Job pack: 0B Contents: Nigeria. Country

Transcription

1 Job pack: 0B Country Nigeria Employer VSO Nigeria Duration 24 Months Job purpose The Value Chain Advisor will provide day to day hands on leadership for all technical maize and or soya bean value chain activities, focus on developing and maintaining business relationships between small holder farmers,farmer collectives, private sector and other actors within the value chain. He/she will also provide advice and identify business opportunities for farmers and processors. Contents: 1. Job Description Personal considerations Background and contextual information... 5 Page 1

2 1. Job Description Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge The volunteer will have a range of tasks The Key performance indicators of this Essential and activities; placement are that: Building and Sustaining working relationships Analyze product and service delivery Target beneficiaries are able to sustain The social skills to build and their livelihoods and the livelihoods of actively maintain working along the value chain and their their families. This includes managing relationships that foster impact on all systems and actors their own businesses, supply their teamwork and collaboration with upgrading within the value chain produce to the markets and are always others for the benefit of a Assist in the development and able to meet the market demands by common goal. development tracking of farmer s collective marketing strategies and plans for having adequate produce for identified markets. Page 2 new business development Provide technical expertise in agriculture commodities Explore opportunities to strengthen impact such as: build networks and relationships for partners to link with major strategic organizations (e.g. government agricultural department, INGOs, NGOs,) working in a similar field that may be able to support partner intervention through funding/knowledge sharing/joint working/to address major overarching issues e.g. access to inputs. Work in collaboration with the monitoring & evaluation volunteer and the project coordinator to Below includes number indicators: Number of beneficiaries who have increased their income and have businesses as a result of training and support received. Number of beneficiaries able to reach the market demands through supplies of their produce. Number of linkages along the value chain crops and value chain markets identified. The degree of strategic alignment in the value chain The degree of information transparency, seamless information and material flows between actors within the value chain. The amount of profit from a given market sector. Open Minded and Respectful A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture. Seeking and Sharing Knowledge Recognition that learning is a twoway and continuous process. Facilitating Positive Change The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches. Adaptability A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations. Resilience The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity. Relevant university degree with knowledge of Value Chain concepts; market development; Value Chain analysis; developing a vision for chain 8 years work experience in value chain Experience in process design Good, clear communication skills; Good facilitation skills for working with chain actors and engaging in public-private partnerships Experience in sustainable livelihoods development Mentoring and coaching; Flexible and adaptable Resourcefulness and ability to solve problems Ability to maintain good working relationship Ability to support others to adapt ideas to their own context Creativity in problem solving & conflict resolution Desirable Ability to speak Hausa Previous work experience in West Africa would be an added advantage

3 Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge develop monitoring tools for collecting routine data that informs the monitoring and evaluation framework. Write periodic progress reports as per VSO requirements. Objectives will be confirmed in a three way discussion between the volunteer, employer and VSO in the first three months of the placement. Due to the nature of our volunteer placements, it is possible that the responsibilities of this role may differ in reality and therefore the postholder will need to be prepared to be flexible and adapt to their environment as necessary. Responsible to: Page 3

4 2. Personal considerations In addition to the job description, the following information should be used when considering whether a placement is suitable for you. Personal health considerations If you have a significant current or past medical condition and/or you have general concerns about staying healthy as a volunteer, please use this information to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. All volunteers require medical clearance from a VSO medical adviser before they are able to take up a placement with VSO. Occasionally, VSO may consider that this placement is too great a risk for you in terms of your personal health and you would be advised to consider a different placement. For further guidance about medical assessment and volunteering with a medical condition please see the frequently asked questions on VSO website. Access to medical care and support The standard and quality of local medical care and support available at this placement will depend on its location within the country. Health facilities are likely to be more poorly resourced in rural areas in terms of medical expertise, equipment, infrastructure and regular supplies of medication. However, this may not be the case in the capital city or in a larger town, where in some countries there may be a reasonable standard of medical care. The following gives you an indication of where the placement is in relation to the country office and how easy it would be to make the journey if you were ill. The volunteer will be based in Minna, Niger the State and will have easy access to the medical facilities available in the Capital this included private clinics and State hospital. The VSO Programme Office is between 3 to 4 hours from Minna by road. There is a private hospital in proximity to the volunteers' placement and home in Minna, Niger state to enable volunteers to seek medical assistance 24 hours of the day. Mosquito nets are given to volunteers during the In country training. Programme staff will also check the accommodation before volunteer s arrival to ensure that it meets VSO Nigeria s minimum standard to prevent malaria attacks. Aside Malaria, Typhoid is another common ailment that can be contacted, in other to prevent this disease, volunteers are advised to boil and filter their drinking water, wash fruits and vegetables before eating and cooking. There is also a one hour health talk on healthy living during the in country orientation which is facilitated by a medical doctor invited from one of VSO Nigeria s recommended hospital. Volunteers are also given a comprehensive health manual that provides necessary information on health issues. Good nutrition can be a challenge with available foods. It is advisable to take vitamin tablets. This placement : will either be in a rural area or small town 5 hours from the capital on mixed roads s by plane If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances or health concerns in confidence with VSO s medical team before you apply for this placement please contact medical@vsoint.org. Accompanying partner or family: If you have a partner or children who are planning to accompany you to your placement, please use this section to assess whether this placement will be suitable for Page 4

5 you. Funding available for this modest therefore limited to direct project expenditure Motorcycle requirements Motorbike is an essential means of transportation. The volunteer may need to ride as a pillion; he or she should come with a helmet, as this is usually the means of transport in some parts of the community where the volunteer will be working. Security information The Volunteer would be briefed on security issues in Nigeria during the In country orientation upon arrival. This provides tips for volunteers in managing security issues while in Nigeria. A regular update is also provided weekly in a bulletin form to volunteers through . Nigeria is such a vast country but often reports in newspapers can be distorted of the situation on the ground. Safety is paramount to VSO and volunteers are kept very well informed of any concerns. 3. Background and contextual information VSO have been working in Nigeria since VSO Nigeria currently has Secure Livelihoods, Education and Youth programmes as its main programme and works in clusters to deliver its strategy. The overall goal of the VSO Nigeria country strategy is to reduce poverty and the vulnerability of youth in Nigeria. There are 4 clusters in the VSO Nigeria programme; the NorthCentral, North-West, South-West and the South-South clusters. The Value Chain Advisor role is created to ensure the value chain approach is used to drive economic growth with poverty reduction through the integration of large numbers of micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) into increasingly competitive value chains. By influencing the structures, systems and relationships that define the value chain there should be improvements of products and processes and Soy bean or maize chain s competitiveness. Further information on VSO s work in each of the countries we work in can be found on the VSO website. Page 5