3 Job Positions at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Modernizing Agriculture Activity: (Deadline 7 March 2023)

3 Job Positions at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Modernizing Agriculture Activity: (Deadline 7 March 2023)

Provincial Intervention Officer at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Modernizing Agriculture Activity: (Deadline 7 March 2023)

USAID/Hinga Wunguke

Provincial Intervention Officer 

CNFA

CNFA is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating economic growth in the agricultural sector by nurturing entrepreneurship, private enterprise, and market linkages. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, new technologies and marketing as a means to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains and rural development, to increase people’s incomes, to develop skills in the rural workforce, and to facilitate exports.

Program Description Hinga Wunguke 

The purpose of the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity (Hinga Wunguke) is to support increased agriculture productivity and income, access to finance and markets, and access and consumption of nutritious food products in Rwanda, while increasing the resilience of agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. To achieve this goal, the Activity will sustainably increase agricultural productivity, increase access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses, improve producers’ market outcomes, and strengthen the enabling environment to foster market-driven outcomes in agriculture.

Position Description

Reporting to the Provincial Manager of Hinga Wunguke, the Provincial Intervention Officers will be entrepreneurial, with strong business acumen. They need to be analytical, creative thinkers and be keen to get first-hand experience working with market actors, local communities, and international organizations to achieve rapid and lasting results. They will be responsible for advancing the market systems development process for Hinga Wunguke in its targeted value chains. They will work with private and public market actors to conduct market research, identify and develop innovative business opportunities and models, as well as to be involved in partnership management. They must use their local knowledge and business analytics to optimize private sector growth as well as create inclusive impact for smallholder farmers in the Hinga Wunguke target districts and the wider market system in Rwanda. Provincial Intervention Officers will be based in either Nyamagabe, Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza or Karongi. CNFA will hire ten (10) Provincial Intervention Officers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Market analysis

• Conduct analysis of local context and selected value chains in order to develop innovative intervention ideas to attain the Activity’s objectives.
• Collaborate with local market actors to identify inefficiencies in Hinga Wunguke target value chains and co-design interventions leading to a well-functioning market system.
• Identify specific market actors that can address the constraints identified in the selected value chains.
• Understand the root constraints that private sector face and support in designing of project intervention strategies to address them.
• Ensure that designed interventions are sustainable, climate smart, and inclusive of women, youth, people with disabilities, and other groups.

Business Models Design and Data-driven adaptation

• Identify, assess, and select potential private/public partners suitable for the type of constraints identified.
• Contribute to the development of sustainable business models to achieve Hinga Wunguke’s goals.
• Regularly use data and evidence from field to facilitate and strengthen business models.
• Identify mechanisms of targeting women and other excluded groups as per the inclusion strategy of the Activity

Partnership development 

• Develop and maintain networks with the local stakeholders (private and public sector) including liaising with district and provincial authorities to coordinate activities and work planning, by participating in Joint Action Development Forums and in the elaboration of district and Provincial Development Plans, and other district and  provincial-level planning activities with national and international donors, as appropriate, to ensure an integrated approach between Hinga Wunguke activities and those at the local level.
• In collaboration with Component Leads, participate in deal negotiations with public and private partners to implement innovative and inclusive models.
• Together with the selected private and/ or public partner, and in collaboration with the Component Leads and/or Advisors, develop budget and work plan as a basis of partnership contract.
• In collaboration with Component Leads, provide accurate monthly forecasting of budget based on regular monitoring of partnership contracts.

Project management

• After contracting stage, monitor progress of the implementation plan with the partner if located in the province, and report field findings to the team and propose how to adjust the intervention strategies with the partner based on field findings and evidence.

Result measurement and communication

• Supported by the MEL team, conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of partnerships.
• Undertake regular impact projections for on-going and pipeline interventions.
• Support the development of communication products.
• Ensure partners accurately report required data in line with contractual deadlines.

Qualifications

• At least bachelor’s degree in the field of Business Administration, Economics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Rural Development, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness or similar fields;
• 2-3 years of experience in private sector and/ or programs dealing with the private sector;
• Experience of working with communities and local stakeholders to facilitate farmers to improve farming businesses;
• Strong analytical mind and a flair for facts, data, and innovation;
• Experience in data analysis using MS Excel or other data analytics tool is preferred;
• Experience of working with communities and stakeholders at district level;
• Attitude for out-of-the-box thinking;
• Strong negotiation skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills to be able to work with diverse stakeholders at local/national level;
• Ability and experience in business plan development;
• Willingness to learn from mistakes;
• Willingness to stay in the field location and undertake frequent travels in districts;
• Ability to manage tasks and responsibilities while in the office or when traveling;
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda and English. Working French is an added value.
• Driving license (Cat A) is an added value

Application and Job Location

All interested and qualified candidates can send their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) documents to: ModAg@cnfarwanda.org not later than 7 April 2023 at 5 PM GMT. Please quote the job title in the subject line of the email submission and label your CV with your name and applied-for position.

Only candidates selected for interview will be notified.

