The Government of the Republic of Ghana is implementing the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP), through the funds made available by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The launching workshop took place in Accra the first week of September 2015.

The Programme provides a framework for a long-term financing engagement for private sector-led, pro-poor agricultural value chain development in the country.

The objective of the programme is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in rural Ghana, ensuring that agribusinesses - including smallholders - increase their profitability and resilience to climate change. The programme is national in scope and governed by a demand - and market-driven approach, that will provide a basis for scaling up investments in pro-poor agricultural value chain development led by the private sector. The strategic focus of GASIP will be on smallholder farmers, to make them more competitive by increasing their capacity to respond to market demand in terms of quality, price, time and volume thus contributing to the objectives of the Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP).

GASIP Programme has three components:

Component 1 - Development of Value Chain
This component is designed to help formalizing agribusiness agreements with smallholders farmers in the context of value chain approach, so as to promote a systematic access to short and long term financing for agribusiness, mainstreaming at the same time climate change resilience across selected value chains and promoting environment friendly practices and technologies. This component is central to ensuring strong business linkages among actors in the entire value chains of commodities to ensure they meet market or consumer and industry demands, to reduce risks and enhance profitability and sustainable production systems.

This component has 3 interrelated subcomponents:
1.1- Agribusiness linkages and development
1.2 - Rural financial services
1.3 - Climate change resilience.

Component 2: Rural Value Chain Infrastructure is designed to leverage investments in commercial infrastructure and facilities and finance essential public infrastructure for the growth and viability of associated value chains. Two (2) sub-components are envisaged:
2.1. - Productive Infrastructure and Facilities; and
2.2. - Enabling Public Infrastructure.

Component 3: Knowledge Management, Policy Support and Coordination is designed to create an enabling environment for smallholders; and the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities. Two (2) sub-components are envisaged:
3.1. - Knowledge Management, Harmonization and Policy Support; and
3.2. - Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Annual and three-year work plans and budget for the implementation of this program are prepared by the PMU in coordination with all involved stakeholders.

Job Summary

•   GASIP intends to recruit 3 qualified Zonal Value Chain Specialist (VCSs) in order to ensure the smooth implementation of planned activities at the zonal level within programme component 1 "Development of Value Chains".
•   They will have the responsibility to develop support programmes and to strengthen chosen value chains and to oversee the execution of support to value chains from technical service providers.
•   VCSs will be based in the three Zonal Programme Offices (ZPOs) in Kumasi, Tamale and Dodowa.
•   They shall report to the Value Chain Manager and work under the overall guidance of the National Programme Coordinator. They will coordinate their work with the Zonal Coordinators and closely collaborate with the District Agricultural Development Units and will support the Value Chain Committees.
•   Further, they will directly coordinate and supervise the consultants engaged at Zonal Level  in support to value chain actors.

Duties and Responsibilities:     

•   Conduct analyses and surveys on value chain development as required.
•   Contribute to the development of the one-year and three-year work plans and budget (AWPBs).
•   Jointly analyse, discuss, validate and locally adapt Value Link approach for promoting Value Chains, so that a shared approach is adopted for a" promising Vcs.
•   Facilitate viable linkages among smallholder farmers, larger businesses, service providers, private financiers and implementing partners aiming at achieving a networking attitude towards the harmonisation of approaches, tools and methodology of VC development.
•   Supervise the training events related to the promotion of value chain.
•   Facilitate the work of VCCs and VCFs in clarifying program strategies and potential impact on selected value chains; provide relevant information and advice.     "
•   Proactively contribute to the identification of candidate value chains and the preparation and launching of call for Expressions of Interest, which represent the core of GASIP business at the zonal level.
•   Contribute to VC research, including research design, statistical sampling, perfecting research tools, oversight of data collection, consolidation and analysis of research data,reporting, etc.
•   Support the Development of Terms of Reference and Tender Specifications for technical consultants for studies on VC impact potentials.
•   Coordinate and oversee the implementation of ordered studies, including technical and financial analysis, ensuring that GASIP tools and strategies are effectively applied into proposed activities and are compliant with GASIP's pro-poor approach.
•   Contribute to the preparation of programme reports as planned by the PCU
•   Undertake any other responsibility that will ensure smooth and effective implementation of the programme.

Performance Targets:

•   Performance targets, based on the above activities and responsibilities, will be jointly agreed with the VCM and the NPC at the time of signing the contract, according to implementation work plans. Performance targets will be jointly reviewed, assessed and updated on a regular basis.
•   However, performance based management approach adopted by the VCM is not necessarily limited to the performance targets resulting from the above job descriptions.
•   The contracts envisage a 4-month probationary period.

Remuneration: Competitive salaries are envisaged for the post
Location:   Selected candidates will be posted in one of the Zonal offices located in Kumasi, Tamale or Dodowa

Qualification Required & Experience

The entire value chain promotion process under GASIP will be market/demand driven, with the final aim to contribute to a sustained pro-poor growth. Qualification and experience of candidates will be assessed against their capacity to contribute to this end.

Essential:

•   Degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Project Management, Agricultural Economics or other academic background relevant to the tasks to be carried out
•   At least 7 years practical experience in developing and analysing business plans, conducting market surveys, developing baseline studies and business financial analysis within the context of the private sector.
•   Experience in developing and foster partnerships among agriculture commodity chains actors.

Desirable:

•   Practical experience in managing private businesses in the agricultural sector
•   Experience in implementing result based M&E methods and approaches
•   Practical working experience with Government of Ghana, donor-funded projects aiming at upgrading agricultural value chains through enhanced private sector engagement
•   Practical experience in agricultural policy development and implementation
•   Previous experience in implementing Value Link methodological approach for Value Chains promotion

Skills:

•   Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including MS Project, database and presentation software, including statistic SW to conduct data analysis and familiarity with analysis of business performance reporting-balance sheet, income statement, cash flow report, etc.
•   Demonstrated analytical and problem solving capacity in dealing with all aspect related agricultural commodity chains
•   Ability to produce high-quality reports and project briefs.
•   Fluency in oral and written English and good communication skills.
•   Ability to promote and ensure teamwork

Location: Kumasi,Tamale and Dodowa

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters (either Soft or Hard) with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to the email or physical addresses below:

gagostix@gmail.com

The Office of the Value Chain Manager
Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) - MoFA
In the premises of the Government Secretarial School, opposite Aquinas Senior High
School, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

Selection Procedure:

•   Applications will be scrutinized by and ad-hoc internal recruitment panel.
•   Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit samples of previous works done relevant to the assignment and will undergo a practical and oral test to confirm what they state in their application.
•   Written examination will determine their proficiency in the use of databases and spreadsheets as well as their capacity to produce quality briefs dealing with GASIP.
•   For this purpose, shortlisted candidates will be provided with some project documents in advance.

Closing Date: 24 December, 2015

Qualified female professionals are strongly encouraged to apply.