGSF Project. 

The project will be executed in as many as 15 districts in Kenya, and the Business Development Advisor will be responsible for the delivery of results on the objectives associated with Business Development in the Kenya Country Program. 

The Advisor will do this working closely and in coordination with the rest of the team, and other partners.      

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of SNV’s Procurement Governance in Home Grown School Feeding Program Kenya including the oversight responsibility and reporting on activities related to market development and business development services taking place in the various districts where the project is executed.
• Support farmers to set up grain business hubs and warehousing facilities as well as ensuring creation of relevant market linkages.
• Improving the HGSF procurement process by strengthening the capacity of all actors to ensure that smallholder farmers have access to that market.
• Enhancing supply chain governance and introducing Inclusive business practice.
• Ensuring effective monitoring and documentation of lessons learned for broad dissemination to increase the likelihood of replication/scaling-up of best practices.
• Assist the Country Coordinator to ensure effective program implementation and existence of a strong HGSF country team spirit that ensures coordination of the project, with external donors and other stakeholders, especially the PCD. P4P and the relevant Ministries and Local Governments (Education, Agriculture, Finance, District Assemblies etc.).
• Assist Country Coordinator to develop and present to Project Manager annual plans with proper timelines for execution of the project; monitor the activities and impact at the country level.
• Establish strong working relationships with local government, businesses, bilateral and multilateral actors, NGOs, private sector and academics in field of small holder Farmers access to HGSF to ensure exposure and success of the project.
• Support Country Coordinator and Governance Advisor to develop  and implement effective, participation and accountability  mechanism  for the project
• Develop matchmaking mechanisms between suppliers to School Feeding Programs and smallholder farmers to stimulate improved marketing relationship using the SNV Inclusive Business approach
• Assist project to select the most promising business opportunities, giving special attention to those that involve women farmers and organizations, and support them by linking to appropriate service providers.
• Support services oriented toward the strengthening of the capacities of smallholder farmers and farmer-based organizations to fulfill arrangements (contract compliance) made with their new business partners through on going technical assistance, thus addressing a key issue of building trust.
• Explore funding opportunities for the FBOs and/or service providers Facilitate matchmaking for supply to school feeding that will be oriented to create independent mechanisms embedded in the institutional framework established.
• Advisory and  business development services to client or local partner organizations
• Assist Learning Manager/ Coordinator with the documentation of lessons learned, best practices  and sharing across countries covered by the project
• Assist Country Coordinator to maximize the utility of the data gathering systems and use technology to enhance learning and sharing among users.
• Assist Learning Manager to identify and conduct research activities, and organize learning-related and dissemination events (including issue briefs and events sponsored by SNV or others).

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master degree or equivalent in Business Development Services, Economic Development or equivalent
• Good knowledge of warehousing technics/technologies including running of grain business hubs with structured markets such school feeding procurement etc.
• At least 5 years of work experience working with market and warehouse systems, Public Private Partnerships. Development program planning monitoring and reporting is key.
• Academic training and/or practical experience in economics, agriculture and rural development. Understanding of procurement governance or business development services is desired.
• Personal commitment to social and economic development that recognizes women and smallholder farmers as critical actors and beneficiaries.
• Thorough understanding of the principal issues facing rural and low-income communities in the region gained through experience in civil society, government, or private sector organizations.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written in English (This role will oversee production of local information dissemination presentations and periodic narrative reports).

In addition to professional qualifications and work experience, the candidate shall be expected to be:

• A self-motivated achiever with demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision
• Strong in report writing skills and understanding of Local Economic Development status.
• Good in resource management, organizational skills, M & E/ Data handling and/or knowledge development.
• Proficient in MS Word at an advanced level.
• In a position to demonstrate knowledge of relevant Networks and networking skills.

Contract Duration: 2 years (with a possibility of extension).

Desired start date: ASAP

How to apply

Apply by clicking APPLY. Please unsure to send your application letter, CV together with names and email contacts of three referees as you apply before 5th July, 2013.