Background:

•   The Government of the Republic of Ghana has received funds from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to implement the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP).
•   The Programme provides a framework for a long-term financing engagement for private sector-led, pro-poor agricultural value chain development in Ghana.
•   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 METASIP objectives. At least 62,860 clients or direct beneficiaries will be targeted towards the end of project year 3 (PY3) and 86,400 clients by PY6  of which at least 50% will be women, 20% youth (15-24 years) and 30% young adults (25-34 years).

Components of Programme:
The Programme has three components:

Component 1:

•   Value Chain Development - 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.
•   It has three sub-components: Agribusiness linkage development; rural financial services and climate change resilience which needs to be mainstreamed in promoting value chains to reduce risks and enhance profitability and sustainable production systems.

Component 2:

Rural Value Chain Infrastructure - aimed at providing the enabling infrastructure to catalyze value chain development. It has two sub-components:

•   Productive Infrastructure and Facilities - aimed at encouraging investments in commercial infrastructure and facilities for the selected value chains and
•   Enabling Public Infrastructure - aimed to finance enabling public infrastructure for the growth and viability of selected value chains.

Component 3:

•   Knowledge Management, Policy Support and Coordination aimed at harnessing successful lessons for replication and providing an enabling environment for optimization of programme opportunities and benefits. The two Sub-components are Knowledge Management,
•   Harmonization and Policy Support - aims at creating an enabling environment for small holders to participate in profitable and climate change resilient agricultural value chains and Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Programme.
•   The Programme which is planned for six years is expected to commence in January 2015 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
•   It builds on the achievements of some on-going and soon-to-complete projects such as Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) and Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTlMP).
•   GASIP will have a National Programme Coordination Unit in Accra and three Zonal Programme Offices (ZPO) in Kumasi, Tamale and Dodowa. The ZPCO shall be composed of (i) Zonal Programme Coordinator, (ii) a M&E Officer, (iii) a Zonal Accountant and (iv) a Zonal Infrastructure Officer,
•   To enhance implementation of the GASIP, MOFA intends to recruit a qualified person to fill the following position:
•   Zonal Value Chain & Agri-Business Officer.

Line Management:

•   Reports to the Zonal Programme Coordinator (ZPC), and works closely with the Zonal Programme Officers

Job Summary:

•   The Zonal VC & Agri-Business Officer will be responsible for ensuring 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 strengthen chosen value chains and to oversee the execution of support to value chains from technical service providers.
•   Further,  s/he will directly coordinate and supervise the consultants engaged at Zonal level to support GASIP partners.

Duties & Responsibilities Include:

•   Conduct analyses and surveys, that may include, among others, analysis of zonal experiences and success stories, projects and documents on VCs promotion, identification and listing of local key actors etc., with the objective of systematizing local experience and support the establishment of a knowledge information network, in coordination with other zonal officers.
•   Contribute to the development of the one year and three-year development plans
•   Jointly analyse, discuss, validate and locally adapt Valuelink approach for promotion of Value Chains, so that a comprehensive common approach is shared and adopted for all promising Vcs.
•   Produce training material and supervise the training events related to the promotion of value chain to be implemented by the Value Chain Facilitators
•   Facilitate the work of VCCs and VCFs in clarifying program strategies on potential impact for agricultural value chains to be supported by the programme, provide relevant information and advice.
•   Promote a networking attitude among all actors involved in value chain promotion in the area of competence, based on the recommendations coming from the Value Chain Committees and the practical steps proposed in the methodology for VCs promotion.
•   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.
•   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, ensuring that sound financial analysis are developed and other GASIP tools and strategies are effectively applied into proposed activities (eg FBO development, contracts, financial plans, matching grants, high potential technologies, appropriate infrastructures etc) and are compliant with GASIP's broader principles (gender, climate change, youth development, etc.).
•   Facilitate the promotion of viable linkages among smallholder farmers, larger businesses, service providers, private financiers and development partners through contracted service providers, by technically backstopping the implementation of viable businesses/projects selected for financing
•   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.

Common Considerations:

•   Remuneration: Competitive salary
•   Job Duration: Two years renewable yearly on the basis of satisfactory performance

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 including experience as trainer
•   Experience in working for donor-funded programmes or similar market-oriented rural development interventions

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
•   Work experience in agricultural development issues including policy design and implementation of agricultural value chain programmes.
•   Previous experience in implementing Value Link methodological approach for Value Chains promotion

Skills:

•   Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including MS Project, database and presentation software
•   Demonstrated analytical and problem solving capacity in dealing with all aspect related agricultural commodity chains
•   Ability to produce high-quality briefs and persuasive documents
•   Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others
•   Strong analytical and market oriented skills
•   Fluency in oral and written English and good verbal communication Skills in local language, as required by post location, to engage multiple partners and stakeholders.
•   Good team player and good communicator inspiring confidence for developing highly working relationships with finance and non-finance colleagues within
•   Programme, Cooperating institutions and implementing partners.

Location: Accra

How to Apply For the Job

Qualified and interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to:

The National Programme Coordinator
Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme
Ministry of Food and Agriculture,
P.O.Box M.37, Accra, Ghana

Tel: 0554-094669 / 233244-233887

Email: procurement@gasip.org / c.koblah@gasip.org

Location: MOFA Projects Block,Procurement Office, 3rd Floor,in the premises of the Government Secretarial School,Cantonments, Accra.

Closing Date: 10 April, 2017

•   Deadline for submission of Applications shall be on or before 15;00 hours GMT [i.e. 3.00pm local time) on 10th April, 2017.
•   Applicants are to include direct contacts (reliable telephone, fax numbers and email address) in their applications in order to facilitate early and easy contact.
•   Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
•   Candidates can send both soft and hard copies.