Agriculture Input System Advisor (Contingent to donor funding)

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: a world where, across every society, all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agriculture, food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalyzing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. Building on 60 years of experience, we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigor. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all. 

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion are fundamental to who we are and what we do. This is reflected in our vision, mission, and strategy, which set out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030. 

For more information on our operations in Ethiopia and SNV, generally visit our website: www.snv.org  

Project Background

SNV Ethiopia is recruiting an experienced agriculture input system advisor for an anticipated flagship program. The program aims to secure 800,000 dignified and fulfilling job opportunities for rural young women. The program will embrace a market system approach in high-potential value chains (horticulture, poultry, dairy, and complementary value chains), grounded in seven regional clusters. It will deliberately integrate Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) transformative approaches and safeguarding mechanisms across all program interventions, empowering young women to secure jobs through initiatives aiming to address market and socio-economic barriers and on location-specific gendered root causes. 

SNV will implement the program jointly with five other Ethiopian/ international NGOs, who will deliver their work in specific clusters. Together, these clusters will integrate technical expertise, and they will support the program’s ecosystem to achieve longer-term system change for youth employment in agriculture. 

Summary of the Position

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about promoting youth employment, creating entrepreneurial opportunities for young women in the agricultural sector, and addressing systemic barriers to young women's empowerment and their businesses. We are seeking a professional with considerable experience in the agriculture input system. 

Reporting to the Deputy Program Manager, technical lead, the Agriculture Input System Advisor will be part of the program team and responsible for input supply systems, input dealers, and stakeholder engagement. You will be an advisor to the Programs Team and drive collaborations with consortium partners’ agriculture input system focal persons to ensure alignment in all related strategies.

The role involves designing and implementing sustainable agriculture input supply systems for youth-led MSEs in agribusiness. Key responsibilities include developing strategies, guidelines, and manuals for effective input delivery, assessing demand, and building capacity for input suppliers. The position will also lead market linkages, fostering long-term relationships between youth-led MSEs and input suppliers. Additionally, the role includes monitoring and evaluating input supply systems, ensuring alignment with business needs, tracking progress, and sharing knowledge to enhance scalability and sustainability.

Strengthen and establish an improved input supply system:

• Lead the design and implementation of sustainable agriculture input supply systems for RYW-led MSEs engaged in agribusiness and value chains.
• Develop strategies, operational guidelines, and manuals to ensure efficient and effective agriculture input delivery mechanisms
• Conduct input demands of the program targeted MSES in terms of quantity, quality and time of delivery, with special emphasis to RYW-led MSEs
• Review and update guidelines for the selection, establishment and strengthening of agro dealers (input suppliers)
• Facilitate capacity-building initiatives for input suppliers, SNV staff, government offices, and other implementing partners to strengthen their technical and operational capabilities.
• Lead the capacity building of input suppliers by organizing and delivering training, providing technical guidance, and facilitating business plan development to enhance their performance, sustainability, and profitability in delivering quality services to MSEs.
• Propose and implement business models to create a sustainable input supply system.
• Design and implement a systematic coaching and mentoring approach to strengthen the input suppliers.
• Put effort in supporting input suppliers to create additional employment for others. 
• Coordinate start-up support for MSEs, particularly RYW and persons with disabilities, by leading their identification, assessing their input needs, and implementing innovative input delivery mechanisms to ensure access to quality inputs.
• Establish and strengthen networks between youth-led MSEs and major input suppliers by facilitating market linkages and fostering long-term, sustainable business relationships to support enterprise growth.
•  Work closely with the national and regional project teams, local government, private sector, and development partners to promote coordinated and inclusive input supply systems.
• Oversee the quality of inputs provided to MSEs, ensuring alignment with their business needs and market standards.
• Monitor the implementation of input supply systems, track progress, and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Promote innovation to address critical input supply challenges
• Ensure sustainable practices within the input supply system.
• Facilitate inclusive and sustainable linkages between youth-led MSEs, input suppliers, and value chain actors, driving systemic change to ensure the scalability and long-term viability of agriculture input supply systems.

Networking and collaboration:

• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including government, private sector partners, and development organizations, to strengthen institutional frameworks supporting and improving agriculture input supply systems, ensuring alignment with broader market development and youth empowerment goals.
• Work closely with other advisors and IPs to establish a sustainable input supply system.
• Build and maintain strong networks with regulatory bodies to create an enabling environment for input suppliers.

Knowledge development and learning

• Participates in knowledge development/expertise groups and in external and internal networks to enhance program quality and influence the ecosystem
• Identify, document and share interventions and practices on the input supply system to youth-led MSEs through learning briefs and cases. 
• Collaborate with other technical advisors, program staff, and partners to ensure high-quality implementation.
• Stay informed on trends and developments in the input supply system and updates the team on the latest trends; poses suggestions, share ideas, and give feedback.
• Prepare and submit progress reports.

Take on other responsibilities within the project that will help the team to achieve the desired results.

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field in Agri business, agricultural marketing, Economics, agricultural economics, agricultural livelihoods and related fields

Experiences

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience working in the private sector, or in a professional consulting firm/reputable advisory organization with an international outlook or NGO/GO development mainly in the input supply system and related fields.
• Experience in the input supply system in the agriculture sector
• Sound knowledge of agricultural inputs marketing systems
• Adequate experience in facilitating and supporting pro-poor value chain development through improved input supply systems.
• Knowledge and experiences in the establishment and strengthening of a decentralized input supply system. 
• experience in advisory and capacity building of private input suppliers like agro dealers 
• Familiar with the policies, strategies, and regulations of the country and the regions in the input supply system.
• Knowledge of national strategies for poverty alleviation and employment creation and working with MSEs
• Recognized expertise in working as an advisor and process facilitator to plan, implement, and monitor input marketing strategies.
• Good experience in facilitating stakeholder forums, business and market linkages, working with sectoral associations and strengthening of MSEs and private traders
• Knowledge and experience with participatory techniques, coaching, networking, learning, alliance building, and team building.
• Experience in strategy and partnership development    
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing gender equality and social inclusion with experience in developing programs tailored to the needs of young women, particularly in rural and marginalized communities.
• Advocacy and Policy Influence: Proven track record of working with government actors and industry leaders to advocate for and influence policy reforms, investments, and systemic changes in agriculture input systems, ensuring inclusion and sustainability.
• Women candidates are encouraged to apply 
• Flexible and able to adapt to a multi-cultural environment and complex situations. 
• Fluency in English is required. 

Contract Type: National, Full-time

This position will be based on donor funding and approval confirmation.

Expected start date: March/April 2025

Duty Station:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contract Duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance. 

How to Apply? 
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on March 7th, 2025.  Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. 
If your experience and skills match the position's requirements, we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from and contribute to an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for both national and internationally determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill out a questionnaire regarding misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct.". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

SNV is an equal opportunities employer, and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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