Director of Seed Systems

Job Description

Nepal AIMS

Director of Seed Systems (Objective 1 Lead)

Background

The Nepal Agricultural Inputs Market Systems (AIMS) Activity’s overall goal is to improve the productivity, competitiveness, inclusivity, and resilience of Nepal’s agriculture sector by increasing the availability and accessibility of four critical inputs - improved seed, fertilizer, irrigation, and agricultural equipment. This Activity will complement USAID’s ongoing Feed the Future initiatives which aim to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition in Nepal and will contribute to the achievement of USAID/Nepal’s Development Objective 2: Broad based and inclusive economic growth fostered. The Activity will achieve this Objective by supporting (IR 2.1) Inclusive, private sector driven growth in agriculture promoted. The Activity also contributes to the U.S. Government’s GFSS Country Plan for Nepal and directly addresses Objective 1: Inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and Objective 2: Strengthened resilience among people and systems. Finally, the Activity will contribute to USAID/Nepal’s mitigation of, and recovery from, second order economic and food security impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Activity will stabilize agricultural input market systems, support the Government of Nepal (GON) to prevent the backsliding of competitive input systems, and ensure increased and sustained availability and access to critical inputs during and after the pandemic, and in the face of future shocks. The Activity will reduce the specific barriers faced by women, youth, and marginalized farmers to accessing, utilizing, and benefiting from improved inputs. The key components of the Activity are as follows:

· Objective 1: Demand- and supply-responsive and financially viable seed system developed

· Objective 2: Soil fertility management and fertilizer distribution system improved

· Objective 3: Climate adaptive and sustainable water management system enhanced

· Objective 4: Adoption of modern agricultural equipment increased

Objective

Recruit an Objective 1 Lead who will function as the Director of Seed Systems on AIMS and lead the continued development of a responsive and financially viable seed system in Nepal.

Key Tasks

· Provide technical leadership to Objective 1 activities and manage a team of specialists;

· Responsible for designing and implementing creative approaches to address gaps in existing, private sector seed enterprises and the policy constraints preventing the development of a sustainable seed system in Nepal;

· Manage a portfolio of work with market actors to design and implement locally specific interventions in target districts;

· Facilitate improved access of smallholder farmers to quality inputs, including extension/advisory services, new technologies, and markets;

· Engage with private sector to understand its business challenges and priorities and explore with them the opportunities to build mutually beneficial partnerships for key services and markets that are profitable and sustainable;

· Design robust exit strategies ;

· Lead the implementation of Objective 1 activities taking an adaptive and facilitative approach;

· Coordinate AIMS interventions with relevant USAID and non-USAID projects to increase resource leverage and synergies, and avoid duplication of effort

· Responsible for Objective 1 outcomes, including: strengthened enabling environment conditions for seed businesses, improved technical capacity of seed companies, strengthened business development services, and improved seed replacement rate for selected crops;

• Support the program’s MEL teams to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks which include meaningful objectives, indicators, and data collection methodologies;

· Ensure the integration of Objective 1 work with the rest of the project;

Qualifications:

· At least eight years of experience in value chain development, business to business (B2B) transaction facilitation, agricultural input supply, and/or private sector agricultural enterprises in Nepal and India;

· Expertise in specific value chains, including the grains and horticulture sectors;

· Experience in using market-based approaches to enhance productive agricultural systems in Nepal;

• Proven ability to engage women, youth, and other marginalised groups in community engagement activities;

· Experience in building partnerships with the private sector to create more inclusive value chains and markets;

· Familiarity with market systems approach and system thinking, preferred;

· Proficiency in English, Nepal, and/or other relevant languages.

· Bachelor’s degree in Seed Technology, Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Sustainable Agriculture, Economics,, or other related field.

· Master’s degree in a related field, preferred.

Interested Applicants should apply here: https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/aogj7mxqrc/index.html

About the Organization

DAI is an international development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries. Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.