Senior Value Chain Specialist
- Horticulture

CNFA-AMD Project

US-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development

JOB DESCRIPTION

About CNFA:

CNFA is an enterprise development organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to stimulating sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. CNFA specializes in fostering private sector investments in training, new technologies and marketing as a means to increase the overall competitiveness of agricultural value chains, to expand exports, and to develop skills in the rural workforce. By generating higher incomes for farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and distributors, CNFA helps improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.

Project Description:

The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development (AMD) activity in Pakistan is a USAID funded activity implemented by CNFA with the goal of supporting the development of Pakistan’s commercial agriculture, particularly through improving the ability of Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors to meet both international and domestic demand and requirements in targeted product lines in citrus, mango, high value/off season vegetables and livestock. AMD’s targeted interventions such as training, matching grants, and technical assistance is aimed to leverage private sector investment and encourage innovation. Together, these interventions will upgrade and streamline supply chains, optimize profit margins, increase in horticulture produce export, enhancing participation of women entrepreneurs, and ultimately make Pakistani mango, citrus, meat and HV/OSV production and marketing more profitable and competitive.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor and the Director Value Chain, the ‘Senior Value Chain Specialist-Horticulture’ will be responsible for management and oversight of the USAID-AMD Project’s three horticulture product lines; HVOSV, citrus, mango.  The position is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of activities and will serve as the focal point person for the AMD Project in relation to partnerships with stakeholders in the three product lines. The Senior Value Chain Specialist-Horticulture will assist in improving the overall performance and inclusiveness of HVOSV, citrus and mango product lines. The Senior Value Chain Specialist-Horticulture should have a broad scope of knowledge and experience in each of the three product lines that includes science & technology, food safety regulations, quality assurance, crop/ grove management best practices, product requirements for export, and capacity building. A well-qualified applicant will have the demonstrated ability to communicate with related farmers, private sector stakeholders, researchers, educators, government departments, and business managers. The position manages and provides oversight for the disbursement of grant procurement requirements and procedures in collaboration with AMD’s Grants and Procurement components, requiring a knowledge of USAID regulations and procedures.

Specific duties include:

• Responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the HVOSV, mango and citrus activities per AMD’s work plan and meeting timelines for implementation with consistent follow up;
• Oversee and manage the HVOSV Value Chain Manager;
• Schedule and manage ISTTA for HVOSV, Citrus and Mango sectors for the planned activities for onsite trainings and market related activities
• Provide support and collaboration to the Grants component for the implementation of grant activities;
• Provide support and collaboration to the Procurement component for the procurement and implementation of grant items;
• Provide support and collaboration to the Marketing & Market Access component for the implementation of the Project’s marketing strategy;
• Provide support and collaboration to the Gender Specialist for implementation of the Project’s gender strategy.
• Provide support and cooperation to communication team for branding and media campaigns whenever required
• Follow up with vendors in HVOSV and Citrus sector during the process of fabrication of machinery, delivery, installation, commissioning and onsite trainings;
• Design and supervision of HVOSV, citrus and mango trainings and provide support in the preparation of training material for capacity building activities according to the needs of the beneficiaries;
• Support the M&E component on the timely collection of data related to the sectors for documenting the outputs/outcomes/impact of the program interventions;
• Establish and maintain relationships with private and public-sector stakeholders necessary for successfully realizing objectives;
• Identify and support the establishment of linkages at both forward and backward levels of the HVOSV, citrus and mango value chains;
• Collaborate in the information gathering requirements as indicated by the M&E Department;
• Any other duties assigned by the Chief of Party, Chief Technical Advisor or Director Value Chain;

Supervision/Reporting:

The Senior Value Chain Specialist–Horticulture (HVOSV, Citrus & Mango) is supervised by the Director Value Chain with reporting responsibility to the Chief Technical Advisor.

Working Conditions / Special Considerations:

The employee is expected to comply with the terms and conditions as noted in the letter of agreement with CNFA-AMD. This assignment is based in Lahore, Pakistan with frequent travel to project sites within Pakistan.

Qualifications:

• Pakistani national;
• A Master’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, or Food Sciences with an additional 5-years’ experience in relevant areas;
• 5-7 years of regional/ international experience in agriculture economic growth, trade, value chain competitiveness, development, and creating market linkages;
• Demonstrated success in implementing USAID programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness of agricultural value chains;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in agriculture value chains
• Demonstrated experience in team management;
• Effective communication skills with excellent proficiency in both written and spoken English;
• Excellent Urdu, with regional language capability desirable;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe applications;
• At least one year of previous USAID-EGA project work experience in Pakistan;