Value Chain Coordinators – NOURISH Project (2 positions – 1 for Common Bean, Sumbawanga and 1 for Sunflower, Dodoma)

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and together with our team of over 1,600 people, we strengthen capacities and catalyze partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all. Grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance.

Background: NOURISH Tanzania

‘Empowering Smallholder Farmers for Food Security and Climate Resilience’ (NOURISH Tanzania) aims to achieve resilient food security for smallholder farmer households in key regions of Tanzania.
Tanzanian SHF households heavily dependent on agriculture face significant food insecurity and nutrition challenges. SHFs have low productivity due to poor quality seed, limited and variable rainfall, poor extension services, and limited access to markets. Lack of knowledge of nutritional requirements and how to meet them, exacerbated by gender inequalities, affects household nutrition.

• The project focuses on two geographic areas, both of which experience food insecurity and malnutrition, but which are distinctly different: the central-northern zone (Singida, Dodoma, Manyara) which suffers from acute food insecurity, and the Southern Highlands (Songwe, Rukwa) which faces chronic malnutrition. The project targets 168,000 SHFs and 100 MSMEs and farm organizations, with special emphasis on vulnerable SHFs. With a focus on four high-potential value chains (sorghum, sunflower, common bean, and vegetables), the project will tackle barriers to SHF food security through three interconnected outcome pathways:

1. Increased productivity: strengthening SHF climate-smart agricultural knowledge, skills, and access to inputs and finance.
2. Increased and diversified food supply to local markets: fostering collaborations among market actors, promoting digital solutions, and empowering SHFs and MSMEs.
3. Improved utilization of household resources to provide nutritious and diverse food: promoting nutritious diets, household food budgeting, and enabling women to have greater influence in HH decisions.

SNV is leading a consortium together with Farm Africa, and partners with five local organizations including two local CSOs. The partners have significant experience in climate-resilient agriculture, nutrition, digital technology applications, and GESI. The project’s total budget is NOK 200 million over five years and is funded by Norad.

Purpose of the role

The NOURISH Project Value Chain Coordinators play a central role in ensuring the effective delivery of four complex value chain interventions (sorghum, sunflower, common bean, and vegetable value chains), providing strong technical competence and field coordination functions. The roles are responsible for the achievement of respective value chain outputs and outcomes. They will lead the planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and learning processes in relation to each respective value chain strategy while ensuring adherence to organization and donor requirements. Value Chain Coordinators will manage specific private and public sector stakeholder relationships and be directly responsible for certain technical delivery roles. Internally, the roles will line manage and provide necessary technical guidance and support to Value Chain Officers (and collaborate closely with all cross-cutting and supportive roles) to ensure the implementation of assigned project activities within the planned time frames and budget.

SNV is recruiting two (2) Value Chain Coordinators for Sunflower and Common Bean value chains. Farm Africa is recruiting for Sorghum and Horticulture (vegetable) value chains – please visit https://www.farmafrica.org/jobs

The four (4) successful candidates will have a track record in successful value chain intervention delivery, involving aspects of planning, stakeholder coordination, activity implementation, team collaboration, budget management, monitoring, and reporting. They will have relevant in-depth knowledge of the specific value chains and opportunities for market-based interventions to transform in line with project objectives, knowledge of nutrition, climate, and gender-sensitive approaches, and practical experience gained from working within either the private sector, public sector, or a development organization.

Key Responsibilities

Value chain intervention delivery and stakeholder collaboration:

• Develop and review work plans, budgets, and progress reporting for the value chain activities across two geographies, in collaboration with the Deputy Team Leader, other team members, and local CSO partners.
• Primary delivery responsibility for achieving value chain-specific activities and outputs in support of outcome 1 (increasing SHF productivity and climate resilience):
  • Increased private sector–farmer partnerships in improved seed multiplication and distribution.
  • Increased SHF access to finance for production and storage.
  • Increased SHF capacity in CSA and improved field and post-harvest loss practices.

and outcome 2 (making local value chains and markets work for small-scale food producers):

• • Strengthened value chain linkages to empower SHFs and cooperatives lead market innovations.
  • Increased value chain actor access to digital agricultural services.
  • Increased micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) business and technical capacity.
• Coordinate and foster collaboration with government officials (e.g. TARI, extension officers), village-based structures (e.g. farmer cooperatives/organisations, women/youth groups, savings/credit organisations), private sector (e.g. agrodealers, input distributors, MSMEs, buyers, aggregators, processors, business development and financial services), and other stakeholders (e.g. radio/media, civil society organisations).
• Lead and support preparatory field activities including GESI-responsive analysis, selection of improved varieties and value chain actors for targeted initiatives, formulation of capacity building material as relevant, and participatory planning with government and other actors.
• Continuously identify opportunities for new interventions and partnerships in support of project outcomes.
• Ensure proper control and management of financial resources for value chain activities.
• Ensure the quality of project deliverables and provide technical input to meet the required standards.
• Identify risks in a timely manner and work with project team to develop mitigation plans.

Team management:

• Line management of two value chain officers, including effective performance management and ensuring the provision of support as required.
• Support ‘one team’ matrix ways of working across value chains and geographies, and collaborate with cross-cutting roles responsible for food security & nutrition, gender, FinTech, MEL and communications.

Monitoring, learning and knowledge management:

• Lead and oversee the collection of progress data required for the monthly monitoring purposes.
• Facilitate cross learning between geographies and participate in periodic (quarterly and annual) project reflection processes with focus on progress, adaptation, and learning.
• Prepare high quality monthly and quarterly reports and contribute to internal and external knowledge sharing by documenting project insights.

Qualifications and experience:

• Degree in a relevant discipline such as agriculture, agronomy, agribusiness, horticulture, rural development or entrepreneurship. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the specific value chain (sorghum, sunflower, common bean or vegetables) in Tanzania, with knowledge of main actors, policies and economics.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver effective interventions, including market-based approaches, inclusive business/market models and public-private partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in managing field teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Understanding of nutrition, climate, and gender-sensitive approaches for smallholder farmers.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Experience and skills in field data collection, verification, analysis, and report writing.

Desired attributes:

• Passion for working with smallholder farmers and MSMEs in the specific value chain.
• Able to lead, inspire and energize value chain teams in a collegiate manner.
• Self-aware, possessing high levels of emotional intelligence and respect for staff, colleagues, and partners.
• Highly motivated self-starter, with strong organorganizationalls, who takes individual accountability seriously.
• Result-oriented with an entrepreneurial, curious, innovative, and adaptive mindset for problem-solving.
• Excellent social and communication skills (written and oral), as well as reporting skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of SNV and Farm Africa.
• Ability to undertake unaccompanied travel and operate in remote areas.

• Location: Dodoma or Sumbawanga with regular field travel (60%)
• Reports to: Deputy Team Leader, NOURISH Project
• Staff reporting to each post-holder: Value Chain Officers (2)
• Contract duration: 2 years, with possibility of extension

How to Apply

Submit your application on or before 5 pm EAT on Tuesday, 20th February 2024, if you wish to be considered for this position. All information will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.  We will revert to you as soon as feasible when we have reviewed your application, though due to the expected high number of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please submit a CV (no more than 3 pages); a motivation letter detailing your interest, suitability, current/previous & expected salary for the role (no more than 1 page); and a brief write-up (no more than 1 page) which also answers the following question: “What do you think are the top three challenges facing food security and nutrition in Tanzania?”

Please only apply when you are convinced to meet the qualifications mentioned!

Working at SNV

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts across sectors. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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