Colombia: Senior Agri-Business Advisor, Colombia

Organization: ACDI/VOCA
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 17 Jan 2017

For over 50 years and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 44 projects in 31 countries and revenues of $151 million.

Senior Agri-Business Advisor, Colombia

We are currently seeking a Senior Agri-Business Advisor for the USAID-funded Colombia Producers to Market Alliance (PMA) Activity. The purpose of the activity is to improve the competitiveness of rural producers to respond to new and expanding market opportunities. The initiatives designed under this activity are market-led and focus on meeting the expectations of end markets, to ensure sustainability and increased profitability for rural producers and other actors in the selected value chains. The Producers to Market Alliance (PMA) Activity will help close business deals between producers and buyers to increase incomes of small farmers, including women heads of household and members of minority ethnic groups in rural municipalities that are important to achieving a sustainable and inclusive peace in Colombia.

The Agri-Business Advisor is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to a series of actions that will help producers respond to market demands. This involves supporting a market-led systems approach that will improve the productivity and competitiveness of rural producers and off-farm businesses. In addition, s/he will help strengthen the producer associations (PAs) by providing value-added services to their members on a sustainable basis.

Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for providing leadership and oversight to a series of actions that will help producers respond to market demands. This involves supporting a market-led systems approach that will improve the productivity and competitiveness of rural producers and off-farm businesses.

  • Strengthen the producer associations by providing value-added services to their members on a sustainable basis.

  • Increase the involvement of PAs in business-oriented activities along the value chains

  • Improve PA governance and management structures that efficiently and effectively provide services responsive to the needs of their members:

  • Aid in establish linkages between private sector companies and producer organizations that strengthen the selected agricultural value chains.

  • Providing quarterly reports and updates on various field, donor and private sector activities.

  • Support the pilot of agriculture auctions (similar to Cup of Excellence, Cacao de Oro, or cattle auctions at the regional and/or national level) to determine whether this mechanism to connect producers to markets.

  • Contribute to providing ideas to easily facilitate market information that will allow PAs to tackle the areas of deficiencies and technical assistance for producers to respond to market demands by improving the quality, quantity, and supply dependability of their products.

  • Determine proper activities to support improved sale and production

  • Map and lead surveys of PAs to determine their strengths and weaknesses

  • Pave the way for PAs to adapt new technology and coordinate provisions for extension services

  • Introduce sustainable agriculture and natural resource management practices

  • Introduce good handling practices for agriculture products and support to meet international standards through certification process

  • Contribute in strengthening PAs for organizational development and improve their competitiveness

Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in agricultural economics or related field (agronomy, marketing, business, etc.), or an equivalent number of years of experience.

  • Ten years of experience working with producers and rural enterprises (medium, small and micro) in the development field.

  • Proven experience with supporting and managing teams that work with producers on a wide variety of issues, including assisting producers entering markets.

  • Demonstrated experience strengthening producer groups in rural areas.

  • Experience identifying and resolving issues to raise production and fortify the agricultural value chains that significantly increase farm-gate sales in value and volume.

  • Demonstrated experience connecting producers to markets resulting in sales increases.

  • Conducting any of the above work in ex-conflict zones is a plus.

  • Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

How to apply:

Please apply online at www.acdivoca.org/international-jobs or at http://acdivoca.bosmaxhire.net/cp/?E5556A361D43717B7E59192F77501C6D02627B4D. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE ACDI/VOCA will never request payment from candidates in the recruitment process.

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