Solidaridad Network Asia

Job Profile: Programme Officer - Supply Chain

Introduction

Solidaridad is a global network organization working on sustainable, resources-efficient and inclusive supply chains. Working across 37 countries through 9 Regional Expertise Centres (REC), Solidaridad Network is facilitating the development of socially responsible, ecologically sound, and profitable supply chains. It invests in farms and land-use approaches to serve the twin goals of increasing production and conserving ecosystems. Solidaridad brings together supply chain actors and engages them in innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all.

With support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Solidaridad started implementing second phase of the ‘Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Linkages (SaFaL-2)’ programme in the seven districts of delta region of Bangladesh. SaFaL-2 has targeted 100,000 farm households to trigger and facilitate bio and ecosystem-based economic development making farmers better agricultural entrepreneurs. It will support farmers and workers to adopt sustainability standards agricultural practices in livestock, horticulture, aquaculture and soybean to improve productivity and quality that will create availability and access to nutritious food for the rapidly growing population in Bangladesh. The project also will raises nutrition awareness and will stimulate behavioural changes in food habits, nutrition, health and hygiene practices.  With the spirit of transition from aid to trade, SaFaL-2 envisions to develop sustainable agricultural supply chains contributing to economic, social and environmental gains in the end. The multiple outcomes of the project is expected not only to help improve food and nutrition security, but also contribute to green economic development.

Solidaridad has included Soybean as a new commodity along with horticulture, dairy and aquaculture in Phase-2 of SaFaL, which is considered integral to food and nutrition security. SaFaL-2 will support 25,000 smallholder soybean farmers in char areas of Noakhali and Lakshmipur Districts of Bangladesh. In order to explore options of sustaining service delivery, SaFaL-2 has planned for a new innovative implementation model in Soybean programme. In this model, SaFaL-2 will support to collectivize 25000 soybean farmers into 250 producer groups. Five Producers Companies will be formed which would aggregate both inputs and crops on behalf of the producers and negotiate with buyers and sellers for achieving optimum prices. SaFaL-2 will develop a pool of local extension agents (Lead Farmers) and Producer Company Associates (PCAs) for facilitating project interventions among Soy producer groups and forming and supporting the Producer companies to make self-sustainable. The Programme Officer-Supply Chain would be responsible for leading a team of local extension agents including the PCAs, strengthening their capacity, providing planning and implementation support and achieving set results of programme through successful implementation of interventions.

Overall Job Description

The Programme Officer-Supply Chain is responsible for leading overall implementation of project interventions in the field. He/she will lead the collectivization of soybean farmers into producer groups, developing and ensuring governance mechanism, establishing producer groups as an effective platform of smallholders for adoption/adaptation of good farming practices and development of inclusive sustainable soybean supply chain. The Programme Officer-Supply Chain is also responsible for establishing and operationalizing of Soybean Producer Company. She/he will be responsible for promoting and strengthening climate change adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives. The PO-Supply Chain will be responsible for strengthening capacity of PCAs and Lead Farmers and will provide backstopping support for successful implementation of project interventions. The PO-Supply Chain will also support in research study to find the appropriate technical solution for increasing soybean productivity, and transferring knowledge to the producer groups. He/she will work closely with local supply-chain stakeholders, government counterparts, research organizations and other development agencies working in this region. He/she also will be responsible for supervising M&E data collection, report preparation and documentation of learning.

The position would be based in Mid Char Areas (Noakhali and/or Laxmipur) and have to maintain close coordination with the SaFal program team and will assist other team members of Solidaridad Network Asia in Bangladesh. The Programme Officer-Supply Chain will report to the Programme Manager- Noakhali of Solidaridad Network Asia and maintains functional collaboration with Commodity Managers and Specialists.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Facilitate overall process of collectivizing soybean farmers into soybean producer groups and establish governance mechanism for the producer groups
  • Analyze existing soybean production system, identify critical farming issues, develop a comprehensive plan to address those farming issues in collaboration with relevant research and extension organizations with focus on promoting climate smart farming practices.
  • Develop and implement appropriate extension methodologies for promoting climate smart technologies and good soybean farming practices.
  • Assess market dynamics of Soybean, identify and analyze supply chain risks, i.e. environmental and social (E&S) threats of which affects the soybean markets, take measure for reputational risk management and value protection.
  • Analyze socio-cultural and technical constraints in the soybean supply chain, in particular the gender dimension, plan and implement suitable interventions for economic empowerment of women.
  • Develop and implement capacity building plan for Lead Farmers (LF) and Producer Company Associates (PCA) to strengthen their capacity for successful delivery of project interventions
  • Provide backstopping support to LFs and PCAs through regular field visit and organize training, refreshers course and cross visit for updating their knowledge and skill.
  • Assess the scope of diversifying soybean based nutritious food, work in collaboration with Nutrition team for consumer awareness and promotion of soybean based diversified nutritious food.
  • Identify scope of new enterprises within soybean supply chain, develop business plan for the new enterprises and engage potential poor men and women as entrepreneurs within the supply chain (both in input and output market). Provide capacity development and appropriate technology support for the entrepreneurs.
  • Identify improved support mechanisms for input and output markets in increasing profitability of soy including willingness to invest from diverse stakeholders (traders, banks, transporters, LGED, oil extraction companies).
  • Build capacity of PCAs, LFs and PG members on appropriate post-harvest management, seed multiplication and storages.
  • Explore opportunity and initiate interventions for increasing access to suitable financial products for soybean farmers.
  • Support to develop Business and Operational plan for Soybean Producer Company, facilitate entire process for establishing and operationalizing Soybean Producer Company.
  • Mobilize potential private and public sectors organizations to engage and invest in Soybean Producer Company.
  • Explore business opportunities and provide market specific business plan development for the producer groups, entrepreneurs and SaFaL supported market structure.
  • Work closely with M&E team for information collection, information analysis and sharing of information with relevant parties for decision making.
  • Take part in process documentation, collection and compilation of required information and development of case studies and project reports.
  • Work in close collaboration with other team members and contribute to develop an efficient working team.

Education & Experience Criteria

  • Post-graduate/Masters’ degree in Marketing, Economics, MBA, and agri-business.
  • 5- 7 years’ professional experience in the relevant field of agricultural marketing, value chain and supply chain development;
  • Experience in market and agribusiness development, access to finance and/or competitiveness support activities for donor-funded economic development projects;
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing interventions that improve access to information and technologies for agriculture value chain actors;
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitation and  capacity development;
  • Basic computer literacy using of Microsoft Office Microsoft Word, Excel, MS Power Point, SPSS & other database programme;
  • Skills in documentation and reporting.

Person Specifications & Attributes

  • Ability to work in a team;
  • Proven understanding on financial and operational aspects in agri-business;
  • Proven ability to work in an intercultural environment;
  • Analytical writing skills in English and Bengali; excellent communication skills and fluent spoken English are required;
  • Self-driven and high work ethics

Employment Type

  • Project based fixed term

Job Location

  • Noakhali / Lakshmipur

Salary & Other Benefits

  • Salary and benefits shall be fixed within the existing Solidaridad Asia pay scales and in line with Service Rules.  

Apply Instructions

Interested persons are requested to send CV (3 pages) and a cover letter (1 page) explaining the desire and qualifications to work for the aforesaid position latest by June 5, 2018 at recruitment.hrsna@gmail.com. Position applied for should be clearly mentioned in the subject line of the email. Please also indicate your present Monthly CTC (Cost to Company)/consolidated salary package in the Cover letter. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview. Women are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: June 5, 2018.