Job Description

Title: Technical Specialist - Market System

Company Name: International Development Enterprises (iDE)

Vacancy: 1

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ At least a Bachelor's degree in Business, Agriculture, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or other relevant disciplines

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ iDE is an international NGO with over 40 years of experience in designing and delivering market-based anti-poverty programs in 11 countries. We are a world leader in making markets work for the poor as well as the longest-established market development specialist NGO in Bangladesh. iDE believes that markets can be a powerful force for improving smallholder prosperity by creating income and livelihood opportunities for poor rural households. iDE Bangladesh currently has eight projects in Agricultural Markets, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Access to Finance with a focus on women`s economic empowerment and climate-smart technologies.
∎ iDE Bangladesh is seeking a Technical Specialist with a focus on market systems and access to finance for agricultural machineries to join the Feed the Future Bangladesh Cereal Systems Initiatives for South Asia Mechanization Extension Activity (CSISA-MEA). This is a 5-year Activity (from October 2019 to September 2024) partnership between CIMMYT, iDE, and Georgia Tech and is the second phase of the Cereal Systems Initiatives for South Asia - Mechanization and Irrigation (CSISA-MI) project.
∎ CSISA-MEA`s objective is to enhance agricultural resilience, productivity, and profitability by improving the competitiveness and effectiveness of agricultural machinery lead firms while generating business opportunities for collaboration with US manufacturing firms, technical institutions, and financial advisory companies. The Activity also focuses on developing an appropriately trained gender-inclusive workforce, with a special focus on linked support market actors and manufacturing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Bangladesh, as well as crisis-affected areas.
∎ Job Location: Dhaka with field visits as needed
∎ Reporting Line: Team Leader, CSISA-MEA

Job Responsibilities:
∎ The responsibilities of the Technical Specialist-Market System will include but are not limited to the descriptions below-
∎ Research and review existing literature (market studies, value chain assessments, etc.) on the Bangladesh and South Asian agricultural machinery market
∎ Research and identify potential Lead Firms, SMEs in the agricultural machinery industry/ sector in Bangladesh currently doing business, or with ties to key U.S.-based international firms this includes manufacturers and assemblers, major export/import firms, and spare parts manufacturers and suppliers. Develop a market actor map based on initial findings
∎ Facilitate the development of Joint Venture Agreements with financial institutions and machinery firms; subsequently, manage their implementation; and monitor and report on results using market system indicators
∎ Research and investigate current policy and market barriers that inhibit the trade of agricultural machinery, spare parts, and related services between Bangladesh and U.S.
∎ The TS needs to develop business cases for Bangladesh targeted to U.S. and international firms in the agricultural machinery industry
∎ Assist to develop and implement a strategy to creatively engage Lead Firms (LFs), Financial Institutions (FIs), Social Enterprises (SEs) and SMEs in Bangladesh with promising companies to promote the business case; Assist LFs, FIs, SEs and SMEs who are interested in developing their own strategy to assess potential opportunities to enter, or expand operations to agricultural machinery market.
∎ Facilitation role by linking high-priority firms (those showing an interest in initiating or expanding their business in-country) with the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations, relevant ministries and agencies in the Government of Bangladesh, as well as key private sector players.
∎ Facilitate entry and foster interest of LFs and SMEs in the Bangladesh Ag Machinery market through coordination with chambers of commerce and industries, networking events, and other
∎ Support development of a market for sales of climate smart agricultural machinery in Bangladesh
∎ Provide technical guidance, mentorship to field team and assist field team colleagues to facilitate trade and investment intervention with LFs, MSPs and Light Engineering SMEs in rural Bangladesh
∎ Actively participate in detail implementation planning and intervention budgeting process.
∎ Provide technical inputs on the design of market-based interventions and activities in the following broad areas:
∎ Access to financial products and services for key market actors in the value chain
∎ Outreach to local social enterprises with a focus on increasing profitability, marketing, and autonomy for the agricultural machinery sector in Bangladesh
∎ Promote the use of machineries through increase availability of machines and develop local manufacturing
∎ Trade facilitation and investment promotion to attract international firms
∎ Provide technical guidance and support to field teams in the implementation of the above activities in Jashore, Bogura, Faridpur and Cox's Bazar as and when required, ensuring that a market system approach is maintained and followed.
∎ Support implementation of the project's overall access to finance strategy, including building and managing partnerships
∎ Support market-based initiatives aimed at improving access to finance and financial management by agricultural machinery lead firms and machinery manufacturing enterprises
∎ Manage budgets for assigned interventions and ensure efficient allocation of funding
∎ Assist in the preparation of periodic progress reports, technical briefs, case studies, and success stories
∎ Work closely with iDE's Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) unit to periodically review and refine the project's results chain and indicators in order to ensure that the project is capturing market system change

Additional Requirements:
∎ A minimum of five years of experience in international development with a focus on partnership development with different organization especially for access to finance
∎ Proven, practical experience with market systems or value chain development
∎ Prior experience with USAID programs preferred
∎ Ability to work with team members and flexibility to adapt to different work conditions
∎ Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
∎ Proven interpersonal and intercultural skills, including flexibility and sensitivity
∎ Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to gender diversity
∎ Ability to travel and undertake fieldwork in rural contexts
∎ Written and oral communication skills in English, including the ability to present coherent and convincing messages to different audiences
∎ Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office, Suite and Google Apps

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 29 Sep 2023

Company Information:
∎ 20 Sep 2023
∎ International Development Enterprises (iDE)
∎ Business : iDE is an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) headquartered in Denver, Colorado USA and operating in 11 countries around the world, including Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, iDE has been working since 1984, registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGO AB), registration number 173 dated 27th April, 1984. iDE is currently working in 27 Districts and 123 Upazilas on a wide variety of thematic areas including Food Security, Nutrition, WASH, Agriculture, Market Systems Development, Women Economic Empowerment. iDE Bangladesh is supported by USAID, SIDA, Unicef, DFID, the European Commission and other multilateral donors working in in the country.

Category: NGO/Development

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