Sector/Program: Agriculture
Position Location: Lusaka
Reports to: Project Manager, Market-led Dairy Innovations Project (M-DIP)
Responsible for: Business brokerage in the area of finance and markets
Key contacts: MAL, Dairy Association of Zambia, Dairy cooperatives, milk processors, input suppliers
Start Date: 1st December 2015
Project background:
Substantial growth potential exists in expanding the dairy industry by bringing the traditional cattle sector into the formal system. Currently about 80% of all raw milk produced in the country comes from the traditional sector. However, the bulk of this milk does not reach the formal market. With targeted interventions aimed at improving animal husbandry practices and market access amongst emergent farmers, the sector has the potential to reduce the raw milk supply deficit in the country and significantly increase household income for the farmers.
Most of the dairy cooperatives in Zambia are still restricted to bulking, chilling and marketing of raw milk. Very few offer additional services to farmers such as veterinary services, dairy equipment services, artificial insemination, animal feed, training, microfinance, etc that are often essential to hence productivity and subsequently the growth of the sector.
To address these challenges, SNV has in the past two years piloted a dairy development project aimed at easing access to dairy support services for small scale farmers. This was done by supporting the organizational and governance capacity of selected dairy cooperatives to enable them to broker or offer additional services to their members. The project successfully piloted various services delivery models at cooperative level in the provision of services such as dairy skills training and fodder for small scale farmers. By integrating these models with other private investors and chain actors, the project demonstrated their viability justifying the need for scale up. The project also facilitated brokerage meetings between dairy cooperatives and chain actors to enable them enter into supply contracts that would ultimately lower the cost of inputs on the part of the farmers.
SNV will be upscaling this project in the southern province of Zambia and to contribute towards the implementation of this scale up project, we are seeking applications from suitably qualified Zambians to fill in the position of Access to markets and finance officer.
Job Purpose
Responsible for providing technical expertise with regards access to finance and market for small scale farmers. He/ she should have sound knowledge and experience in value chain development and market based livelihoods and will be responsible for nurturing of project innovations and business models in the areas of market access and finance. He will lead the team to ensure that these approaches are scalable and replicable to a wider fora.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities:
- To support access to affordable financial services for farmers through the establishment of farmer managed Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs)
- To promote the development of input and output markets for dairy support services and inputs along the dairy value chain through business brokerage and market linkages facilitation.
- Develop and nature suitable business models based on prevailing market dynamics and farmer preferences for the provision of key dairy services and inputs for farmers.
- To identify appropriate contexts to replicate business models and ensure lesson learning and sharing of best practices.
Specific activities include the following:
- Develop annual project work plans; set milestones and benchmarks to achieve project objectives related to access to finance and markets
- Conduct detailed dairy value chain analysis and market scans to identify suitable areas for small holder dairy involvement and investment
- Conduct detailed stakeholder mapping to identify suitable value chain players to work with small scale farmers and provide technical advice on terms of engagement
- Mobilise farmers and conduct sensitisation meetings on Savings and Credit Cooperatives
- In Liaison with Micro –Bankers trust (MBT) facilitate the formation of Savings and Credit Cooperatives
- Facilitate training of farmers in savings and credit management
- Facilitate linkages between SACCOs and other financial institutions
- Facilitate training for farmers in marketing and market linkages facilitation
- Provide technical advice to farmers and project stakeholders on suitable and appropriate business models for small scale farmers
- Mentor cooperatives through their business plans/models to ensure sustainability of their enterprises
- Organise and conduct business brokerage meetings between cooperatives and other chain actors to ensure that both enter into supply contracts and mutual trade
- Provide technical advice to farmers and cooperatives on contracting and business development.
- Promote collaboration between targeted dairy cooperatives and all the relevant government ministries.
- Promote collaboration between SNV and other development agencies (NGOS, GO and CBOs etc) in the project Operational areas.
- Manage and maintain operational networks/partnerships in project communities
- Develop and promote best practice examples and ensure documentation of experience and lessons learned.
- Visit project sites on regular basis for monitoring and proper execution of activities
- Advise and assist in designing and updating appropriate animal records, maintain detailed records and up to date paperwork for all duties as per current operating formats
- Write precisely and submit timely all the periodical reports that you are required to produce as per agreed formats
Competencies, Capabilities and Attributes: (Skills/behavioral (Special Training or Competence) :
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to work under pressure and to deliver quality products that meet deadlines and requirements
- Team player
- Relationship builder
- Ability to work with a wide range of actors from different backgrounds (smallholder farmers, private sector companies, government, and NGOs)
Academic & professional qualifications, Knowledge and Experience: (detail Knowledge (Education & Related Experience)
- Bachelor's degree in Economics, agriculture, Ag. Economics, agribusiness or other related degree
- Additional training in market based livelihoods, enterprise promotion, and value chain development will be an added advantage
- At least 2 years of work experience in the agri-business sector, preferably in Livestock
- Knowledge of the Zambian dairy industry
- Experience with private sector development
- Excellent written English and ability with standard Office packages – Excel, Word, Powerpoint
Working environment: (The officer is expected to Spend 50% time in office and 50% field work) They will be based in the SNV head office in Lusaka, but will be required to travel extensively to project sites within Southern Province.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit an application letter addressed to the Country Operations Manager with full updated CV, pay rate history for the last three years, three professional references including their email addresses and day contact phone numbers.
Applications indicating the position applied for should be submitted tozambia@snvworld.org and copy to phiri@snvworld.org not later than Monday 9th November, 2015. Please do not attach any academic and professional certificates.
Closing date:
Monday, November 9, 2015
Type of contract:
Local
