PROGRAM SUMMARY

 Project aimed at improving food security for 28,000 male and female smallholder farmer households in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States’ through enhanced gender equitable market access and agricultural production. The Strengthening Agricultural Markets and Food Security (SAFE) Programme, will strengthen the capacities of key market actors, contributing to improved resilience capacities to shocks and stresses. The Programme is guided by a Market Systems Development (MSD) and resilience approaches to sustain food security gains despite the complex risk environment in which smallholder farmers are exposed to. Specifically, the program will enable small holder farmers to increase climate resilient yields, sustainable natural resource management practices, market linkages, gender equity and empowerment of women and girls.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

ADRA Sudan is looking for an experienced, qualified, and business oriented Sudanese national to fill in the position of Market Integration Officer. Reporting to the Program Manager, the holder of this technical position will implement aspects related to the Agriculture market component of the program in collaboration with other components. S/he will be required to apply a wide variety of modern, resilient, and environmentally smart tools and approaches in order to ensure small holder farmers have improved and resilient and commercially viable yields. The Officer will be responsible for Capacity building of Agribusinesses and farmer groups/Cooperatives, promoting adoption and driving commercial production and incorporation of Natural resource management in interventions. S/he will work closely with Gender equity, Natural Resources and Market linkages sector leads and the Program Manager and liaise with relevant authorities and agencies to ensure success.

1. Planning, developing and implementing market development activities.

• Participate in planning and implementation of assessments in the target geographic areas to assess current status of agribusiness actors, capacities and constraints as well as economic opportunities for small holder farmers.
• Take lead in developing of sector strategies for Agriculture inputs markets, Agriculture output markets and financial services that will promote development of agribusiness in rural areas.
• In conjunction with the Government and Community based agriculture extension trainers, ensure groups of vulnerable farmers receive and adopt adequate quality trainings on Climate Resilient Agricultural practices.
• Lead in promoting commercialization of small holder farming and link farmers to markets for products and other market-oriented opportunities such as contract farming among others.
• Lead in identification of suitable private sector companies which sell certified seeds or buy harvest from farmers and to support them to develop inclusive business models that provide goods and services for famers.
• Support the private companies which partner with the SAFE program to establishment rural supply networks (retail or aggregation shops) in rural areas to increase access for mall holder farmers to markets.
• Support development of partnerships with financial institutions such as banks and MFIs to extend financial services to rural areas and improve access and utilization by small holder farmers.
• Take lead in providing business management mentorship support to the rural input (seeds and tools) and output (produce or farm harvest) to support their growth and development to guarantee continued market access for small holder farmers to agricultural markets.
• Take lead in management of partnerships with the private Sector companies including tracking of milestones and providing technical support to ensure attainment of partnership objectives.
• Introduce SAFE program to and maintain a good and collaborative relationship with relevant stakeholders including local business owners, local representatives and community leaders and members.
• Develop capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities as well as participate in capacity building sessions for staff, companies, agribusinesses, cooperatives, groups and farmers.
• Support private sector companies to develop women-centered market strategies which will improve the participation of women in different sectors across the agriculture value chain leading to economic empowerment.
• Facilitate SHF cooperatives to develop business plans and legal status to support contract farming.
• Form and build capacity of Communities to engage in Community Action Planning (CAPs) to implement strategies to increase climate resilience and sustainable Natural Resource Management (NRM).

2. Collaboration/Networking, Representation and Coordination

• Represent SAFE program to the Donor, Government officials and other stakeholders as and when required to.
• Maintain close working relationships with development organizations, and local partners, including representing SAFE at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with State, locality, and lower level leaders, representing Mercy Corps and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as directed.
• Be the focal person for coordination and partnerships with Private Sector Partners and other partners.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps Europe and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

3. Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to conduct studies, to capture data for measuring output and impact of the program; and to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries when necessary and maintain proper filing system.
• Provide follow ups, recommendations, and solutions where there are challenges during implementation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Security

• Be fully aware of the security situation of the area and follow all precautionary procedures.
• Personal safety is the top priority. The incumbent is clearly advised not to take any risk whatsoever of personal insecurity at no time and under no circumstances.

Organizational Learning

• As part of ADRA Sudan’s commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit SAFE program, ADRA as a whole as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• ADRA Sudan team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to International standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: SAFE Program Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Other Market Integration Officers, Environment and NRM Officers, Gender Officer, Infrastructure Officer and other support staff.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness, Business management or any related discipline.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with INGOs and small holder farmers in production and marketing activities.
• At least 2 years of experience working in the private sector, specifically companies which deal in agriculture input (such as seeds), Agriculture outputs (purchasing farm harvest), financial services sector or related field.
• Experience in Climate smart interventions, agriculture/livelihoods projects and resilience is an added advantage
• Good verbal and written English, communication, organizational, prioritization and negotiation skills.
• Strong computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft office applications including: word, excel, Power point and other relevant applications.
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment.
• Excellent team work abilities, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, attention to detail and timeliness.
• Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.
• Strong organizational and report-writing skills.
• Good knowledge and experience of Blue Nile state and local context is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applying Do No harm frameworks concepts and approaches in high-risk security areas is an advantage.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Strong leadership and collaborative engagement with operations, finance and other program staff.
• Capacity to represent MC Europe with government officials, private sector, implementing partners and leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders.
• Flexibility, adaptability and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively in extreme conditions.
• Proven ability to take initiative, speediness and being accountable for attaining results.
• Ability to grasp and understand program details.
• Good temperament and a good sense of humor

Interested applicants should submit their applications and credentials to the labour office at HAC in Blue Nile-Damazine