Business Enterprise Development Expert Consultant

The Building Sweeter Livelihoods project linked to the MIONJO program in Southern Madagascar, which is financed by the World Bank, is a 26 months effort started by 15th May 2023. The objective of the project is to improve the opportunities of subsistence and resilience of communicator organizations through the development of sustainable seed systems and value chains of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Business Enterprise Development & Management is key to the development of economically viable OFSP value chains in the 10 districts project’s intervention zone (Ampanihy Ouest, Betioky Atsimo and Toliara II in Atsimo Andrefana Region; Ambovombe, Beloha, Tshihombe, Bekily in Androy Region; and Amboasary-Atsimo, Betroka, and Taoloagnaro in Anosy Region). An international consultant will be recruited to conduct market assessments and feasibility studies to determine the best approaches for developing sustainable OFSP value chains; followed by the support to CIP staff who will work with community-based organizations and government institutions for their further capacity building. The Business Enterprise Development consultant will also be involved in supporting business skills development of one medium-scale OFSP puree processing enterprise in Toliara. The international consultant will operate in the CIP offices in Toliara and Ambovombe, with extensive travel throughout Southern Madagascar by road. The international consultancy will last for three (03) months (65 working days): one month (25 days) in the field and two months (40 days) working remotely.

I.               Objective

Major responsibilities are as follows:

• Design and conduct feasibility study including market assessment and cost-benefit analysis for OFSP puree and its derived processed products.
  
• Develop the business plan for one medium-scale and forty-eight OFSP puree processing business enterprise in the south.
  
• Design a template that can be used by CIP and its partners to support the development of business plans of small-scale OFSP processing enterprises in Southern Madagascar.
  
• Design and train CIP’s staff related to the business management of OFSP processing enterprises.
  
• Collaborate with CIP’s Food Technology Associate Scientist in the conceptualization and design of consumers preferences surveys of OFSP processed products.
  

II.              Deliverables

• One Feasibility study of OFSP puree and its derived processed products conducted.
  
• One consumer’s preferences survey OFSP processed products conducted.
  
• One business plan for medium-scale and forty-eight for each small-scale OFSP puree processing business enterprise developed, at least 6 CIP’s staff are trained related to business development.
  

Requirements

• At least Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agro-business management or Marketing specialization.
  
• At least 8-12 years of experience.
  
• Depth understanding of agricultural value chains, including the processing sector.
  
• Experience in marketing food products and exposure to agribusiness assessment and business plan development.
  
• Experience in designing and conducting feasibility studies.
  
• Experience in analyzing (Survey) data.
  
• Experience in good reporting and mapping application using.
  
• Experience in designing gender-responsive interventions preferred.
  
• Experience in project setup and management preferred.
  
• Experience in capacity building and knowledge transfer.
  
• Ability to use MS Office package.
  
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in French and English.
  

Benefits

Conditions:  This is international position requires international experience in similar position.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website: https://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ including a letter of motivation, a full C.V. with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on 28 March 2024 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged; only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The consultant will not be in contact with children or vulnerable adults.

CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.