Job #: 131707
Title: Senior
Sustainable Agribusiness Specialist
Job Stream: Technical Assistance & Advisory
Services
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Background / General description:
IFC, a
member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution
focused on the private sector in developing countries.
We create
opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by
providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential
services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory
services to ensure sustainable development.
IFC’s
Sustainable Business Advisory (SBA) teams work with companies to adopt
responsible business practices which transform markets and improve people's
lives.
We work
with a range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, infrastructure, oil,
gas, mining, services and manufacturing. Support to the development of
sustainable agri-business is central to IFC’s program in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Increasingly
agribusiness companies in the region are faced with a multitude of different
pressures including the need to be profitable whilst at the same time
addressing and engaging in issues such as poverty, climate change and food
security.
To support
clients address these issues, IFC is looking to recruit a Sustainable
Agriculture Specialist to advise IFC and its clients on how to do business in a
way that provides opportunities for small holders, generates decent work and
jobs, respects human rights and protects the environment.
The
position can be based in Nairobi or Johannesburg.
Candidates
are invited to indicate their preferred location in their motivational letter
and CV.
IFC will
accommodate personal preferences as much as business needs allow.
The position
will report to the SBA Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Duties and Accountabilities:
The overall
role of this post will be to develop and drive a sustainable agri-business
program for SBA which provides high quality, appropriate solutions to national
and international clients.
The
Sustainable Agribusiness Specialist will work in close coordination with global
and regional investment departments, country managers and other advisory
services business lines to identify advisory opportunities and will provide
leadership and relevant expertise to develop a pipeline of related advisory
projects in the region.
S/he will
also be an active member of the core Global Industry Practice Group and support
and develop global projects and programs in other regions as requested.
The specific duties of this post
will include:
Program
Development and Implementation
Strategic:
Develop a three year agribusiness business plan for SBA and contribute to the
Sub-Saharan Africa agriculture strategy and its implementation.
Technical:
Develop technical solutions for agribusiness clients and serve as the
industrial specialist for SBA on key commodities (coffee, cocoa, forestry, palm
and tea); work with existing and prospective clients to develop sound
sustainable business solutions and develop and implement SBA’s program on
sustainable supply chains, which will involve helping clients strengthen their
work with small holders and out-growers.
Support IFC
investment officers develop a portfolio of sustainable agri-business clients:
Work closely with IFC’s agri-business and manufacturing teams to support them
develop appropriate program that have a positive development impact, improve
the livelihoods of small holders and address key environmental issues.
Organize
meetings with IFC’s investment and advisory teams to support development and
implementation of a comprehensive program for sustainable agribusiness in
Sub-Saharan Africa: Set up regular meetings for internal stakeholders to shape
IFC’s agenda on sustainable agri-business. SBA is the focal point for all of
IFC’s advisory work on agri-business which includes SBA, investment climate,
access to finance and Private Public Partnerships.
People
Management: Mentor, support and supervise the team of project leaders and
support staff to set and achieve targets; be responsible for recruitment and
on-boarding of new staff, facilitate knowledge sharing among staff members and
support program team members to develop professional skills and expertise.
Project and
Portfolio Management: Set yearly program/project targets and ensure effective
implementation of the projects in terms of activities, timeline, budget and
expected impact. This includes technical guidance, supervision and quality
control from project start-up, through to implementation, closure, evaluation
under IFC’s M&E framework and project management policies, including the
review and the sign-off of all supervision and project closure reports.
Budget
Preparation: Prepare annual budgets and regular cash forecasts, and manage
funds so that financial targets are achieved.
Fundraising:
Work with the regional manager formulating the SSA strategy related to
agribusiness, and assume responsibility for fund raising in collaboration with
the Regional Donor Coordinator.
Communication:
Draft and circulate regular communications on client and program performance.
Relationship
Management with sustainable agribusiness stakeholders: Liaise with IFC and WBG
internal stakeholders active in Inclusive Supply Chain and Community
Engagement; represent IFC externally to relevant global and regional industry
players, international organizations and donors.
Selection Criteria:
- Masters level degree in sustainable agriculture or equivalent.
- 7+years of relevant client work experience in agribusiness in Africa.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in establishing sustainable supply chains.
- Understanding of how markets, especially in developing countries, function and ability to provide informed insights about the role of the private sector in addressing sustainable agri-business.
- Experience in writing project proposals, logical frameworks and budgets
- Excellent communication skills in English, and the ability to present ideas and information clearly and concisely; candidates with French or Portuguese language skills have a competitive advantage.
- Experience managing complex projects, monitoring programs, and reporting on a project cycle basis.
- Excellent organizational and people management skills.
- Ability to operate successfully in a multicultural environment, and to develop and maintain effective relations with a large, and diversified group of internal and external stakeholders.