JOB DETAILS:

Job Summary:

TechnoServe is recruiting a Business Sustainability and Upgrading Specialist who will support the implementation of TechnoServe’s efforts under the VINES-Project with a particular focus on ensuring business sustainability of the actors along the Vanilla Value Chain, including but not limited to access to access to finance and supply chain development of vanilla Traders, processors and exporters.

Program Overview:

TechnoServe, CRS, and Frontier Co-op are implementing VINES, a five-year, $13 million, USDA Food for Progress program that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Led by CRS, VINES will leverage the expertise of CRS and its world class consortium of partners (including TechnoServe), associated experts and leading international buyers to provide technical assistance to enhance the production of safe, clean, pure vanilla, develop market links with US trade networks, and strengthen an enabling public policy network to reduce vanilla theft to transform the lives of 16,200 farmers, 356 self-employed service and input providers, 480 processors' employees; and generating 15,820 new on-farm seasonal and permanent processing jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders.

In turn, this will provide international buyers with a new origin that will stabilize the extreme price volatility for this unique spice.

Within the consortium, TechnoServe will lead in market analysis, business planning, farmer business capacity building, agripreneur and youth training, input supply, and business relationship management.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities;

Facilitating partnerships and systems change within targeted Actors

• Support implementation of the Vines Project with an emphasis on cross-market functions, tailoring assistance to partners, conducting due diligence, and monitoring implementation
• Capacity Building of actors through the provision of BDS targeting technical, managerial, business, and advocacy capacity;
• Working with partners, facilitate innovation and pilots that promote inclusive business models (e.g., establish/strengthen smallholder sourcing networks and improve efficiency in distribution to increase access for marginalized populations, etc.) and enhance linkages among market actors.
• Managerial capacity building of actors in areas of business planning, marketing strategy development, governance of the board, improved member relations, and development of members in the Farming as a Business concept.
• Provide clients (Processors) with technical assistance, training, tools, and methodologies to ensure their optimal performance and sound management
• Contribute towards Facilitating Stakeholders' engagements, meetings, and forums.

Facilitate Market linkages and Agricultural Finance

• Provide sector-wide training in market analysis, profitability analysis, value proposition design and testing, business planning, financial record preparation, and general support in how to prepare a supply chain upgrading plan
• Identify and deliver technical and financial training and BDS support that are required to complement any commercial finance for the partners' co-investment
• Provide customized business and technical advisory support to partners

Program Coordination and Implementation:

• Contribute to project activity reports and TechnoServe internal monitoring, evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Collect and report data and support Microenterprise Counselors to collect accurate data from beneficiaries based on the project MEL plan.
• Any other duties assigned by your supervisor

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, economics, business, or related field, excellent academic record
• At least 5 years of experience in the agricultural value chain, rural development, and/or rural finance. Private sector experience preferred
• Demonstrated understanding, skills, and experience in market systems development programs and facilitative approaches
• Detail-oriented, with strong project and team management, organizational, analytical, and quantitative skills
• Significant interpersonal and communication skills, especially in multicultural and multi-ethnic contexts, adept at building relationships with multiple stakeholders
• Experience working with MSMEs, producers, producer organizations, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers
• Experience facilitating linkages and relationships between the private sector and the government
• Adept at developing and sustaining high-level relationships
• Strategic thinker
• Strong team player and consensus builder
• Highly computer literate
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Financial and business modeling
• Facilitating Multistakeholder Platforms
• Fluent in at least one local Ugandan dialect