TechnoServe is recruiting for the above Key Expert to support the European Union-funded Employment Promotion through SMMEs Support Programme for the Republic of South Africa. The programme’s main objective is to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment creation in South Africa in line with the Government’s objectives, notably to reduce the official unemployment rate from around 25% (2013) to 14% (2020). To achieve this, the programme will improve the competitiveness of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and their ability to meet procurement requirements of large multinational/local corporations, government and state-owned enterprises. The position is contingent on successful programme award to TechnoServe’s consortium.
The successful candidate will have the following required qualifications and skills:
Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
• Education equivalent to a Masters’ degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Business Management, or a closely related field.
• Alternatively, a Bachelor’s Degree (or its equivalent) in any of the above area(s), and a minimum 3 years’ professional experience relevant to the assignment, in addition to the general professional experience, will be required.
• At least 10 years’ working experience in agribusiness development, agribusiness strategy analysis, agricultural value chain analysis, agri business linkages (for domestic or international markets), or in promoting small businesses in the context of agricultural and rural development.
Specific Professional Experience
• Good knowledge of and ability to provide advice on main policy, regulatory, legal, institutional, infrastructure, and technical issues related to SMMEs in the agriculture sector, and on development of various agricultural value chains.
• Specific experience in performing the analysis of selected agricultural sectors/food chains, including food security and food safety issues and assessing the feasibility of agribusiness investment projects, is an advantage.
• Experience in supporting the development of sustainable agribusiness and agri-trade strategies that identify key local and/or regional market opportunities.
• Experience with externally funded development programs would be desirable, preferably with experience in agricultural SMME development and market oriented projects.
• At least 5 years’ experience in the South African agricultural value chains and supply chains is a clear advantage.
• Extensive experience in formulating and delivering capacity development activities and programmes in favour of private and public stakeholders in the areas of agribusiness, marketing and food chain development.
• Experience working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders such as private sector (financial institutions, exporters, buyers, traders), private sector research institutions, donors, governments and producers
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