The Provincial Intervention Officers will be based in either Nyamagabe, Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza or Karongi (please state your preference, if you have one, in your cover letter).

Provincial Manager at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Modernizing Agriculture Activity: (Deadline 7 March 2023)

USAID/Hinga Wunguke

Provincial Manager 

CNFA

CNFA is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating economic growth in the agricultural sector by nurturing entrepreneurship, private enterprise, and market linkages. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, new technologies and marketing as a means to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains and rural development, to increase people’s incomes, to develop skills in the rural workforce, and to facilitate exports.

Program Description Hinga Wunguke 

The purpose of the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity (Hinga Wunguke) is to support increased agriculture productivity and income, access to finance and markets, and access and consumption of nutritious food products in Rwanda, while increasing the resilience of agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. To achieve this goal, the Activity will sustainably increase agricultural productivity, increase access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses, improve producers’ market outcomes, and strengthen the enabling environment to foster market-driven outcomes in agriculture.

Position Description

Reporting to the DCOP or his/her designee, the Provincial Manager will be entrepreneurial, with strong business acumen. He/she will be analytical, creative thinker and be keen to expand their first-hand experience working with public and private stakeholders and international organizations. He/she will be responsible for managing relationships with stakeholders at province and district levels and  advancing market systems development efforts of Hinga Wunguke in its targeted value chains in the covered districts. S/he will work with private and public market actors to conduct market research, identify and develop innovative business opportunities and be involved in partnership management, using business analytics to optimize growth as well as to create social impact on smallholder farmers in the Hinga Wunguke target districts and the wider market system in Rwanda. The Provincial Manager is based in either Nyamagabe, Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza or Karongi.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Coordination

• Manage and oversee the technical implementation of Hinga Wunguke activities at Provincial-level office having approximately four staff members.
• Manage and supervise the following Provincial staff: Provincial Intervention Officer (2); Provincial Finance Officer; and Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.
• Liaise with local government to discuss how the above-mentioned technical staff is involved in the implementation of the Hinga Wunguke activities at the provincial level.
• Assure that project activities align with the project implementation plans and calendar.
• Liaise with each relevant district and provincial coordination authorities to ensure that Hinga Wunguke activities align with the mission and development objectives of the district and the province.
• Supervise respective Hinga Wunguke provincial level staff and ensure that they liaise with district and provincial authorities to coordinate activities and work planning, by participating in Joint Action Development Forums and in the elaboration of district and  Provincial Development Plans, and other district and  provincial-level planning activities with national and international donors, as appropriate, to ensure an integrated approach between Hinga Wunguke activities and those at the local level.
• Collaborate with district and provincial authorities and other stakeholders for smooth implementation of Hinga Wunguke.
• Provide technical support to provincial staff and make sure they are following Hinga Wunguke guidelines for implementation of activities and personally visit sites where the program activities are being implemented on regular basis.
• Collaborate with the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor to ensure activities are inclusive of women, youth, people with disabilities, and other groups.

1. Market systems and CIF activities

• Assist Provincial Intervention Officers to identify system constraints inhibiting development of well-functioning market system for Hinga Wunguke target value chains and co-develop with market actors innovative intervention ideas to attain the Activity’s objectives.
• Support the intervention officers to identify specific market actors that can address the constraints identified in the selected value chains.
• Contribute to the analysis of constraints that private sector face and support in designing of project intervention strategies to address them.
• In collaboration with component leads and intervention officers, support in designing inclusive business model and strategies for the Activity.
• Work with Provincial Intervention Officers to monitor progress of the implementation plan with the partner if located in the province, and report field findings to the team and propose how to adjust the intervention strategies based on field findings and evidence.
• Oversee regular monitoring and evaluation of partnerships.

1. Result measurement and communication

• In collaboration with the Provincial MEL Officer, the Provincial Manager should critically analyze reports of local staff to ensure that they are meeting quality standards and contributing to achieving Hinga Wunguke objectives and targets.
• Coordinate regular impact projections for on-going and pipeline interventions at the provincial level.
• Coordinate drafting of monthly, quarterly, and annual work plans.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and other reports as needed.
• Support the development of communication products where needed.

Qualifications

• At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Business Administration Agribusiness, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Rural Development, Development Studies or similar fields. Master’s Degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience in project planning, project implementation, and/or project monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in improving farmers’ income, access to markets and finance, collaborating with the private sector and local financial institutions; and integration of nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
• Experience in collaborating with provincial and district stakeholders.
• At least five years of experience in international NGOs, with at least 2 years’ experience in managerial positions.
• Attitude for out of the box thinking.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills to be able to work with diverse stakeholders at local/ national level.
• Ability and experience in business plan development.
• Willingness to learn from mistakes.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
• Effective collaboration: willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically.
• Proven experience in managing multiple and competing tasks while maintaining quality of deliverables within deadlines.
• Possessing a motorcycle driving license would be a proven advantage.
• Fluency in Kinyarwanda and English. Working French is an added value.

