Reports to: Regional Director, West and Southern Africa
Location: Abuja, with travel in Northern Nigeria as needed
Length: 1 year position, of which first 6 months will be probationary
I. TechnoServe Background:
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
II. Program Description:
The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has initiated a Rural Agricultural Markets Program focused on Northern Nigeria. The purpose is to increase the incomes of 500,000 impoverished Northern Nigerians by 50%, with half of program recipients being women. The program is divided into two phases. The Design phase, in progress now, allows the team to research and develop a detailed implementation plan. DFID must approve the plan before the actual five year implementation phase can begin. The program will use a Making Markets for the Poor (M4P) approach, which aims to accelerate pro-poor growth by making markets function better and with greater fairness for poor men and women. It addresses the behavior of the private sector, through a combination of changes to government policies and support to development of new business models that are more inclusive of the poor and seeks to reinforce and strengthen market systems. The Implementation Phase is expected to begin in August and last 5 years.
III. Position Description:
TechnoServe seeks a full time Program Manager for the Implementation Phase of the Rural Agricultural Markets Programme (RAMP), otherwise known as PropCom Mai-Karfi, in Northern Nigeria. The role of the TechnoServe Program Manager will be to ensure the quality of the contribution of the TechnoServe team in the market facilitation work it will be leading.
IV. Required Skills & Experience:
- Understanding of market-based approach to development
- Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural value chains in Northern Nigeria
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders on program team and within donor organization
- Ability to structure and manage complex tasks
- Excellent networking and relationship-building skills
- Excellent analytical skills
- Ability to work independently – and take initiative
- Superior writing skills
V. Application Instructions:
Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word formatted resume and cover letter with salary history to jobs@tns.org. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line.
Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications for the position will be considered. No phone calls please.