Agribusiness Officer (12 Positions) at Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) Project

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
RECRUITMENT OF PROJECT STAFF
COUNTRY: MALAWI
NAME OF PROJECT: FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENCE PROGRAM (FSRP)
GRANT NUMBER: IDA-E1840
DATE OF ISSUE: 18TH APRIL, 2024

BACKGROUND
The Government of the Republic of Malawi has received financing in the amount of US$250 Million equivalent from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank toward the cost of the Food Systems and Resilience Program (FSRP) and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for recruitment of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) staff.

The objective of the Project is to Increase commercialization of agriculture value chain products selected under the Project, and consists of six main components namely: (i) (Re-) Building Resilient Agricultural
Production Capacity; (11 Sustainable Development of Natural Resources for Resilient Agricultural Landscapes; (iii) Getting to Market; (iv) Promoting a Greater Focus on Food Security Resilience in National and Regional Policymaking and Response (v) Contingency Emergency Component (CERC) and; (vi) Project Management and Coordination.

It is, therefore, regarding the constituting of the MFSRP Project Implementation Unit that Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) as a lead implementing agency, would like to engage the services of Monitoring and Evaluation Institutional Officers, Agribusiness Officers, Development Officers, Assistant Accountants, and Assistant Project Engineer as set out below:

Agribusiness Officer (12 positions):

Reference No MW-MOA-376214-CS-INDV

The Agribusiness Officer is part of the Project Implementation Unit Team, which comprises the National Project Coordinator (NPC), specialists, assistant specialists and support staff.

The Agribusiness Officer will be reporting directly to the Agribusiness Specialist.

The main function of the Agribusiness Officer is to support the Agribusiness Specialist in all agribusiness and commercialization aspects of the programme.

The Agribusiness Officer will support the building of vibrant Productive Alliances (PAs). The established PAs and SMEs/Anchor farms will access matching grant funds for investments in capital assets that will promote agricultural productivity and value addition. The Agribusiness Officer will support capacity-building efforts on the vertical and horizontal alliances so that Producer Organizations, SMEs and Anchor farms are reoriented and grounded in commercial farming.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Specifically, the Agribusiness Officer will perform the following functions:

1. Support the orientation of potential Producer Organizations, SMEs and Anchor farms on the Matching Grants funding and its requirements;
2. Assist the Agribusiness Specialist in reviewing concept notes submitted to AGCOM PIU by productive alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
3. Consolidate concept-notes evaluation scores and compile minutes, and prepare offer letters and grant agreements to recommended productive alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
4. Participate in the identification and due diligence assessment of potential Productive Alliances, SMEs and Anchor farms;
5. Assist the Agribusiness Specialist in supervising technical service providers such as; Business Plan Preparation Consultants;
6. Participate in the pre-screening of business plans submitted by the Business Plan Preparation Consultants on behalf of PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms;
7. Assist PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms in the identification of the last mile infrastructure; vili. Assist in the promotion of agribusiness enterprise development and export competitiveness among PAs, SMEs and Anchor farms
8. Participate in the development of value chain development strategies and undertake value chain analysis studies;
9. Monitor the implementation of sub-projects to identify deviations from the Matching Grant Agreements and resolve related issues in collaboration with IDS
10. Conduct regular field visits to AGCOM project sites, in collaboration with government agribusiness officers, to provide hands-on technical assistance and monitor progress on agribusiness and commercialization interventions;
11. Contribute to the PIU M&E activities, including data collection and reporting on related agribusiness activities in coordination with the M&E Specialist;
12. Participate in all relevant assignments as assigned by the Agribusiness Specialist.

Qualifications and Experience 

1. A Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in development economics, agribusiness, agricultural economics and Business Administration; and social science from accredited and reputable institutions
2. At least three (3) years of work experience.
3. At least one (1) year of experience working on similar assignment with an emphasis on building community-based organizations (e.g. cooperatives, producer associations, and marketing associations), Small and Medium Enterprises, value chain development and rural finance;
4. Good facilitation, communication and writing skills.
5. Good verbal and written communication skills, including ICT skills.
6. Previous experience in World Bank/donor-funded agricultural/agribusiness development programs will be an added advantage;

Location of Employment

The Agribusiness Officer will be based at MFSRP/ AGCOM 2 PIU in Lilongwe but will be required to travel regularly and extensively to the project sites.

Duration of Employment

The assignment is for six (6) years subject to annual renewal based on satisfactory performance.

Submission of Applications
Interested Candidates should submit applications including detailed CVs in English with a minimum of three traceable referees NOT later than 3rd May, 2024.

Address for submission of applications by email is [email protected] and be addressed to the following:

The Chairperson
Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee
Agricultural Commercialisation (AGCOM) Project,
Off Paul Kagame Road – Opposite MRA
Domestic Taxes Offices,
P.O. Box 727, Lilongwe