Recruitment notice: NETWORK STRENGTHENING ADVISOR

DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFER

CALL FOR INTERNAL APPLICATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF AN  ADVISOR IN NETWORK STRENGTHENING AND AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP  FOR THE “SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL POLICIES” PROJECT OF DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT GmbH FOR THE CITY OF DOUALA.

The Rural Development Cluster (CDR) is made up of several projects in the sector which plan to improve the economic situation of the rural population, particularly women and young people in Cameroon. The target group of the projects varies between the technical ministerial departments involved, specialized institutions, practical agricultural training schools and the private sector, associated with producer and processor organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The position holder will allocate 100% of their working time to the “Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Agricultural Policies (AgSyS)” Project. This project, whose coordination is based in Yaoundé, is looking for an Agricultural Finance Advisor for the office in Yaoundé as part of the implementation of its activities.

The overall AgSYS project is part of the new special initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) “Transformation of agricultural and food systems” (SI AGER), which aims to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal No. 2 (SDG2) – Zero Hunger. It plans to focus more on sustainability-oriented reform processes, particularly in the agricultural sector and with emphasis on collaboration with the private sector.

The objective of the AgSyS project is formulated as follows:  “Transformation processes towards more sustainable agricultural systems in partner countries and globally are supported  ”. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of green economies  in  the context of climate change as well as on gender equality and the strengthening of civil actors (interactor council platform). The four areas of intervention of the project are 1) transformative agricultural policy, 2) institutional anchoring of proven solutions, 3) advocacy and empowerment of “agents of change”, 4) financing of transformation and 5 ) to establish links between the levels of transformation.

Description of tasks

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and the Advisor in advisory support to political partners and those in the private sector, the post holder will be mainly responsible for ensuring and/or facilitate :

• Coordination of AgSYS’ advisory and technical support activities with entrepreneurs’ networks in Douala (ie GICAM, PAJEC, CWEN, AWEP) and the NGO ANPIAT (“Made in Cameroon”), in close collaboration with others Advisors to the project and other Cluster projects to create synergies in the supported value chains and for specific subjects;
• Together with the networks identification of topics of interest to introduce them to members or in political-private dialogues, while respecting the priority topics for the project such as the modernization of production systems and the improvement of productivity, resilience and local processing, as well as sustainable cultivation and production methods;
• The mobilization of experts for the organizational development of networks and improvement of their advocacy capacities;
• Institutionalization and scaling of innovations, transformative approaches and training/coaching methods for businesses, based on experiences that exist in the Cluster;
• In close coordination with the Agricultural Finance Advisor, collaboration with the microfinance networks in Douala (MUFID, MIGEC, MUPECI) as well as with Trade Training Centers such as the CFM;
• The preparation and facilitation of exchange platforms and/or workshops and participation in different exchange formats (working groups,  task forces );
• The mobilization of experts for specific subjects and the coordination of possible studies on the economic, ecological and social impact of production and transformation models;
• Contribution to the development of training and communication materials, visit and evaluation missions and the development of reports.

REQUIRED PROFILE

Qualifications, skills and experience required

Qualification

• Master’s degree in Agriculture/Agronomy or Economics, with good knowledge of agricultural business development and organizational development

Professional experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience in a similar position

Other knowledge/skills

• Knowledge of policies, actors and challenges in the agriculture and rural development sector in Cameroon;
• Very good knowledge of the field of agricultural entrepreneurship in Cameroon, including support for start-ups; good knowledge of the support methods that German Cooperation has developed and successfully tested (Farmer Business School (FBS), Basic Financial Education, Training in Economic Analysis and Planning of Agricultural Investments (FANEPIA), SME Loop);
• Good knowledge of the agricultural and organizational value chain development approach;
• Good mastery of methods and techniques for facilitating interdisciplinary and inter-institutional dialogues;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills;
• The spirit of teamwork, good communication with partners at all levels;
• Experienced in drafting Terms of Reference and calls for tenders and supervising the work of consultants, implementing institutions and funding beneficiaries, in close collaboration with the administration and finance teams;
• Efficient and autonomous in his work; ability to work under pressure and in a multicultural team; good sense of work organization and respect for deadlines;
• Very good knowledge of French and English.

Qualifications, skills and experience required

Qualification

• Bac +5 in Agriculture or Agronomy, with good knowledge of the organizational development of peasant and supervisory organizations and agricultural policy

Professional experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in a similar position

Other knowledge/skills

• Knowledge of policies, actors and challenges in the agriculture and rural development sector in Cameroon;
• Very good knowledge of the field of peasant organizations with their supervisory organizations such as inter-professional organizations or federations;
• Good knowledge of priority themes for the development of interprofessions in the direction of a sustainable transformation of agricultural systems: agroecology, development of value chains, agricultural financing, professionalization (professions), transformation, marketing etc. ;
• Good knowledge of organizational and SME development with emphasis on women and young people;
• Good mastery of methods and techniques for facilitating interdisciplinary and inter-institutional dialogues;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills;
• The spirit of teamwork, good communication with partners at all levels;
• Experienced in drafting Terms of Reference and calls for tenders and supervising the work of consultants, implementing institutions and funding beneficiaries, in close collaboration with the administration and finance teams;
• Efficient and autonomous in his work; ability to work under pressure and in a multicultural team; good sense of work organization and respect for deadlines;
• Very good knowledge of French and English.

Contract start date  :  January 1, 2024

Contract period  :  2 years (renewable)

Place of assignment  :  Douala

Internal classification of the position: Band 4,  under the hierarchical supervision of the Project Manager

Deadline for admissibility of application files:  October 11, 2023

Composition and submission of applications

• Composition (required) of application files:  Cover letter, CV ( 2 pages maximum –  only applications respecting this standard will be taken into account
• All applications will  only  be received on our career site, via the e-recruiting platform accessible through the link:

https://gizkamerun.jobs.net/fr-FR/job/conseiller-e-technique-renforcement-des-reseaux-et-entrepreneuriat-agricole/J3R6996DTVK3WR7NFV3

Female candidates are strongly encouraged.