TechnoServe Background:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. With more than five decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. 

Program Description:

TechnoServe collaborates with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), a non-profit organization that aggregates and links the corporate volunteer expertise of leading food companies—General Mills, Cargill, Buhler, DSM, Hershey, Ardent Mills and Smucker’s —with promising food industry entrepreneurs in Africa.

Under the USAID-funded Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Project, TechnoServe will work alongside PFS to engage local food companies, identify their growth challenges, and link them with volunteer experts from PFS corporate partners. The project will build the efficiency and inclusiveness of food processors – improving production and profitability, increasing linkages with smallholder farmers, and growing distribution channels to better reach Base of the Pyramid (BoP) markets. Implementation is anticipated up to March 2024.

Position Description:

Under the leadership of the Program Manager, the Business and Markets Manager (SBMM) shall be responsible for overall management of the business components of the AINFP program. Specifically, s/he will be the driving force to:

1. Lead business and market related technical analytics and advice to AINFP clients and stakeholders
2. Ensure AINFP achieves its targets both in market linkages to BOP consumers and supply linkages to smallholder farmers
3. Work with the financial services specialist to ensure that industry owned system is set up management and accountability system is in place for efficient and effective utilization of revolving fund for inputs
4. Design the overall grant scope/purpose, guidelines, application systems, screening criteria and system, M&E, accountability etc.
5. In close collaboration with IFS, Lead the process of identifying and facilitating access to finance support to AINFP clients
6.  Lead and support AINFP team to achieve TechnoServe corporate and program gender targets 

Specific responsibilities Include:

Team Management:

• Manage performance of Market Linkages Specialist and Financial Service Specialists to set goals
• Undertake required performance management of the MLS and FSS
• Ensure that MLS and FSS get necessary support to undertake their day to day roles

Business development

• Lead all relevant business analytics for the program including undertaking assessments, checking business cases for program interventions
• Support the PM in creating strategic partnership between processors, product buyers, raw materials suppliers, and the AINFP program as a way to enhance collaboration and creating demand for AINFP support
• Create a body of business knowledge in the food processing sector in Ethiopia business environment, markets and access to finance for current and future use
• Contribute to relevant business fora to build up TechnoServe’s reputation and recognition in the food processing sector
• Lead the process of Local sourcing strategy development for Ethiopian Airlines and other buyers as needed

Smallholder Supply Chains

• Lead in-country strategy development for enhancing business linkages between smallholder farmers and food processors
• Make a compelling business case to processors to integrate smallholder farmers into their supply chain.
• Ensure that processors who source from smallholder farmers receive AINFP support to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of these linkages for mutual benefit.
• Lead purchase partnerships and agreements between processors and smallholder farmer groups/cooperatives.
• Work with Market linkage Specialist to ensure smallholder farmer groups / cooperatives understand processor product requirements.
• Support the marketing specialist to achieve AINFP targets for SHF linages

Low Income / BoP Markets

• Lead the team in developing an understanding of low-income markets and to develop strategies to deepen penetration of BoP markets with nutritious foods, including new product development, packaging, pricing and promotion, and development of new distribution channels.
• Lead the process of building partnership with BOP market channel actors 
• Identify opportunities with food processors who work with high end markets and make business case for them to distribute their products also through BOP market channel
• Lead the identification and mobilization of innovative distribution channels, building on existing structures where feasible, e.g. informal retailers, community-based distributors, micro-franchisees.

High End Market

• Lead the development of understanding and identify opportunities for Ethiopian food processors to penetrate high end market channels
• Enhance orientation of food processors to target high-end markets with product that are relevant to the market segment
• Lead the identification and profiling of potential high end markets and align with AINP client portfolios
• Lead the process of creating linkages between food processors and high end market buyers
• Work with technical team of AINFP program to ensure that food processors get the necessary TA to meet the requirements of high end buyers
• Ensure that AINFP targets for high-end market are achieved 

Access to Finance

• Closely work with ISF in leading the process of understanding the finance sector in Ethiopia in relationship to the food processing sector
• Develop and maintain strong relationship with financers in Ethiopia market  
• Lead the identification of needs for finances by AINFP clients and help them make right decision for seeking finances
• Develop strong relationship with industry associations to establish revolving fund for supply of inputs for industry
• In partnership with ISF, lead facilitation of linkages between potential financers and ANFP processors 
• Support the financial services specialist to set up revolving fund mechanism for input supply
• Support the financial services specialist to set up mechanism for utilization innovation grants   

Sector Wide Training

• Work with AINFP in-country and regional team in identification, preparation, delivery and reporting of sector wide trainings in business, markets and access to finance as needed

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• In collaboration with the Program Manager and M&E Manager, identify appropriate pathways to impact, progress and impact indicators related to the business portfolio of AINFP program in Ethiopia.
• Support the PM to ensure timely collection of relevant reporting data, review data and make recommendations to adapt program approach as necessary to maximize impact.
• Provide anecdotal evidence of impact, including success stories, case studies and lessons learned in relation to markets, access to finance and
• Contribute to sections of narrative reports for corporate and donor reporting.

Representation

• Coordinate with local stakeholders, participating in relevant business or industry forums and represent the program for business and market related matters
• Work with stakeholders operating in the same space to ensure that the program contributes to the national agenda on smallholder supply chains and low-income marketing.

Gender Integration

• Understand all gender integration requirements (donor as well as internal to TechnoServe).
• Support the program manager to put in place a strategy to achieve gender targets both for donor and corporate
• Review gender targets and progress and make suggestions for course correction to country and program leadership, as necessary.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with 7-10 years; Master’s Degree with 5-7 years in Business Management, Market or related area. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 5 -7 years’ professional experience in food market systems, including experience working in the private sector.
• Successful experience in business development and business advisory services to private sector
• Proven experience expanding access to food for BoP populations and high end markets.
• Demonstrated understanding of gender issues in agriculture or market systems.
• Experience with agricultural commodities/product pricing and contract structures preferred.
• Experience with wholesale and retail food distribution, contract practices and financing preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills and good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint).
• Excellent English language skills. 

How to Apply

Qualified and interested applicants should Click here to apply for this position and submit a cover letter resume as a single document (either Word or PDF) by April 2, 2021. Applications will be reviewed and considered as received/on a rolling basis. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be contacted. Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated link.

TECHNOSERVE ENCOURAGES DIVERSITY IN ALL LEVELS AND ACROSS ALL FACETS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WITH THIS COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, WE ARE PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DO NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF GENDER, RACE, COLOR, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AGES, DISABILITY, AND ALL OTHER PROTECTED CLASSES. 

TechnoServe has the right to cancel this advertisement. Women are highly encouraged to apply