International Technical Advisor on Strategic Marketing ~ Paradaise Today

In view of the further development of its activities BTC is currently looking for a (m/f):

International Technical Advisor on Strategic Marketing - TANZANIA

For the Sustainable Agriculture Kigoma Regional Project (SAKIRP)

Ref.: TAN/14/031-2

Location: Kigoma, TANZANIA

Duration of the contract: 30 months

Probable starting date: as soon as possible

Monthly salary package: between 5,055.96 euro and 7,224.55 euro (this includes the gross monthly salary and the expat benefits: hardship allowance and expat allowance). The salary is calculated, depending on the composition of the family and the number of years of relevant experience.

Project:

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Kigoma Region and employing over 70% of the population of the region, dominated by small-scale farmers, especially women. The major crops are maize, beans, cassava, rice, bananas, oil palm, coffee, tobacco and various fruits and vegetables. Recently sunflower has been introduced in the region. The agriculture in the Kigoma region is characterized by low crop production and productivity, poor service delivery, lack of farmers 'organisation, poor market access, weak linkages between actors and the lack of active search for supporting each other and achieving a win-win collaboration.

Agriculture is one of the two priority sectors in the current Development Cooperation Programme (2014 –2015) between the Government of Tanzania and the Kingdom of Belgium. Within this framework the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives requested the support for a project on sustainable agriculture in Kigoma region. The identification form indicated that the project should contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and Gender Equality & Empowerment. The project should be also in line with and support the Agriculture Sector Development Strategy (ASDS).

The second ASDS (2013/14 – 2020/21) includes the development of key commodity value chains and indicates the importance of enhancing market efficiency. Strengthening public and private partnerships for improving agricultural support services is also one of its strategic priorities.

This project aims to support agricultural development in Kigoma through a pro-poor value chain approach.

The overall objective is: local economic development and wellbeing of smallholders is improved in Kigoma region through sustainable agriculture development.

The specific objective is: smallholders' income is increased and diversified in Kigoma region, especially for women, through pro-poor value chains development.

The specific object is to be reached through achieving the following five complementary results:

 R1: Value chains management and coordination mechanisms are installed and steer cassava and beans value chain development.

 R2: Sound financial mechanisms are developed and financial organisations are strengthened to support value chains development.

 R3: Public and private chain supporters provide effective services to value chains actors.

 R4: Stronger position of smallholders in the value chain through improved integration and empowerment.

 R5: Improved market access and sustainable trade.

The project will facilitate value chain development through organising and empowering smallholders and linking them with traders, facilitating value chain financing, strengthening value chain service provision, market intelligence and multi-stakeholder processes. Gender equity in the development of value chains will be of great importance.

The value chains of cassava and beans show the highest potential for pro-poor value chain development if one looks at the market potential, the potential for the promotion of gender equity and women empowerment, the contribution to household food security, the income potential and the overall outreach of the chain in Kigoma. Therefore these two value chains are selected as priority chains for the start of the project. Indirectly other value chains will also benefit from the project. The five results will address the three complementary levels of value chain actors, value chain supporters and value chain environment.

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the smallholders, especially women and other chain actors of the cassava and beans value chains. Secondary beneficiaries will be the local chain supporters, including the Region and the Districts.

The project has the following guiding principles for its strategy: (i) promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening empowerment of farmers 'organisations through Farmer Field Schools; (ii) a market driven pro-poor value chains development; (iii) facilitating finance of VCD from the start onwards, (iv) promoting gender equity and empowering women; (v) strengthening farmers' organisations; (vi) promoting sustainable business models and applying business principles. Special attention will be paid to the promotion of an active role of young actors in the VCD and the inclusion of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV).

Promoting multi-stakeholder processes and the participation of the private sector and civil society in the implementation of activities is embraced in the strategy of the project.

