REGAL-AG
Position: Value
Chain Investment Intern
Department: Market Active
Location: Marsabit and Isiolo,
Kenya
Start Date: June 1, 2014
Duration: 2-6 months (negotiable)
Since 1963
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 60 projects in 33 countries and revenues of approximately $173
million.
Summary: The Resilience and Economic Growth
in the Arid Lands-Accelerated Growth (REGAL-Accelerated Growth) project, is a
five-year project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and implemented by ACDI/VOCA that aims to increase economic growth in
rural communities in Kenya by building a more inclusive and competitive
livestock sector.
Through
project activities, REGAL-Accelerated Growth will foster vibrant livestock
value chains that generate opportunities for those all along it, particularly
pastoralist livestock keepers.
The project
will encourage economic growth by improving market access, increasing the
availability and affordability of inputs and services needed to benefit from
market participation, and implementing other strategies that help reduce
vulnerability among livestock keepers.
The Value
Chain (VC) Investment Intern will provide technical support to the
REGAL-Accelerated Growth Marsabit technical team in order to scale-up
private-sector based value chain activities in partnership with pastoral
communities in Marsabit and Isiolo County and private sector actors (including
traders, investors, etc.).
Overview: The intern will be responsible for
providing quantitative and qualitative research and analysis that supports
technical teams in the design and delivery of technical assistance and training
to members of the pastoral communities and private sector companies in Marsabit
and Isiolo County, Kenya.
His/her
activities will support the project’s work to increase pastoralists’ access to
end markets, promote investment, and strengthen vertical relationships among
value chain/market actors to increase competitiveness and expand business and
market opportunities in the following value chains:
- Red Meat and Live Animals
- Camel Milk/Dairy
- Hides and Skins
ACDI/VOCA
seeks an intern to research and produce marketing plans for various products
and services related to the above value chains.
Through
quantitative and qualitative research into these products and services the
project team can determine commercial viability of potential products or
services related to the livestock sector, to communicate this viability to
target groups/beneficiaries, and to urge growth of new businesses around
certain products and services.
Some
potential products include processed meats, such as nyiri-nyiri (a processed
camel meat delicacy popular among Somali groups); camel dairy processed
products; leather goods; and inputs supply associated with the target value
chains such as feed and fodder.
Analysis
will require thorough end-market research that illustrates buyer specifications
and quality requirements, pricing, as well as operational (business) start up plans.
Responsibilities:
The VC investment intern will:
- Review existing groups and potential products under the three value chains in Marsabit and Isiolo
- In collaboration with project staff, design research instruments that ensure proper data collection and analysis
- Conduct market research into various candidate products and services related to three main target value chains to assess them for viability and further investment by the project
- Compile detailed case studies/profiles of various private sector actors that are currently engaged in business in the target areas and determine areas for collaboration
- Work with technical team to design investment promotion strategies that support private sector investment and engagement
- Draft marketing/business plans, presenting quantitative and qualitative analysis on end markets, pricing, operational requirements, and investment requirements associated with production, processing, and/or marketing for products and services deemed as high potential for target communities
- Provide research into and draft strategies that encourages commercialization of potential services, increases livestock markets efficiencies and volumes of transactions
- Work with communications manager to come up communications strategy that will stimulate pastoralist response to emerging business opportunities
Qualifications
- A Master’s degree in agriculture economics, business administration, international development or livestock with economics background
- Strong quantitative analysis skills
- Strong communications and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions)
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across projects, to be flexible and creative and to independently take initiative
- Knowledge of livestock or agricultural development programs in the Horn of Africa, especially in harsh climatic conditions like these pastoral areas
- Two years’ experience in marketing, small business management, or enterprise operations preferred
The
estimated level of effort for this assignment is 2-6 months with 5-day work
weeks.
The
supervisor for this assignment will be the Chief of Party or his designate.
The
employee will coordinate closely with COP, Deputy Chief of Party, and Regional
Manager, Marsabit / Isiolo.
Intern will
be provided with secure housing and stipend.
To be
considered for this recruitment, please e-mail your resume to regalag@joinav.org
Please
include the position title and location of duty in the subject line.
No phone
calls please.
Only
finalists contacted.
Women and
minorities encouraged to apply.
EOE.
Please
apply by close of business April 21, 2014.
