Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor – Green Resilient Business Incubator (GREBI) Project

About IFDC

IFDC is a public international organization active in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and America. IFDC uniquely approaches the global issues of food security and poverty by bridging the gap between research and impact, combining science-based innovations, holistic market systems development, an enabling policy environment, and strategic partnerships to assist farmers and countries to identify and scale sustainable agricultural solutions, including improved nutrient use efficiency. These approaches are needed to boost soil health and crop productivity while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer use. IFDC translates research into action by using locally driven, environmentally sound, and impact-oriented solutions. With our partners, we seek to close the yield gap, eradicate global hunger, safeguard the soil on which our lives depend, and generate economic resilience for farming households and the countries in which they live.  

Position summary

The Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor (IAA) is responsible for the design and implementation of all activities related to GREBI Outputs under her/his responsibility. She/ he facilitates, in close collaboration with the private partners (MSMEs, the Agribusiness Hubs), the GRE Projects (GRACE, PCAV/CDRD) and other relevant stakeholders, all the interventions. She/ he also coordinates the support from business support services, consultants, and cross-cutting GREBI specialists to the MSMEs under her/ his responsibility. The Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor (IAA) for the Green Resilient Business Incubator Project plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable and equitable growth within the agribusiness sector, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This position is critical for implementing key outputs related to business incubation, acceleration, and linkages, ultimately creating an efficient investment environment.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Develop and deliver tailored incubation programs for selected agribusiness MSMEs, focusing on green and resilient business models. This includes curriculum development, workshop facilitation, and one-on-one mentorship;
• Review and develop a concise MSMEs selection criteria and checklist to ensure 30% women and 50% Youth are selected;
• Provide advisory support to MSMEs on business planning, financial management, market analysis, and investment readiness, including business cases and proposals;
• Design and implement acceleration strategies to scale up promising green and resilient agribusiness MSMEs. This involves identifying growth opportunities, market expansion strategies, and technology adoption;
• Facilitate access to advanced technologies, climate-smart agricultural practices, and sustainable production methods that enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact;
• Monitor and evaluate the progress of accelerated MSMEs, providing corrective guidance and support to overcome challenges and achieve growth targets;
• Facilitate market linkages, partnerships, and access to domestic and international sustainable markets through networking, B2B events, and strategic engagement with buyers, suppliers, and financial institutions, research institutions, and technology providers;
• Support MSMEs in accessing finance and investment by liaising with investors and developing innovative financing mechanisms;
• Ensure all project activities and business development strategies are inclusive, gender-responsive, and socially equitable, promoting fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized groups within the agribusiness sector.
• Integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into MSME business models, promoting resilience against climate shocks and stresses;
• Collect and analyze market and industry information related to anticipated and existing PPPs under her/ his responsibility.

2. Communication and stakeholders’ engagement

• Ensure MSMEs and private partners understand and adhere to corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards, and design capacity-building activities, when requested, to strengthen the design, implementation, and monitoring of CSR policies;
• Collaborate with GRACE and PCAV/CDRD on established governance structures, organize governance meetings with lead partners and PPP actors, and ensure that all governance mechanisms are inclusive;
• Collaborate with Communication Specialists to regularly develop outreach materials and ensure visibility of MSMEs, including their achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. Represent the program at relevant national/ local events;
• Collaborate with the established Agribusiness hubs for capacity building, mentorship, business linkages, research and innovations and financial access.

3. Administration

• Plan and budget quarterly activities, and prepare and submit timely activity and technical reports, including MSME profiles;
• Prepare service agreements for business support services, in collaboration with IFDC Contract Manager and monitor these agreements, particularly through frequent field visits to cluster actors;
• Lead the validation, sharing and filing of the minutes of every governance meeting;
• Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned from the incubation, acceleration and Business Linkage processes;
• Contribute to project reports, presentations, and communication materials, highlighting the impact of GREBI’s interventions;
• Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of interventions and recommend adjustments as needed;
• Implement other tasks that the GREBI management deems necessary for the success of the program.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Sustainable Development, Environmental Science, or a related field;
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience in agribusiness development, business incubation/acceleration, or SME support, with a strong focus on green and resilient practices and private sector development;
• Demonstrated experience in working with MSMEs in developing countries, particularly in the agricultural sector;
• Proven track record in facilitating business linkages, market access, and investment for small and medium-sized enterprises;
• Experience in integrating gender, youth, and social inclusion principles into project design and implementation;
• Familiarity with climate-smart agriculture, sustainable value chains, and environmental impact assessment.

Reporting and Work Relationships

The Inclusive Agribusiness Advisor reports to his / her Country Team Leader. She/ he works in close collaboration with Agribusiness and Supply chain, Finance Inclusion and MELs thematics.

Participate proactively in the industry team, composed of all Inclusive Agribusiness Advisors with MSMEs in the same industry and respond to and seek advice from the GREBI management to improve industry knowledge, forward-looking strategizing within the industry, and priority-setting within existing, new MSMEs (cohorts) and Agribusiness Hubs. 

Location

This is a national recruitment with a duty station at the IFDC office based in Juba, South Sudan, with frequent travel to all project sites.

Benefits

IFDC's benefits include annual and sick leave, health and group life insurance coverage, a 13th-month salary, social security and pension contribution in compliance with local laws and end-of-contract benefits. 

Salary Clause

The salary grade for this position is BG 8 with a salary of USD 2,313.67 gross per month.

The determination of new employee salaries takes into account various factors. These include the salary range linked to the assigned job grade, the candidate's qualifications in relation to the job's responsibilities and prerequisites, internal fairness, the competitive state of the job market, as well as potential organizational and budgetary considerations.

Diversity Clause

IFDC is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in the value of bringing together people with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions at IFDC are made on the basis of ability, performance, and organizational need, in alignment with our values of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.

About Program/Project

Green and Resilient Economy Business Incubator (GREBI) program aims to contribute to more competitive, sustainable, and modern agriculture value chains with empowered women and youth by fostering entrepreneurship and scaling up micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in agricultural value chains and by promoting access to sustainable finance and credit for private sector operators in the agricultural value chains. By promoting competitive, and modern agriculture value chains, particularly those led by women and youth, GREBI will reduce reliance on costly food imports, and create more resilient food systems. GREBI is one of the multiple Green Resilient Economy projects funded by the European Union. The European Union (EU) is actively involved in supporting South Sudan's transition towards a green and resilient economy through various initiatives, including the Green and Resilient Economy Programme and related projects. These efforts aim to address the country's significant development challenges, which are exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and widespread food insecurity.

The Green Resilient Business Incubator Project in South Sudan aims to foster contribute to more competitive, sustainable and modern agriculture value chains targeting 30% women-led and 50% youth-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the agri-value chain sector. The project's core activities include incubation and acceleration programs designed to support these MSMEs in developing sustainable business models, while facilitating crucial business linkage opportunities and investment environment by connecting the MSMEs with vital resources, markets, and financial institutions to strengthen their position within the value chain and enhance their access to finance.