Market Development Officer

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• A bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry, Development Economics, Rural Development,
  
• Minimum of 2 -years’ experience working with the private sector actors
  
• Knowledge and experience in business financing for SMEs.
  
• Highly motivated and motivating individual who can lead SME’s from both the front and behind (depending on the situation)
  
• Partnership management skills and knowledge
  

Desirable

• Some practical experience in working with both very small and medium sized companies in a development setting,
  
• Knowledge of the agricultural sectors highly desirable
  
• Experience with market facilitation, supporting systemic change and promoting supporting services indirectly.
  

Planning, developing, and implementing market development activities.

• In coordination with the Markets Development Coordinator, Technical Specialists and local partners, plan, implement and monitor market development activities within the assigned district.
  
• Support private sector actors and farmer Entrepreneurial groups, VSLA, Cooperative/SACCO to design, test, and implement inclusive business model that increase smallholder farmers market participation within the agricultural market system.
  
• Assist in developing capacity building materials for business, technical and financial capacities as well as participate in capacity building sessions.
  
• Help execute related field activities to ensure that the programme results are achieved to the highest standard, and that project deliverables are completed as planned.
  
• Support mobilization and engagement of targeted smallholder farmers to fully participate in the programme for sustainability.
  
• Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, for smallholder farmers in the crop and livestock sector.
  

Collaboration/Networking

• Strengthen linkages between targeted groups, private sector actors, farmers associations, micro and small business owners, government agencies, microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and banks.
  
• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with Partners and district leadership and local government departments, representing GOAL in district coordination meetings and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate and as directed by the line manager.
  
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager.
  
• Participate in the planning of learning and review meetings that bring private and public sector entities together to collectively review and discuss technology developments and innovation.
  

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Work closely with the district monitoring and evaluation team to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme.
  
• Ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field and entry in the program PSA tracker and CommCare database and for preparation of communication materials.
  
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation. Respond to queries if and when necessary.
  
• Maintain proper filing system in regard to market development activities of the program.
  

Representation and Coordination

• The MDO is expected to be the focal person for all coordination, partnership and related activities with local level private sector services providers, and related stakeholders within the district of jurisdiction.
  
• Liaise with local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Markets for Small holder farmers market-based interventions.
  
• Maintain close working relationships with development organizations, and local partners, including representing the programme at district coordination meetings as assigned.