Seed Business Development Specialist
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT- www.ciat.caiar.org) — a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) — develops technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially smallholders, to make agriculture competitive and profitable as well as sustainable and resilient.
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT- www.ciat.caiar.org) — a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) — develops technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially smallholders, to make agriculture competitive and profitable as well as sustainable and resilient.
Among various research areas, CIAT has a global mandate for beans and in Africa, bean research is carried by the Pan Africa Research Alliance (PABRA) which encompasses 3 regional bean research networks working to improve the livelihoods of small scale bean farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
PABRA
facilitates collaborative research for development within and between the
networks by providing a forum for collaboration of multiple partners who
include researchers, private sector involved in bean seed and grain business,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based (OB) and producers’
organizations (POs), universities and millions of farmers.
The alliance operates in 29 member countries, each represented by its National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
PABRA
is coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (dAT).
PABRA facilitates access to quality seed of improved varieties by millions of farmers across Africa through the various bean seed production and delivery options based on prevailing seed systems and targeted clients.
For
this purpose, PABRA is recruiting a Seed Business Development Specialist.
The
position will be based at Kawanda Agricultural Research Station,
Kampala-Uganda.
Role and Responsibility
To enhance the capacities of seed and input suppliers to provide quality seed of improved bean varieties and complementary inputs to small-scale farmers in PABRA countries on a sustainable basis.
Main Job Tasks
The Seed Business Development Specialist (SBDS) will be expected to provide the following collaborative services:
- In partnership
with seed producers, NARS and national seed services and development
partners, assess various client oriented bean seed production and delivery
options in PABRA member countries and identify most effective ones (sole
or combined) to be mainstreamed or tested further.
- Carry out R4D
for testing innovative seed production and market strategies such as the
use of affordable packs, their commercial viability and explore how the
mainstream best practices across PABRA countries.
- Assess and
explore institutional linkages in order to sustain best seed systems
practices and create synergetic actions for scaling up of these best
practices across several countries.
- Collaborate with
partners such as NARS to enhance capacity of decentralized seed producers,
particularly women involved in the production of locally preferred bean
varieties.
- Provide advice
related to business development services to bean seed producers
(individual seed entrepreneurs, farmer organizations, seed companies and
public enterprises/research farm) and stimulate private (small and large)
investment ¡n bean seed production and delivery in business sound manner.
- Train bean seed
producers/suppliers ¡n specific areas such as seed business management
including production, post-harvest, marketing, financial management, and
strategy development.
- Strengthen the
seed component and facilitate its linkages with other elements of the bean
platforms across PABRA countries.
- Document
(reports and professional publications) on improving the efficiency and
sustainability of bean seed producers and supply and share knowledge.
- Design and
conduct a sound Monitoring and Evaluation (M÷E) framework to capture
relevant seed data and to document case studies.
Qualifications
- Strong
background in seed business, agribusiness and business administration at
MSc / MA levels.
- Five (5) years
practical experience in managing a seed business is strongly preferred.
- Previous or
current work on seed related activities in Africa is an added advantage.
- In addition to
good command of written and spoken English language, an acceptable
knowledge of French language will be added advantage.
Personal
Characteristics
- Ability to work
both persuasively and diplomatically in a team-based environment with a
high degree of complexity.
- Exceptional
drive and entrepreneurship, a pronounced ability to motivate others.
- Hands-on
problem-solver with strong analytical abilities.
- Organizational
and business planning.
- Strategic
thinking & creativity.
- Problem analysis
and problem-solving.
- Team leadership
& persuasiveness.
Terms
of employment
The vacancy is an internationally recruited position.
The
contract will be for a two year period, with a six month probation period,
renewable depending on performance.
We
offer a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary
and excellent benefits.
We
believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence.
Applications
Interested applicants should send their motivation letter, a full C.V. including relevant certificates and one page essay on the main steps and their sequence for developing the ability of seed suppliers to provide quality seed of improved bean varieties and complementary inputs to small-scale farmers on a sustainable basis.
Additionally
please send the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable
about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
Applications
should be sent to Isabela Botero (i.botero@cgiar.org) at the CIAT Human
Resources office and ciatkenvainfo@cgiar.org by August 1st 2013.
