Provincial Intervention Officer 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).