CIAT-PABRA Seed Business Development Specialist Job in Kampala, Uganda

Seed Business Development Specialist

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT- www.ciat.caiar.org) — a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) — develops technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially smallholders, to make agriculture competitive and profitable as well as sustainable and resilient. 

CIAT conducts research for development in tropical regions of Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Among various research areas, CIAT has a global mandate for beans and in Africa, bean research is carried by the Pan Africa Research Alliance (PABRA) which encompasses 3 regional bean research networks working to improve the livelihoods of small scale bean farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
 

PABRA facilitates collaborative research for development within and between the networks by providing a forum for collaboration of multiple partners who include researchers, private sector involved in bean seed and grain business, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based (OB) and producers’ organizations (POs), universities and millions of farmers.

The alliance operates in 29 member countries, each represented by its National Agricultural Research System (NARS). 

PABRA is coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (dAT).

PABRA facilitates access to quality seed of improved varieties by millions of farmers across Africa through the various bean seed production and delivery options based on prevailing seed systems and targeted clients. 

For this purpose, PABRA is recruiting a Seed Business Development Specialist. 

The position will be based at Kawanda Agricultural Research Station, Kampala-Uganda.

Role and Responsibility

To enhance the capacities of seed and input suppliers to provide quality seed of improved bean varieties and complementary inputs to small-scale farmers in PABRA countries on a sustainable basis.

Main Job Tasks

The Seed Business Development Specialist (SBDS) will be expected to provide the following collaborative services:

• In partnership with seed producers, NARS and national seed services and development partners, assess various client oriented bean seed production and delivery options in PABRA member countries and identify most effective ones (sole or combined) to be mainstreamed or tested further.
• Carry out R4D for testing innovative seed production and market strategies such as the use of affordable packs, their commercial viability and explore how the mainstream best practices across PABRA countries.
• Assess and explore institutional linkages in order to sustain best seed systems practices and create synergetic actions for scaling up of these best practices across several countries.
• Collaborate with partners such as NARS to enhance capacity of decentralized seed producers, particularly women involved in the production of locally preferred bean varieties.
• Provide advice related to business development services to bean seed producers (individual seed entrepreneurs, farmer organizations, seed companies and public enterprises/research farm) and stimulate private (small and large) investment ¡n bean seed production and delivery in business sound manner.
• Train bean seed producers/suppliers ¡n specific areas such as seed business management including production, post-harvest, marketing, financial management, and strategy development.
• Strengthen the seed component and facilitate its linkages with other elements of the bean platforms across PABRA countries.
• Document (reports and professional publications) on improving the efficiency and sustainability of bean seed producers and supply and share knowledge.
• Design and conduct a sound Monitoring and Evaluation (M÷E) framework to capture relevant seed data and to document case studies.

Qualifications

• Strong background in seed business, agribusiness and business administration at MSc / MA levels.
• Five (5) years practical experience in managing a seed business is strongly preferred.
• Previous or current work on seed related activities in Africa is an added advantage.
• In addition to good command of written and spoken English language, an acceptable knowledge of French language will be added advantage.

Personal Characteristics

• Ability to work both persuasively and diplomatically in a team-based environment with a high degree of complexity.
• Exceptional drive and entrepreneurship, a pronounced ability to motivate others.
• Hands-on problem-solver with strong analytical abilities.
• Organizational and business planning.
• Strategic thinking & creativity.
• Problem analysis and problem-solving.
• Team leadership & persuasiveness.

Terms of employment

The vacancy is an internationally recruited position. 

The contract will be for a two year period, with a six month probation period, renewable depending on performance. 

We offer a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. 

We believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence.

Applications

Interested applicants should send their motivation letter, a full C.V. including relevant certificates and one page essay on the main steps and their sequence for developing the ability of seed suppliers to provide quality seed of improved bean varieties and complementary inputs to small-scale farmers on a sustainable basis. 

Additionally please send the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. 

Applications should be sent to Isabela Botero (i.botero@cgiar.org) at the CIAT Human Resources office and ciatkenvainfo@cgiar.org by August 1st 2013.