Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Function

The Business Development Officer under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, will provide overall leadership in designing and implementing appropriate interventions within the project with the objective of developing the 8- District Women Associations (DWAs), in the WEE project into strong and profitable farmer business organizations and entities. This will be achieved through capacity building of the organizations in business planning and financial management, development of management structures and systems, the provision of business advisory services and the development of key marketing and financial linkages in financial services, input services and strong partnerships with both public and private organizations. The officer will identify impact investment opportunities and scaling up of Business Models. The interventions to be led by the Business Development Officer seek to increase the overall level of competitiveness of the DWA in key commodity value chains that include sunflower, groundnuts, poultry and goats production businesses.
The position is a 1-year contract.

Essential Character Traits

Intellectual curious, professional judgement, effective communicator, accountable, values-committed pragmatic, inspirational and Team player.

Responsibilities & Deliverable

A. Business Development (30%)

• Undertake capacity assessment and due diligence for farmer owned agri-business (FOAB).
• Support producer organizations to develop business plans, strategic plans and financial and human resource management systems.
• Capacity Building of  DWAs  through training in business, financial management and governance.
• Analysis and conducting of feasibility to assess and develop new business, investment and financing options.
• Provide advice and assistance in the establishment and maintenance of business and financial records keeping systems.
• Develop business models clearly showing the value proposition of  DWAs , Area Associations to members and how it will leverage the opportunities in the production, processing, aggregation an and  value chain environment.
• 8 DWAs assessed within the first  3 months of the work  and 8  capacity assessment reports developed.
• Technical assistance and mentorship provided to the 8 DWAs on a quarterly basis  through research, advisory and visits and training sessions.
• Facilitate development of business planning guidelines and the development of business plans, strategic plans and financial management systems for 8 DWAs in the first 6 months of work.
• Capacity Building plans reviewed and updated  for all 8 DWAs in the first 6  months work  and their implementation updated and reviewed on a quarterly basis.
• Feasibility and analysis conducted to identify business and investment opportunities for 8 DWAs and at least 3 new opportunities explored  in the first  year  per organization.
• 8 DWAs  with established financial and business records systems that provide management with the key information to govern business operations by the end of the second year of project implementation.
• 8 DWAs , Area Associations and farmer groups  with established and documented business models with clear value proposition within the first 12 months.
• 8 DWAs,area associations and farmer groups achieve the targeted growth in member mobilization numbers, business turnover, aggregation volumes, credit access and other key enterprise development metrics by the end of the second year of the project implementation.
• Collect and Collate Catalytic Leverage Fund (CalF) and shared with the manager on Monthly basis.

B. Cooperative Governance and Management (30%)

• Provide support in establishing and operating market structures (e.g., collection centers, market centers, processing facilities etc.).
• Facilitate the transformation of 8 DWAs  into formal collective enterprises that will stimulate  sunflower, groundnuts ,Poultry  and goats production.
• Assist to develop guidelines for the formation, management and governance of  DWAs , Area Associations and /Producer groups.
• Coordinate and build up linkages and networks with the appropriate government Cooperative Offices and other organizations, as required.
• 8  DWAs  with functional market structures for  produce, aggregation, processing and marketing  by the second year of project implementation.
• All the producer organizations operating as collective producer organization and cooperatives by the end of the project.
• The project has strong linkages with the government cooperative offices in all the targeted counties and all the 8 DWAs are compliant with cooperative guidelines and formal requirements by the end of the second year of project implementation.

C. Capacity development (30%)

• Design, develop and deliver business management training packages/modules, in liaison with other relevant project staff.
• Identify and carry out a comprehensive capacity assessment of the potential farmer producer organizations for the project to partner with and thereafter develop and deliver a capacity building programme.
• Develop capacity building and operationalization of the business and marketing plans of the producer organizations/Hubs through joint planning, monitoring.
• Facilitate the capacity building of the DWAs governing board and management in effective and efficient decision making, financial management, human resource management, operation and strategic planning and implementation, conflict management and democratic governance.
• Support the Producer Organizations to put in place and implement efficient financial management systems and build their capacity in all aspects of financial management.
• Facilitate the capacity building of the DWAs governing board and management in effective and efficient decision making, financial management, human resource management, operation and strategic planning and implementation, conflict management and democratic governance.
• Support the Producer Organizations to put in place and implement efficient financial management systems and build their capacity in all aspects of financial management.
• An operational and module-based business training package that integrates the experience of  Heifer in hub businesses developed and  in use within the first 3 months.
• Capacity assessment is completed and continuously reviewed using the Scope Insight methodology and LINK methodologies in the project.
• Annual capacity development plans are developed overall for the project every year and their implementation reviewed and monitored on a quarterly basis.
• 8 DWAs with effective governing boards with the capacity to provide strategic management and vision for the organizations in financial management, human resource management, operations, strategic implementation and conflict management
• 8 DWAs  with efficient and effective financial management systems by the end of the first year of project implementation.

D. Collaboration towards a common goal (10%)

• Develop the business DWAs  with backward and forward linkages into the total value chain.
• Incorporate within the framework of the project, potential ‘win-win’ business opportunities which can attract different value chain actors to engage in transactional relationships with the  DWAs , Area Associations,  producer organizations and develop a platform for the achieving these partnerships.
• Work in close coordination with the relevant project staff on quality assurance and control for all  sunflower, groundnuts  and livestock-based products for processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution.
• The 8 DWAs  develop a strong platform for engaging with the value chain actors in transactional relationships.
• Close coordination and collaboration with Country Office ,Programme Director and Country Director  to deliver quality trainings through the annual capacity building plans.
• The 8 DWAs achieve and maintain high quality standards for their produce including milk and have effective systems for daily quality monitoring.

E. Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

• This will be dependent on the specific duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

1. Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business management, Rural Development, Animal production with post graduate diploma or experience in Business management or a related field is required
2. Experience implementing activities in large, complex projects in challenging environments.
3. Minimum 5 years field and technical experience working on agribusiness development projects.
4. Significant experience in building public/private partnerships, preferably in the dairy sector.

Most Critical Proficiencies

1. Strong business skills, leadership, strategic and innovation skills.
2. Strong communication skills in both English, Swahili, and other local languages of the cluster area.
3. String business skills development, strategic planning and planning for farmer business organizations.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, the poor, and underprivileged.
5. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the value chain (e.g. the concept of quality-based pricing).
6. Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to key partner institutions with a view to build a more efficient, competitive and sustainable livestock industry. This requirement is in line with the need to have in-built ‘exit strategies’ within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project end.
7. Knowledge of and experience in setting up cottage industries for processing locally branded poultry products (eggs and meat) for onward supply to niche and markets as well as implementing supply promotion/stimulation strategies in the context of the sub-sectors.
8. Experience in facilitating establishment of strategic alliances and joint ventures with local and foreign processors.
9. Knowledge and experience in strategic business planning and business analysis.
10. Demonstrate ability to undertake market assessments and use the information generated to support the producer organizations to leverage these opportunities to remain competitive.
11. Knowledge of equity financing (e.g. venture capital and/or private equity investing).
12. Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully.
2. Ability to integrate financial services within the value chains with the view to foster trust and build strong relationship between chain actors and financial service providers.
3. Must be courteous, honest and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
4. Proven interpersonal and communication skills with ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
5. Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural and multisector setting.
6. Must be a team player and have the ability to execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
7. Ability to follow directions and independently complete assigned tasks (written or verbal).
8. Ability to work a varied schedule to include early mornings, weekends and some evenings.
9. Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) floor to waist.
10. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.