International Cassava Expert Consultant - KENYA

Job Description

International Cassava Expert Consultant

Based in Nairobi

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation. Founded in the Netherlands 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in 39 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

Background

SNV’s overall objectives in its agriculture sector are to create innovative market-based solutions that:

1. Increase income and employment for smallholder famers
2. Improve food and nutrition security for all
3. Strengthen the environmental sustainability of agricultural production and meet the challenges of a changing climate

Cassava is one of SNV’s ‘Top Commodities’, in which we have been working for 50 years. SNV currently implements a range of donor-funded, projects on cassava in ~10 countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Currently, these projects focus primarily on increasing income for small-holder producers through value chain development and inclusive business relationship development; however, with its expanding portfolio of projects in food and nutrition security, together with Climate Smart Agriculture, SNV is now looking to broaden its credentials in Cassava in these two key areas.

SNV now seeks to recruit an International Cassava Expert as a resource person to help shape SNV’s efforts to broaden its current cassava project portfolio, strengthen its profile in Cassava, and formulate key advocacy message(s), in order to increase its visibility and credibility in the international development arena. The person we are seeking must have in-depth knowledge of Cassava and have worked in international positions of direct relevance to this consultancy.

Objectives

1. To redefine SNV’s tailor made offering for Cassava
2. To formulate global advocacy messages for cassava, to be used at key events
3. To identify key cassava partners and platforms, and map key donor opportunities

Deliverables

1. Three key solutions formulated
2. Three innovative business cases formulated
3. One advocacy message formulated
4. One key cassava research partner and key companies identified;
5. A map of key donor opportunities drawn

Duration

The consultancy is expected to last for 60 person-days, over a period of 3 months, from August to October 2014

Consultant’s Profile and Accountability

The Consultant should demonstrate

1. Credible international track record and expertise in cassava research and development
2. Proven experience in business case development and project proposal development

The Consultant will work with SNV’s Cassava commodity team, under the direct supervision of the Team

Coordinator and with close support provided by the Global Agriculture Support Unit, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

A face-to-face meeting of SNV’s Cassava team is expected to take place in the first week of August 2014 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Consultant’s availability to take part in this meeting would be highly appreciated.

Languages: Proficiency in English and a working knowledge of French is an added advantage

Contract Type: International short term consultancy

How to Apply

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation onto our in-house recruitment system by clicking on the apply button above before 30 July, 2014.

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