Partnerships Models Team Lead
Partnerships Models Team Lead (Component 3) for the Agriculture Commercialization & Innovation Activ
Location: Washington, D.C.
Travel: Up to 40%
Level: 9
I. TechnoServe Background
TechnoServe is an international, non-profit economic development organization founded in 1968 out of a conviction that a vibrant private sector is an essential foundation for economic growth and poverty reduction. TechnoServe undertakes targeted, catalytic technical assistance and other programming to increase the competitiveness of entrepreneurs, businesses and industries that in-turn provide sustainable employment, inclusion of the poor and increased incomes. TechnoServe operates in 25 developing countries with over 900 employees. A substantial portion of our work is in agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and commodity quality and addressing gaps in processing and other agribusiness capacities. Our programs increase smallholder access to new technologies, aggregation and storage mechanisms, markets, critical information and finance. TechnoServe also undertakes structured programs to identify and support high potential entrepreneurs in various sectors through leadership mentoring networks, formalization support, access to capital and development of sustainable business services such as accounting, finance, marketing and human resource management. In 2010 TechnoServe assisted 2,770 businesses in more than a dozen industries .These businesses earned $221 million in revenues and $41 million in profits, paid $12 million in wages to 40,300 employees, and bought $119 million worth of products from 270,800 small-scale producers. More than 1.5 million men, women and children benefited from these income sources. Additionally, in 2010, TechnoServe’s entrepreneurship development programs – including nine business plan competitions (BPCs) – trained 2,400 people in 11 countries.
II. Program Description
USAID ‘s Bureau of Food Security’s Markets, Partnerships and Innovations (BFS/MPI)Office is launching an Agricultural Commercialization & Innovation Activity. The project will include four components:
Component One – Agriculture Technology Commercialization
The purpose of this component is to identify and bring to scale ten to twelve promising “bottom of the pyramid” (BOP) agricultural technologies that are ready for commercialization. Such technologies could include seeds, fertilizers, vaccines, feed, storage and other innovations, in line with Feed the Future objectives. This component will provide matching grants to establish or strengthen SMEs in the target areas, increasing their access to investment financing and technical support, which would lead to increased productivity and competitiveness and expanded operations in local and export markets.
Component Two – Partnership Development
The purpose of this component is to provide the platform necessary to develop 10-15 new, innovative partnerships in their early stages with the financial and technical support through this AC&I Activity.
Component Three – Design and Analysis of Partnership Models
This component will complement other BFS/MPI efforts to provide modeling and analysis to support the development and establishment of innovative partnerships that will benefit smallholder agriculture.
Component Four – Cross Cutting Activity – Central Source of Information and Analysis on Private Sector Models
The purpose of this component is to develop a central source of information and analysis on models for engaging the private sector in agriculture and food security, which will be presented in the Feed the Future Private Sector Engagement Hub.
Additional information on this project can be made available upon request.
III. Position Description
The Partnership Models Team Lead will drive Component 3 of the AC&IA: Design and Analysis of Partnership Models. S/he will provide the thought leadership and oversight of the development of a toolkit of adaptable models for engaging the private sector, and support the missions-specific application of the these models. In addition, s/he will:
• Contribute to the selection of strategies and partnerships that most effectively contribute to the objectives of this project;
• Second the Program Director as liaison with the USAID AOTR as well as other USG officials, as needed;
• Contribute to the documentation and sharing of knowledge within the broader TechnoServe community; and
• Ensure participation and compliance with all TNS corporate processes.
IV. Required Skills and Experience
• A Master’s degree from an accredited university in a relevant discipline to partnership development in the agriculture sector.
• At least 7 years of experience in agriculture and/or agriculture-enterprise development.
• Prior experience working in emerging markets.
• At least 5 years of management experience in international development.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong working relationships with businesses and international donors.
• Passionate about market-led approaches to helping the poor improve their livelihoods.
• Strong focus on results.
• Ability to travel up to 40% of time internationally.
Application Instructions:
To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter, salary history and three professional references to: rwilson@tns.org. Please place, “Program Director” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Only those individuals identified as “short-listed candidates” will be contacted.
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