Job Description

Agriculture Value Chain Lead, Burma Agri-Food Systems Activity

DAI seeks an Agriculture Value Chain Lead for an anticipated 5-year USAID Burma Agri-Food Systems Activity. The purpose of this activity is to facilitate the transformation of agriculture and food systems in the Zone of Influence by increasing the productivity, inclusiveness and competitiveness of key value chains.

The position will be based in Yangon.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the development and implementation of upgrading plans in bean and pulse crop value chains with a focus on improving smallholder crop and livestock productivity and net revenues using market-led approaches;
• Supervise the work of value chain specialists and associated staff;
• Facilitate market driven linkages between smallholder farmers, input/output dealers, wholesalers, processors, and marketers;
• Oversee agricultural production activities, focused on “best bet” agricultural technologies with national-level working groups to spur sector-wide innovation with project partners;
• Lead value chain training and ensure the diffusion of value chain diagnostics, mapping, action planning, and business-to-business matching capacities;
• Facilitate implementation of approved workplan activities through implementing partners to improve competitiveness;
• Promote bank lending to agricultural enterprises;
• Improve marketing systems with stakeholders involved in value chain associations and increase the use of business service providers to improve marketing plans, working with selected food processors, implementing partners, and suppliers.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity building services to grantees/implementing partners;
• Provide technical input to initial environmental assessments and relevant environmental risk management and mitigation plans for project-supplied grants;
• Monitor and report progress towards achievement of established targets and objectives utilizing indicators agreed in the Monitoring &Evaluation plan.

Qualifications:

• At least six years of professional work experience in value chain development, with a minimum of 5 years in the private sector. This experience should include capacity building with community-based organizations, improving market linkages with value chain actors, and improving value chain actors’ access to financial and business development services;
• Experience in developing and strengthening agribusiness activities supporting smallholders;
• Past experience leading and building the capacity of agricultural value chain teams to meet program deliverables and due dates;
• Good knowledge of financial analysis for farm management, non-farm rural enterprise, agribusiness and/or food marketing companies;
• Previous experience on USAID or other donor-funded agricultural/agribusiness development programs, including contributing to M&E, quarterly and annual reporting, and designing and leading program activities; and
• Master’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or other related field is required; or equivalent work experience.
• Prior relevant work experience in Southeast Asia. Burma experience is strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated organizational skills and strong track record in meeting deliverables and deadlines;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

To Apply:

Interested qualified candidates should submit their cover letter and CV to BurmaRecruit@dai.com with the words “Application: AVC Lead” in the subject line. Please note that due to the high volume of applicants, we are only able to contact shortlisted candidates. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2018.

About the Organization

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.