The execution period is 60 months, of which 9 months will be for the baseline/inception phase. The Belgian contribution for this project is 8M€ complemented with a Tanzanian contribution of € 800,000. The management of the Belgian contribution is done under the BTC direct management mode as the Tanzanian Treasure does not allow to open project accounts in co-management at regional and district level.

Institutionally the project will be anchored in the Regional Secretariat of the Kigoma Region as a specific project implementation unit (PIU) under the Regional Administrative Secretariat (RAS). The Joint Local Partnership Committee (JLPC) will function as the Project Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of the RAS with further representatives of MAFC, PMO-RALG, Ministry of Finance and BTC Representation.

Function:

Objectives:

The International Technical Advisor will pilot the strategic orientation, implementation, follow-up and communication of the programme and on all other aspects related to the support towards sustainable market access, value addition to the products cassava and beans and capacity building in marketing & business management.

The International Technical Advisor on Strategic Marketing reports to the Project Manager and works in close collaboration with the national Technical Advisor in charge of business development.

Responsibilities:

You will provide methodological guidance and strategic orientation on marketing and value chain development:
- Define the content (Terms of Reference) of needed market researches and consumer surveys and of the value chains mapping and assessment. As well as identifying and choosing the service providers.
- Translate the results of market researches and value chains mapping into value addition opportunities. You will be responsible for a thorough analysis and feasibility for the different categories of the Kigoma smallholders.
- Assure that the marketing strategy is coherent with the upgrading strategy for the different value chains. As well as the development of a strategic positioning and marketing strategy for both value chains of Kigoma region. You will provide the support for the value chain platforms (methodological support, advice/backstopping, technical inputs…).
- Orient the development of the 'Farmer Business Schools' concept and its integration in the Farmers Field School (FFS) concept and implementation in the field in coordination with the National Technical Advisor (NTA) for FFS and District Focal Point. Identify the required capacity building and formulate a plan of implementation and monitor this.
You will build the capacity of the Project Implementation Unit staff, service providers and chain actors, and will guaranty the follow-up and backstopping of staffs:
- Accompany and orientate the work of the national commercial technical assistant.
- Contribute to the content of the assessment of value chain actors/beneficiaries of the programme, monitor the results and translate them into training/coaching needs, planning and deliver products responding to the needs of targeted markets and eventual new market opportunities.
- In collaboration with the NTA, assess capabilities of local NGOs and service providers in marketing and business management and translate the result into training/coaching needs.
- Strengthen capacities of trade officers at the districts and the regional office and local NGOs in marketing aspects.
- Assess, choose and supervise service providers in empowerment-driven marketing & business management and market linkage facilitation.
You will provide hands-on support on value chain development:
- Provide operational marketing advice and hands-on support to key beneficiaries in analysing the best fitting opportunities to increase their income, to develop their marketing strategies and business plans and eventual profitability studies.
- Assist the public authorities in developing a market data/information transfer-system to smallholders.
You will monitor the progress of the programme in terms of sustainable market access for the smallholders.
You will capitalise lessons learned and propose where necessary modifications and adjustments of activities and budgets laid down in the Technical Financial File.

Profile:

A Master degree of a higher Business School and/or Master in business administration, management sciences, strategic marketing.
You have at least 5 years of practical experience in strategic and operational marketing in the private sector, in businesses commercialising food products and/or FMCG.
You have at least 5 years of experience with a development project, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
You can prove relevant experience in:
working with smallholder farmers and farmers' organisations, big and small chain actors (processors, traders, brokers…) in developing countries.
value chain analysis, chain mapping, market survey.
Experience in sales/account management and knowledge of the concepts of fair and sustainable trade are assets.
You are Gender sensitive.
You are very motivated for development cooperation.
You are fluent in English, knowledge of Swahili would be an asset.
A strong team player.
You are a skilled manager of multicultural teams.
You are ready to work in the field and ready for travelling within the Kigoma region and abroad in Tanzania and neighbouring countries, at least 25% of your time.