Job Description

Since 1963 and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has 44 active projects in 31 countries and total revenues of approximately $176 million.

Market Systems Analyst, ICT and Finance
 
ACDI/VOCA is currently looking for Market Systems Analyst for ICT and Finance sector, based in Dhaka Office, for the USAID-funded Feed the Future Bangladesh Rice and Diversified Crops Activity (RDC). The activity is a five-year primary mechanism to support productivity and market systems development under USAID/Bangladesh’s FTF strategy, with the objective of improved food security through systemic changes that increase rural incomes and via increased incomes, including women’s income, and incentivized crop diversification to improved nutrition. USAID/Bangladesh’s RDC activity will foster growth and reduce poverty through improving the competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of rice and other selected crops in the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) to the benefit of large numbers of men and women and their families in rural households, farms, and market systems.

Market Systems Analyst, ICT and Finance is responsible for designs and implementation of market facilitation strategies and interventions integrating Financial Inclusion and ICT services as support functions to the Ag-sectors in the FtF zone. Facilitates collaboration among financial market players (state owned and private commercial banks, MFIs, financial institutions etc.)  input suppliers, producers, and other relevant market actors. S/He will collaborate with ICT service providers to design and market ICT services useful to increase efficiency in business practice and explore e-commerce channels to provide online platforms to expand the reach of ag-inputs to FtF zone. The objective of the collaboration would be to have impact on the competitiveness and inclusiveness of market systems so that farmer income is increased.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Identifies financial inclusion relevant opportunities and constraints aligned with inclusive market development opportunities that will benefit farmers and other market system actors. Conducts research on new/potential inclusive business models, or partnerships.
    • Understand and analyze market relevant access to finance and financial services constraints and opportunities for farmers and other market system actors.
    • Identify market actors, analyze value chain maps with market-based solutions and incentives to integrate farmers, both male and female, into the commercial distribution networks of financial stakeholders.
    • Reviews and participates in the design and implementation of programs.
    • Assesses the feasibility and projected impact of proposed RDC’s financial inclusion and ICT initiatives in support of performance monitoring plan targets and overall strategic objectives.
    • Facilitates strategy sessions to design initiatives to integrate small holder farmers and SMEs into supply chains or distribution networks of state and private commercial banks.
    • Drafts partnership agreements for collaborations.  
  • Encourages the flow of information and reflection to maximize performance and continuous improvement.
    • Develop and review impact causal models/results chains to demonstrate how interventions will contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in targeted districts.
    • Facilitates learning for cross-company learning initiatives. Manage events and ensure effective learning of attendees.
    • Improves and adapts program design through internal and external collaboration and learning.
    • Collects stakeholder reports, generates reports, or conducts additional research to support performance monitoring and evaluation data collection.
  • Monitor and provide feedback on the financial market system trends, facilitation activities, and private and public-sector actor interventions that promote gender inclusive market systems development.
  • Undertakes other duties and projects as may be assigned from time to time.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  • Demonstrated understanding of market systems frameworks and facilitation strategies.
  • Demonstrated experience analyzing and understanding financial and ICT based market system dynamics and designing intervention strategies.
  • Strong written communication skills in English, including demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
  • Strong analytical skills, including ability to gather and analyze a variety of information pertaining to issues and to develop appropriate recommendations for action.
  • Advanced computer skills in a Windows based environment including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators and staff at all levels of the organization. Awareness, sensitivity, and understanding of cross-cultural issues particularly in representing a US-based agency.
  • Proven ability to prepare and conduct formal presentations, and to organize conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings, and study tours.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively, both independently and in a team environment, in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressures.
  • Travel 40% of the time.
  • Fluency in Bangla and English, both verbal and written.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Master’s degree in Economics, Agribusiness, Agro-economics or other relevant field.
  • Minimum of five years’ experience in agricultural and financial market systems development field including working in the private sector or supporting private enterprise. Proven experience in program design.
  • Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Interested applicants are requested to apply on or before July 28th, 2018. Please email your CV along a Cover letter to jobs@acdivocardc.org . Please mention the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of the email. No phone calls please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ACDI/VOCA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified women and minorities candidates. ACDI/VOCA will never solicit a payment from any applicant.