Value Chain Competitiveness Director

Dec 16, 2015 | ACDI/VOCA
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ACDI/VOCA is seeking a Value Chain Competitiveness Director for the USAID Cereal Value Chain (CVC) project in Mali. The CVC project aims to increase agriculture production, productivity and incomes, by both increasing direct income to men and women farmers, as well as through various value-added income generating activities carried out by value chain actors (including: input suppliers, farmers, traders, processors, wholesalers, buyers and exporters), as well as support services that strengthen the value chain including agricultural technology providers and financial service providers. The CVC project also seeks to identify and contribute to resolving key constraints with respect to the local and international enabling policy environment, to allow systematic and long-term transformation of the agricultural sector, led by the cereals value chains.

For over 50 years and in 146 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 34 projects in 26 countries and revenues of approximately $174 million.

Responsibilities:

  • Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve sector competitiveness of rice, millet and sorghum at all levels of the value chain.
  • Work with producers and enterprises to develop their capacity to identify and respond to business opportunities in potential value chains.
  • Improve competitiveness and develop demand for agricultural service provision.
  • Facilitate strategic, commercially viable partnerships between value chain actors.
  • Facilitate private sector engagement and investment among various levels of agriculture value chains including but not limited to producer, trader, processor, wholesaler and exporter levels.
  • Address priorities related to value chain development and upgrading and innovative solutions for impacts along various value chains and support a coherent technical vision for the project.
  • Support activities related to improved aggregation, post-harvest handling and storage, market linkages, trade facilitation, business enabling environment, irrigation, and other activities that promote value chain competitiveness and food security.

Qualifications:

  • A master’s degree in related field highly preferred.
  • At least 10 years of relevant work experience.
  • Previous experience facilitating private sector investments in agricultural value chains, preferably staples.
  • Previous work on market-led value chain development programs.
  • Previous experience working in West Africa countries.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions).
  • Fluency French required, English fluency highly desirable.