Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ’s portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor

Vacancy No: 044
Location: Oyo
Organization: GIZ Nigeria, Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE)

The Project
Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE):

• The German Government and the Nigerian Government addressing ongoing challenges in the Agri-Food System in Nigeria. The German Government through the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is supporting the Nigerian Government and especially the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the implementation of Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021 – 2025 and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) among others. Both strategies highlight the relevance of the agricultural sector in overcoming the economic downturn thereby fostering economic diversification.
• The GIZ Cluster “Transformation of Agricultural Systems” is implementing several projects in the agriculture and rural development sector with a total budget of over 60 Mio. Euro. The projects contribute to better yields and income of small-holder farmers, performance of agri-business, access to finance, promotion of jobs and rural development through a private business-driven value-chain approach and with this enhance the regional food supply in the rural target regions as well as transformation of the agri-food system by cross-sectoral approaches.
• The Agriculture Value Chain Facility (EU-VACE) project, co-financed by the European Union and the BMZ, seeks to improve sustainable rural economic development by promoting specific agricultural clusters in selected “transition” states in Nigeria. The aim is to increase agricultural production, create lucrative employment opportunities and increase the incomes of the rural population thus contributing to food security and strengthening the resilience of the population to external shocks, and at the same time makes an important contribution to the effective transformation of the Nigerian agricultural sector.
• Project activities support existing enterprises to improve the quality and yield of production and subsequent processing and also generate opportunities for new businesses to emerge that will lead to sustainable outcomes in the rural and blue economy. Inclusive development principles ensure responsible approaches to social and environmental sustainability with a focus on the adoption of practices that are resilient to climate change, and which improve biodiversity, and combat desertification and deforestation.
• Improved opportunities for employment, particularly for women and vulnerable groups, are created at all stages of the value chains with a commitment to develop processing facilities reflecting EU standards in decent work and product quality to improve export opportunities.

Responsibilities & Tasks
Responsibilities:

• The Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor North will have the responsibility of supporting smallholder farmers, MSMEs and processors to improve productivity and yields, reduce post-harvest losses and aggregate value across the tomato and ginger value chains while ensuring the mainstreaming of climate-smart and sustainable solutions and innovative approaches. This will include:
  • Identifying and partnering with key stakeholders in the value chains to be promoted
  • Conducting analysis of challenges, opportunities and development potential
  • Providing targeted and effective support and advice on critical topics with inclusive approaches.

Tasks:
Advising project partners:
The Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor:

• Supports the identification of MSMEs / inclusive business and other partners for engagement by the project.
• Supports in conducting assessments among MSMEs and businesses to establish gaps and opportunities while incorporating inclusivity approaches.
• Coordinates and assists with capacity development for MSMEs and other businesses based on the gaps identified.
• Supports in data building for business decisions of beneficiary MSMEs in basic financial and economic analysis regarding factors of production accommodating as much financial detail as possible.
• Supports the planning, identification and implementation of proof of concepts around agroecology, regenerative agriculture and agroforestry compatible with the selected value chains.
• In collaboration with other advisors, support beneficiary MSMEs to participate in scenarios to promote matchmaking and investment opportunities to improve their businesses.
• In collaboration with other advisors and beneficiaries supports preparing, implementing and documenting training events, workshops, forums, team meetings and other programme activities.

Networking and cooperation:
The Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor:

• Helps identify the needs of government ministries, departments and agencies, private sector, NGOs and other identified stakeholders relating to their role in improving the Agricultural value chains.
• Assists on aspects relating to incentives and business/ climate smart innovations promotion initiatives.
• Supports in identification of partners for Public Private Partnerships, networking support of SMEs and working closely with other advisors to leverage investments, climate change adaptation etc in to the agricultural value chains.
• Supports in identification of the needs of government ministries, departments and agencies, private sector, NGOs and other identified stakeholders relating to their role in improving the agricultural value chain.
• Supports in identification of the relevance and opportunities represented by other projects and accommodate them, where possible, to bolster any business opportunities and models created.

Knowledge management:
The Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor:

• Collects, processes and distributes relevant information, monitors communication and interaction between government institutions, partners, NGOs and other project beneficiaries through analyses of the media, direct dialogue, participation in meetings and seminars etc.
• Develops and maintains contact with all important stakeholders.
• Provides relevant information to the project management and other advisors as required.
• Develops and maintains database(s) of all beneficiary MSMEs, climate adaptation innovations as well as other innovations implemented by the project and records documentation regarding them.
• In collaboration with the other advisors disseminates success stories through existing platforms.
• Provides technical inputs on reports and activities as required by the project.
• Regularly provides the required data for monitoring and evaluation and other requirements.

Project management tasks:
The Junior Value Chain and Business Development Advisor:

• Coordinates relevant activities in collaboration with other advisors and project head as well as in cooperation with the project beneficiaries to ensure efficient implementation and organisation of the project.
• Prepares input for project/programme reports and draws up documents in accordance with project standards on communication and presentation.
• Participates in formulating programme action plans and helps synchronise the planning and budgeting system with counterparts in the project.
• Administers all project related documents in accordance with the project financial systems ensuring the integrity of the project is upheld through proper accountability and accuracy in documentation.
• Performs any other job-related task as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications, Competences, and Experience
Qualifications:

• University degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Rural Development or related field, if possible, with a specialization in climate and sustainability topics.

Professional experience:

• Not more than 3 years demonstrated and verifiable experience working in Nigeria in the agricultural sector and specific experience in the cocoa value chain including EUDR regulations.
• Work experience in smallholder farmer agribusiness capacity development or agribusiness marketing in Nigeria.
• Understanding of business growth strategies in the agricultural sector including climate adaptation-relevant sectors in accordance with project goals.
• Good networks in climate adaptation-relevant sectors (like e.g. agriculture, food, water) with public institutions, research organisations and private sector in Nigeria.
• Previous experience in working in the Northern states and understanding of any prevailing dynamics preferred.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competences:

• Knowledge of working with and promoting small and medium-sized growth-oriented companies.
• Demonstrated excellent understanding of strategies for how to help small holder farmers and businesses grow, with expertise in one or more of the following areas: business planning and strategy, sales and marketing, product development.
• Have passion for and excellent understanding of the West African, entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• High motivation to work at the interface of climate change adaptation and the private sector.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English. Additional Nigerian languages would be added advantage.
• Excellent team spirit and networking capacity.
• Highly motivated to work in a multicultural environment.
• Strong organizational competence.
• Proactive, independent and flexible working style.

Salary
According to GIZ Salary Scale for Band 3.

Application Closing Date
9th April, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Letter of Motivation as one document with complete contact details to: recruitment-nigeria@giz.de using “Vacancy no. 044” as the subject of the mail.

Note

• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity.
• All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race, and religion are encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.