Job Description

Title: Technical Specialist- Market and Value Chain Development

Company Name: Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB)

Vacancy: 01

Job Location: Sunamganj (Bishwamvarpur, Dakshin Sunamganj, Derai)

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master’s in Agribusiness/MBA from reputed national or international universities.
∎ At least five years of professional experiences in market and value chain development and community enterprise (SMEs) promotion

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) is going to implement the "Strengthening smallholder farms and rural enterprises to better cope with climate change in the vulnerable Haor region of Bangladesh" project funded by the Welthungerhilfe (WHH).
∎ The project aims to create local ownership and sustainable development through the establishment and strengthening of local community institutions such as Climate Field School, Micro and Small Enterprises (SMEs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Agri Service Centers. The project also foresees active collaboration with local authorities (Union Parishad, Upazila Paishad, District Parishad, Municipality and City Cooperation, various government departments) thus political, systematic changes can be initiated and an effective scaling of the project approaches can be enabled. The project will intends to establish and strengthen formal partnerships with different public sector, private sector and civil society institutions such as Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Organic Agriculture Network (BOAN) of BARI, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) to (i) deliver coordinated, decentralized, location specific and need-based extension services for smallholders, (ii) promote sustainable, safe and transparent production and processing standards, and (iii) establish PGS certification as a recognized eco-label. In the towns of Sylhet and Dhaka, the project will cooperate with 20 food entrepreneurs for the creation of organic supply and value chains and support the Consumer Association of Bangladesh in raising the awareness of 1 million consumers on climate resilient, ecological foods. The overall objective of this project is to enhance rural community resilience in Bangladesh to the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food security and livelihoods.
∎ With the partnership of FIVDB, the project will focus in the Upazillas of South Sunamganj, Bishomvopur, and Dirai under Sunamganj District. The duration of the project is 3 years, and the job is contractual for the project period (up to August 2024). The position will be recruited for implementing the project based at the Project Office at Sunamgonj with substantial field activities.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ The Technical Specialist- Market and Value Chain Development will be overall responsible for strengthening the rural community enterprises (SMEs) and Farmer producer organizations (FPOs) and focus on promotion of the climate-resilient supply and value chains. He/she will also beresponsible for the capacity building interventions, including module and course curriculum development, creation of tools/methodologies/guidelines and handholding support to the field staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders. The Technical Specialist- Market and Value Chain Development will closely work with the Project Coordinator to ensure smooth and effective operations of the program in timely manner. He/she will regularly monitor the quality of the interventions under different project results as per thematic areas.
∎ Capacity development of staffs, community service providers/resource farmers, Govt extension workers and community organizationsin enterprise promotion and market and value chain development through providing regular and need based technical guideline, technical training (need analysis, training module, materials & guideline development), mentoring and knowledge sharing etc.
∎ Maintain effective collaboration and coordination with different private sector organisations such as private companies, food entrepreneurs, Chamber of commerce, Bonik Samity, input retailers, traders for strengthening the capacities of SMEs and FPOs.
∎ Establish effective collaboration and linkage with different Govt line agencies such as DAE, DAM, BSCIC, BOAN.
∎ Promote climate-resilient supply and value chains focusing different off-farm and on-farm products.
∎ Assist field staffs to form and strengthening rural MSEs/SMEs and FPOs for ensuring quality inputs& services, aggregation, value addition and marketing of agricultural produces.
∎ Ensure timely distribution of various enterprise specific inputs and services at field level through developing necessary planning both in supply and demand side.
∎ Develop capacity of the farmers and their network/platform to improve production and productivity of the selected enterprises
∎ Support the FPOs and SMEs for their management and organisational development.
∎ Mobilize and facilitate the engagements of stakeholders during planning and development meetings, workshops and other fora.
∎ Organize linkage building meeting with FPO, SMEs, producers and community service provider and market actors.
∎ Ensure the activities of the project site according to the DIP (Details Implementation Plan).
∎ Assist the project staffs to implement of the oversight plan, reporting back to the Project Coordinator on any observed successes and challenges, and make useful correction.
∎ Capable to meet the donor requirement on Information/Data collection and report preparation as well as data analysis.
∎ Prepare monthly, quarterly and yearly progress report and submit to project Coordinator.
∎ Participate in project planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of progress.
∎ Maintain close collaboration with District and Upazila administration and local authority.
∎ Support field staffs to establish demonstration climate-resilient practices and technologies.
∎ Any other activities will be performed that’s assigned by organization and Donor agency.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Age 25 to 55 years
∎ Both males and females are allowed to apply
∎ Practical knowledge and experience in working with private sector organizations such as private companies, food entrepreneurs, Chamber of commerce, Bonik Samity, input retailers, traders
∎ Experiences in community enterprises (MSE/SME) &FPO promotion and organic certification process &promotion.
∎ Experiences in value chain promotion.
∎ Experiences on Agro-advisory service promotion through engaging private sector and Govt. department.
∎ Practical experiences on village development planning process and execution.
∎ Good oral and written communication skills and substantial experience in monitoring, evaluation and reporting
∎ Experiences in capturing learnings, innovations and best practices including writing case stories and dissemination
∎ Skill in Computer software as MS-Office, MS Excel and MS Power Point.
∎ Practical knowledge and experiences on IEC/BCC materials development.
∎ Ability to drive motorcycle with having valid driving license.
∎ Ability to generate new ideas/innovation and ways of working to continuously improve existing work processes, practices, and concepts.
∎ Ability to work in a team and with good networking and interpersonal skills.

Salary: Tk. 50000 - 55000 (Monthly)

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Weekly 2 holidays, Mobile bill
∎ Salary Review: Yearly
∎ Festival Bonus: 1
∎ As per the policy of FIVDB.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 9 Sep 2021

Company Information:
∎ 31 Aug 2021
∎ Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB)
∎ Address : FIVDB, Khadimnagar, Sylhet-3103
∎ Web : www.fivdb.net
∎ Business : FIVDB is a development organization, established in 1979. Its major operation cover 7 major districts and concentrates round in the north-east of Bangladesh. It mission is to give disadvantage women, men and children greater voice, reduce their vulnerability, increase use of citizenship rights and help them enhance their quality of life.

Category: NGO/Development

: Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.