Career Opportunities at Socodevi Ghana

Job Summary

• Reporting to the Project Director and working closely with the Principal Coordinator & Finance Specialist, the Agri-Food and Marketing Specialist will serve as a technical advisor to the TogetHER project relating to Food Security, Markets, Partnerships, and Innovations and will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Department of Cooperatives, Ghana COCOBOD and Cooperatives.

Responsibilities may include:

• Mapping value chains, including gender dimensions, for food and agriculture products, and identifying possible points of intervention to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
• Identifying and promoting policies, laws, and regulations that favor agribusiness;
• Identifying sources of funding for agribusiness including debt, equity, and risk-sharing products;
• Analyzing and defining workforce and training needs for agribusinesses;
• Forging public-private partnerships involving commercial agribusiness and local producers or producer associations;
• Helping agribusinesses increase competitiveness and gain access to new markets by meeting market technical requirements such as food safety, regulatory and private standards;
• Promoting agro-entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, such as women, and promoting women’s participation at all levels of the value chains.

Qualification Required & Experience

• This position requires a strong background (at least at M.Sc.) in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Agronomy with at least 5 years of relevant experience in Ghana’s forestry and agriculture sectors;
• Knowledge of the characteristics and functioning of value chains linking producers to consumers, including relevant policy issues and options (i.e., farm management implications of agribusiness value chains);
• Knowledge of the major international agribusinesses and the opportunities for partnership with them in pursuit of development objectives. Also, the financial requirements for agribusiness and options for meeting those requirements;
• Knowledge of issues around technical barriers to trade including food safety, certification, grades and standards and how they affect commercial opportunities. Also, the basics of food processing, marketing, and input/output distribution and the barriers that may inhibit women’s full participation in agribusiness enterprises;
• Team player with demonstrated interpersonal skills in presenting recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations;
• Skill in written and oral communications (English and local languages) to develop and present clear and concise findings and analysis to supervisors, managers, and diverse audiences;
• Experience in project development and management, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and project reporting. Demonstrated ability in drafting scopes of work, reviewing proposals, and starting up new programs;
• Experience working with minimal oversight to accomplish complex and demanding tasks that require both technical and managerial expertise and ability to independently conduct research, analysis, and reports that both inform and guide SOCODEVI’s program direction;
• Demonstrated experience in adult training (andragogy) and participatory methodologies in rural contexts;
• Experience in gender mainstreaming and/or knowledge of gender equality would be an asset;
• Support timely submission of project/progress reports and in the preparation of other reports as may be required;
• Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, SharePoint).

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Job Summary

• Reporting to the Project Director and working closely with the Principal Coordinator and Finance Specialist and the Environment team in SOCODEVI Head Office, the Environmental & Forestry Specialist will work in partnership with Ghanaian Ministry, Departments and Institutions involved in the Cocoa Value Chain to provide technical assistance to cooperatives to achieving the project targets which include but are not limited to;
• Understand, comprehend, and produce necessary knowledge materials on important national/institutional natural resources and conservation policies that have environmental implications to the cocoa sector;
• Provide guidance to policy issues with respect to forestry and biodiversity conservation and analysis of issues that are affecting the cocoa sector;
• Provide technical advice on forest related project activities to ensure that the activities in each output area are timely, efficiently and effectively implemented in accordance with the project document and work plan;
• Liaise with relevant members of staff, consultants, Socodevi technical staff, COCOBOD, Forestry Commission as necessary to ensure efficient and effective implementation of project outputs;
• Support timely submission of project/progress reports and in the preparation of other reports as may be required.

Qualification Required & Experience

• This position requires a strong background (at least at B.Sc.) in Environmental Management, Forestry, or Natural Resource Management with at least 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in Ghana’s forestry and agriculture sectors.
• Experience and/or familiarity with environmental management systems, farmer training, agroforestry practice and GIS and other data management tools and systems would be an asset.
• Experience in policy related issues with respect to forestry and biodiversity conservation and analysis of issues that are affecting the cocoa sector i.e. tree tenure rights, land tenure, land use planning etc.
• Ability to communicate complex information in understandable and relevant terms adapted for different stakeholders especially communities.
• Proven project coordination skills with ability to effectively manage and prioritize a diverse workload within a team.
• An excellent command of English is essential.
• The successful candidate will be expected to undertake field work.
• This position carries considerable responsibility and autonomy and requires good organizational capacity, good interpersonal and networking skills and a willingness to work as part of a team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially email communications.
• Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, Sharepoint).
   

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Job Summary

• Reporting to the Project Director and working closely with the Principal Coordinator & Finance Specialist and the ARM team in SOCODEVI Head Office, the Agricultural Risk Management Specialist manages risk for producers by identifying, analyzing and advising regarding decisions on various risks to which cooperatives/organizations and individual farmers are exposed (production, financial, market, human and institutional risks).
• The successful candidate will work in partnership with Ghana Cocoa Board, the Department of Cooperatives, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources/Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide technical assistance to cooperatives to achieving the project targets which include but are not limited to;
• Analyze agricultural data and government agency reports to conduct risk assessments for clients to improve the resilience of agricultural households in the cocoa communities;
• Look at the impact that climate, pests, disease, ecological conditions and other factors could have on crop production and develop risk management strategies to mitigate these risks;
• Find strategies to reduce financial and market risks within different value chains associated with cocoa agroforestry systems. Use software to create models to look at hedge effectiveness, trends and price sensitivities for different scenarios;
• Develop, monitor, and communicate risk management strategies for cooperatives, farmers and project partners;
• Develop weather forecasts and financial forecasts for farmers to aid in decision making;
• Provide hedging strategy recommendations with varying risk tolerances;
• Monitor commodity prices and potential threats to prices.

Qualification Required & Experience

• A Master’s degree in agronomy, agricultural business, accounting, finance, or related field is a base requirement. A master’s degree in business administration, risk management or related field may be preferred;
• A minimum of 4 to 5 years’ experience and/or familiarity with environmental management systems, agricultural data management, farmers’ training, agroforestry practices and GIS and other data management tools and systems would be an asset. Experience in the cocoa sector is an added advantage;
• Ability to communicate complex information in understandable and relevant terms adapted for different stakeholders, especially farmers, women, youth, small communities and cooperatives;
• Proven project coordination skills with ability to effectively manage and prioritize a diverse workload within a team;
• Demonstrated experience in adult training (andragogy) and participatory methodologies in rural contexts;
• Experience in gender mainstreaming and/or knowledge of gender equality would be an asset;
• An excellent command of English is essential. This position carries considerable responsibility and autonomy and requires good organizational capacity, good interpersonal and networking skills and a willingness to work as part of a team;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially email communications;
• Advanced computer skills (Windows, MS Office, SharePoint).