Associate Technical Assistance Facility Advisor, Ghana

Reports to: Senior TAF Advisor

Location: Accra, Ghana

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

TechnoServe is a rapidly growing non-profit organization dedicated to the expansion of economic opportunity and income for the poor in over 20 countries. Founded in 1968, TechnoServe implements projects that enhance the competitiveness of agricultural and other industry “value chains” for the benefit of small-holder farmers and other market participants in developing countries. A second main focus is the identification and development of high potential entrepreneurs for the expansion of their businesses and generation of employment opportunities. TechnoServe employs a staff of 700 business and technical specialists and program managers throughout its network in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and India.

TechnoServe has recently been awarded the role of Technical Assistance Facility Manager for the African Agriculture Fund (AAF). AAF is a private equity fund designed to respond to the food crisis that severely impacted the continent in 2008 in the wake of escalating food prices, has reached its first closing at USD 135 million in November 2010. The support to AAF, whose total target size is USD 300 million, is part of a coordinated response of a pool of European DFIs --with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Proparco / FIESA, the Government of Spain; and African DFIs --, with the African Development Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the ECOWAS Bank of Development (BIDC).

To enhance its impact on development, the AAF has deployed two additional instruments: a dedicated small-scale business (SME) sub-fund of a target size of USD 60 million (initially USD 30 million) and the Technical Assistance facility (TAF) of about EUR 10 million, to support outgrower schemes in large companies and business development services in SMEs. IFAD will manage the TAF for which core funding has been committed by the European Commission with the contribution of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the AAF, the Italian Cooperation and the Spanish Cooperation.

The AAF fund manager is Phatisa www.phatisa.com

II. PRIMARY PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

The overall objective of the TAF is to support the medium-term economic development of SMEs and small farmers operating in the agricultural sector in Africa. To do this, the TAF will provide grant funding to qualified AAF SME sub-fund investment targets to (a) better position them to successfully negotiate investments by the AAF and (b) develop the capabilities of small agricultural businesses and rural communities. The TAF will also provide services to support out grower farmers associated with SME or large commercial investments. The TAF will make it possible for the AAF to invest in particular private sector opportunities with linkages to small farmers and poor rural workers that otherwise would not be attractive to the AAF.
The overall management of the TAF will be the responsibility of a Technical Assistance Facility Manager (TAF Manager). The TAF Manager will develop the following activities:

1. Outgrower Component
1.1. Design outgrower schemes and create proposals for extension services that enable small farmers to supply investees of the AAF with agricultural products
1.2. Build the capacity of affiliated smallholder farmers through the development of extension programmes and training materials
1.3. Provide technical assistance to cooperatives and producer associations following the core principles of cooperatives
1.4. Develop farm service schemes and training material in order to assist and train farm service providers

2. SME Component
2.1. Assist small agribusinesses and farmers organizations in becoming viable investment candidates of the AAF SME sub-fund through the provision of targeted technical assistance
2.2. Conduct market research and surveys, including analyses of new regional and international markets for expansion of existing product lines

3. Rural Finance Component
3.1. Assess the target beneficiaries’ demand for financial services on a gender-differentiated basis
3.2. Map and disseminate information about rural finance institutions, delivery channels, and the rural finance support infrastructure
3.3. Facilitate training for rural finance institution staff, including credit risk appraisal and collateral assessment in the agricultural context
3.4. Support locally adapted rural financial service providers in research & development of rural finance products and services
3.5. Assist commercial farms in the development of outgrower input financing schemes

III. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain strong relationships with SME Fund Manager (based in Acra)
• Conduct due diligence at potential portfolio companies of the AAF to identify TA requirements and opportunities for outgrower scheme support in West Africa
• Obtain buy in of management team for TA projects to be funded by TAF
• Develop scopes of work and budgets for TAF projects in West Africa
• Execute, with support of the Senior Advisor, the procurement and contracting processes for TA providers in West Africa
• Follow up with all TA Providers to ensure submission of progress and M&E reports;
• Maintain the records for each TA project, including all M & E reporting
• Organize the payment of TA Providers according to contract terms via the team accountant
• Assist in the execution of the EC Visibility Strategy.

IV. COMMUNICATIONS

External and internal communications with all parties relevant to TechnoServe, this includes staff, volunteers, public/private sector donors; consultants, partner development organizations, the regional management committee and headquarters.

V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING RESOURCES

• Direct reports on assignments may include short-term and volunteer consultants
• Responsible for managing funds invested in TAF due diligence
• Additional line management, budgetary authority and operational responsibilities may be assigned

VI. IMPACT

The TAF is expected to positively impact the lives of over 20,000 smallholders through targeted interventions that will link small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs to the investment companies of the AAF. This is based on the AAF investment pipeline.

VII. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

• Experience in management or strategy consulting complemented by technical skills in SME and/or agribusiness development
• Proven track record in successful private sector development program design
• Good understanding of private equity industry and processes
• Experience in developing winning proposals
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to work independently, and function effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to work on short-term assignments with tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks and projects
• Robust network of technical assistance providers and strong relationships with the global donor-base a plus
• A focus on development through private-sector initiatives

VIII. EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION

• B.S. or B.A. degree in business administration, economics, marketing or related discipline, MBA preferred
• At least 5 years of post graduate experience in analytical and strategic roles within the private sector and/or development spheres
• Fluency in French preferred
• Extensive agribusiness experience a plus

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Technoserve, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.