Application and Job location

All interested and qualified candidates can send their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) documents to: ModAg@cnfarwanda.org not later than 7 April 2023 at 5 PM GMT. Please quote the job title in the subject line of the email submission and label your CV with your name and applied-for position.

Only candidates selected for interview will be notified.

The Provincial Managers will be based in either Nyamagabe, Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza or Karongi (please state your preference, if you have one, in your cover letter).

Embedded Advisor to Private Sector Federation (PSF) at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture Feed the Future Modernizing Agriculture Activity: (Deadline 7 March 2023)

Rwanda Feed the Future Hinga Wunguke Activity

Embedded Advisor to Private Sector Federation (PSF) 

CNFA

CNFA is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating economic growth in the agricultural sector by nurturing entrepreneurship, private enterprise, and market linkages. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, new technologies and marketing as a means to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains and rural development, to increase people’s incomes, to develop skills in the rural workforce, and to facilitate exports.

Program Description – USAID Feed the Future Hinga Wunguke Activity

The purpose of the USAID Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity (Hinga Wunguke) is to support increased agriculture productivity and income, access to finance and markets, and access and consumption of nutritious food products in Rwanda, while increasing the resilience of the agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. To achieve this goal, the Activity will sustainably increase agricultural productivity, increase access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses, improve producers’ nutrition and market outcomes, and strengthen the enabling environment to foster market-driven outcomes in agriculture.

Position Description

The Embedded Advisor will provide support to the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in coordinating activities implemented under Hinga Wunguke Components 1-4 and in achieving the targets proposed to USAID under the MEL Plan and Implementation Plan. The Embedded Advisor will be located at the PSF and implement the terms of an MOU that will be agreed to by both organizations. Following the MOU signature, Hinga Wunguke will appoint the Embedded Advisor to the PSF Agriculture and Livestock Cluster in order to support its Agriculture & Industry (Agro-Processing) activities. In this context, Hinga Wunguke will develop the TOR of the proposed Embedded Advisor and share with the PSF for review and approval.

In support of this effort, it is anticipated that the Embedded Advisor in PSF will:

• Development of relevant ALC strategy and action plans for the implementation of identified activities.
• Development of all required policies, processes, and procedures in relation to the ALC.
• Facilitate organization of Pitch Fairs and various forms of program outreach (Co-Investment Fund) with PSF, if agreed. In this case, costs for coordination, organization and logistics will be regulated in accordance with the MOU to be drafted.
• Develop of a 5-year strategy for the running of the agriculture and livestock Cluster (ALC). The strategy should ensure long term sustainability of the ALC within the PSF.
• PSF will increase its support the creation of a Private led Extension Support and Service Program in Rwanda as a “One Stop Center” to support private sector members in provision of different extension services, capacity building, private seed inspection services, advisory services, etc.
• PSF, with Hinga Wunguke’s support and analysis, will support the process to explore avenues on sustainability of services, structure of its provision, fixation of affordable service fees, operationalization, etc.
• Both parties will explore other interventions where PSF and Hinga Wunguke can collaborate directly with private sector members/actors, including seed sector, agrodealers, PHHS, FAA, and others.
• Play a key role in the organization of national and regional events (e.g., learning and knowledge sharing events) by Hinga Wunguke and/or PSF.
• Assist Hinga Wunguke to provide ideas and recommendations to PSF on diverse topics such as agriculture extension, sustainability, and on achieving joint areas of interest in the context of the collaboration and the future implementation of mutual goals.
• Close follow-up of the joint work plan between the GoR and Hinga Wunguke and facilitate communication between PSF, MINAGRI, RAB, RICA, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor to ensure that all Activity interventions with the PSF are inclusive of women, youth, people with disabilities and other relevant underserved groups.
• Attend to any other task as may be assigned by Secretariat of PSF or the Hinga Wunguke COP, including the below. 

Qualifications

• Strong preference for a Rwandan citizen with at least a Masters’ degree in business, agriculture, economics, agribusiness, economics, development and/or related fields.
• At least 10 years’ experience in agricultural policy and/or agriculture value chain development, as well as experience with donor-funded projects/programs focused on agriculture development.
• At least 3 years’ experience in the private sector, preferably in the agriculture sector.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and implementing successful agriculture and industrial development projects.
• Clear knowledge and background of PSF or similar organizations and their operations
• Demonstrated experience in designing / implementing support for smallholder farmers.
• Extensive work experience with local governments (districts) and/or donors.
• Fluent Kinyarwanda with good report writing and presentation skills in English.

Reporting and Logistics

The Embedded Advisor in PSF will report operationally to the PSF Secretariat and administratively to the Hinga Wunguke COP.  He/she will be hosted at PSF. The Embedded Advisor will be paid on a monthly basis against the delivery of a monthly report detailing activities accomplished in line with the above tasks.

Application Instructions

All interested and qualified candidates can send their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references) documents to: ModAg@cnfarwanda.org not later than 15th April 2023 at 6:00 PM.  Please quote the job title in the subject.  Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.