ABOUT IMPULS AFRICA

Impuls Africa is a Zambian-registered company that specializes in delivering agricultural consultancy and extension services in the SADC region. Owned by a cooperative of over 100 farmers and a seasoned agri-entrepreneur in Zambia, the Impuls team brings more than 75 years of combined expertise in agriculture and livestock services. Impuls has a strong track record of successfully developing and implementing large-scale projects in agriculture, livestock, agroforestry, apiculture, and horticulture value chains. These projects have been funded by leading development partners such as UKAID, USAID, UNDP, the EU, SIDA, Irish Aid, and the Czech Development Agency. We specialize in providing services to both donors and the private sector, offering everything from one-off consulting assignments to long-term project implementation and management. Our primary focus is on agricultural consulting, in which we excel at delivering a diverse range of short- and long-term assignments.

Position Title: Market Access Officer (1)

Location: Malawi (Northern and Central regions)

Reporting to: Market Linkage Specialist/Project Manager

Job Summary:

This role involves analyzing value chains, identifying market opportunities, and developing strategies that enhance access to domestic and international markets. The officer works closely with stakeholders, including farmers, cooperatives, and private sector partners, to strengthen market linkages, improve product quality, and ensure sustainability. They also facilitate capacity building and policy advocacy to address market barriers, promoting resilience, inclusivity, and economic growth within agricultural.

Scope of Work

Market Assessment and Analysis:

• Conduct rapid market assessments for the soybeans, chili, honey, and banana value chains to identify gaps in demand, pricing, and quality standards.
• Gather and analyze data from key market players (buyers, aggregators, processors) to understand market dynamics and trends.
• Develop comprehensive market profiles for the targeted value chains, including formal and informal market opportunities.

Market Linkage Facilitation:

• Facilitate connections between farmers and potential off-takers, such as supermarkets, processors, and regional traders, ensuring quality and pricing standards are met.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key market actors, including buyers, input suppliers, and cooperatives.
• Organize Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings and Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs) to enable direct engagement between producers and market off-takers.

Capacity Building and Training:

• Organize training sessions on market access, negotiation, and value chain integration for project staff and farmer organizations.
• Equip farmers with the skills and knowledge needed to meet market entry requirements, focusing on quality control, production standards, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Consortium Building:

• Support the development of consortia that bring together producers, input suppliers, aggregators, and buyers to create a streamlined and efficient value chain.
• Facilitate regular meetings to enhance collaboration and ensure sustainable market linkages.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Assist in tracking the progress of market access activities, ensuring that interventions meet project goals and contribute to improved market engagement for farmers.
• Work with the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to document lessons learned, best practices, and outcomes related to market linkages.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Economics, Agricultural Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in market access, agricultural value chain development, or agribusiness facilitation.
• Strong knowledge of Malawi’s agricultural sector and value chains, particularly in soybeans, chili, honey, and bananas.
• Experience in organizing B2B meetings, building market linkages, and facilitating trade partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in data collection and analysis tools such as Kobo Toolbox, Survey Monkey, or Google Forms.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with climate-smart agricultural practices is an added advantage.
• Ability to work in rural settings and engage with smallholder farmers and cooperatives.
• Proficiency in local languages is an asset.