Long-Term Agriculture Consultant

SNV in Lao PDR is looking for: Long-Term Agriculture Consultant (International Consultancy Contract)

Assignment location: Vientiane

Background

In Agriculture, SNV focuses on food security, working with producers of staple food (rice), and on small-holder cash crops (cassava and bamboo value chains). Climate smart agriculture techniques are used to build resilience into value chains. SNV supports sector development by working with key stakeholders to improve access to markets, provide knowledge and skills training, and by promoting gender and social inclusion.

Objective

The Consultant will be responsible for steering the agriculture sector, in line with the global sector strategy and cross-cutting themes, in order to improve SNV’s sector performance and contribute to the sustainability of SNV at country level.

Scope of Work

The consultant is required to undertake the following:

• Provide strategic direction to the sector in terms of content and leadership to optimise development results and resource mobilisation;
• Steer implementation of projects/programmes within assigned budgets; lead complex assignments to deliver meaningful and effective advisory services, especially in private sector development;
• Conceptual development of sector programmes, including identifying and defining programme interventions and opportunities in the agriculture subsectors, lead on innovations and craft this to practice;
• Provide guidance and steer on Managing for Results policy and ensure credible Monitoring and Evaluation indicators and results;
• Management and development of human resources in the sector, including evaluating performance of all categories of the workforce; mentor and coach team members;
• Build relations with relevant stakeholders including donors, local organisations and knowledge institutions with the objective of profiling SNV, and to secure additional funding for the sector. 
• Establish an efficient system for business development intelligence and identify opportunities to mobilise financial resources in collaboration with the other sector teams in the country;
• Actively draw lessons from managing the programmes for improving SNV’s service delivery and participate in knowledge development expertise groups/ networks so as to enhance knowledge development and sharing on innovative delivery models with the team;
• Identify improvement areas within SNV Lao PDR with the aim of improving service and quality standards

Requirements

Education: Master’s Degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, agribusiness, business administration, international trade or relevant field.

Experience and Skills:

• Minimum 8 years professional work experience, including international experience as consultant/advisor for private and/or development organisation on business development preferably in Asia;
• Proven project management experience;
• Proven capacity of engaging local productive initiatives with international best practices;
• Proven track record working with medium and large private sector companies preferably in agri-business in the development of Inclusive Business Models;
• Experience in analysing/implementing value chains in the Agriculture Sector
• Experience in leading, managing and coaching a team of advisors;
• Experience in organising/executing baseline studies, business and investment plans, risk analyses, and measurement impact frameworks;
• Proven track record in resource mobilisation and business development;
• Experienced networker and relationship manager, especially with donors and partners;
• Experience in proposal writing and preparation of project documents. 

Timing:  The Assignment is for 12 months duration (up to 200 days), with a further one year extension negotiable. The consultancy is to commence ASAP.

Duty Station:  The Consultant will be based in Vientiane, with frequent travel to SNV project locations elsewhere in the country. S/he will lead a team of national advisors, and national and international consultants.

HOW TO APPLY? Please send your proposal, including gross daily fees and CV, to: bvongphasouk@snvworld.org by 23 October 2015. Full Terms of Reference is available on request.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

Closing date: 

Friday, October 23, 2015

Type of contract: 

Consultancy

International