The Agribusiness Specialist will:

• Lead and guide the regional Agribusiness Team members to help eligible private sector actors draft proposals and business plans that meet the needs and requirements of the private sector.

• Develop an account management system within the team to manage and assist client agribusinesses to improve their supply chains and link closely with farmers within the programs target provinces and communities, to meet program objectives and targets.
• Develop strong working relationships with major fresh, dried fruit, medicinal export firms, domestic processors and link them to the program target areas.
• Work with program client farmers and traders to identify potential improvements in production and marketing practices that will result in higher quality products that generate increased financial returns to both merchants and farmers.
• Plan, organize and supervise project activities related to improving Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), food safety standards, traceability, and certification requirements to export countries.
• Manage the tracking, record and analyze relevant program indicators and other supporting data to report on progress towards objectives.
• Familiarity with standard production practices in all the critical functions required to harvest, package, store, ship, and market agricultural produce.
• Develop competency in guiding traders on study or exhibit tours to visit potential new markets; assist in organizing and attending national and international trade shows.

• Provide technical support to food processing traders, other agri-businesses, and local farmers.
• Coordinate B2B meetings between local farmers and traders, food processors, and other agri-businesses.
• Identify, and support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
• Identify the main stakeholders in the identified value chains, including input suppliers, credit providers, producers, extension service providers, market intermediaries, processors, exporters, and importers.
• Integrate gender activities into all interventions where possible.
• Draft technical and financial support agreements, including Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with private sector firms.
• Prepare training materials and train regional Officers.
• Support CBARD Agribusiness Officers to manage interventions at the district and community level that promote linkages between farmers, traders, local suppliers and markets.
• Take part in regular field visits to assess and monitor the progress of project activities and organize necessary support activities to address any challenges observed.
• Review, improve and coordinate agribusiness activities with CBARD team members, farmers and client agribusinesses.
• Conduct regular agronomic and market assessments for the project covering to identify the best crops in the near future interventions.
• Will work directly with farmers and agribusinesses to improve production and supply chain practices, including key practices for production improvements.
• Work with the Technical team to ensure data is captured correctly reflecting the capacity of the firms visited.
• Provide firm-level technical assistance to small-scale agribusinesses in the design and implementation of suitable agronomic practices.
• Develop agronomic improvement plans for firms, as described above.
• Assist selected companies in determining required processes and management systems to achieve improved production and delivery of better food security outcomes.
• Assist selected companies in determining guidance in achieving these through alignment of processes and management systems to improve Quality and Shelf-life extension of products for the domestic market.
• Provide support to both Senior management and project clients to ensure program activities are implemented according to Annual Work Plans.
• Contribute to Project reports including monthly, quarterly and annual reports on marketing program activities.
• Any other tasks or duties as assigned by the supervisor.