Value Chain and Market Systems Advisor

1. POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Value Chain and Market Systems Advisor (VMA) is a key member of ARE’s cross-cutting technical team, responsible for providing technical advisory services across all of ARE’s value chain activities, including interventions through grants and technical assistance. The VMA will provide technical guidance and advice to regional Business Portfolio Managers on value chain and market development approaches to activity design and implementation. Furthermore, the VMA will be responsible for ongoing value chain assessment through analysis of project data together with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team as well as through continuous analysis of relevant economic and market data to inform ARE decision making. The VMA will lead rapid analytical assignments as required across all of ARE’s targeted value chains. The VMA will work under the supervision of the DCOP/Chief Technical Officer and shall provide on-demand assistance to the Business Development Officer (BDO) and regional Business Portfolio Managers (BPMs) in order to maintain complementarity of technical and business development aspects of ARE’s interventions.

1. DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the provision of all required value chain and market development technical assistance, notably research and on-demand analytical activities to support ongoing knowledge development for the larger team regarding trends and developments within ARE’s targeted value chains and the economy writ large;
• Supports the BDO and regional BPMs with analysis and research that facilitates their engagement with private sector entities across the project, including identifying and exploring value chain and market system constraints that can be addressed through ARE activities with private sector firms;
• Analyze technical and policy issues, strategies and programs to support the development, competitiveness, inclusiveness and improved impacts of agribusiness, food systems and value chain development;
• Participate in developing and reviewing information materials, technical papers and guidelines related to agricultural economics, agribusiness, value chain and food system development on topics, such as agro-industrial, sector/sub-sector, food system and investment strategy development, market and policy analysis, business enabling environment, institutional strengthening; inclusive business models, entrepreneurship; contract farming, digital solutions/technologies for value chain development, marketing and market linkages; value chain finance, business support services; public-private platforms and partnerships.
• Contribute to the appraisal of capacity building needs related to the development, competitiveness, inclusiveness and improved impacts of agribusiness and value chain development;
• Under the supervision of the DCOP/CTO, identifies additional technical assistance needs for project activities as well as for individual private sector partners and firms, including the development of scopes of work for short-term technical assistance (national and international);
• Ensures high-quality technical delivery through active performance management, monitoring partnership and engagement best practices, and continuously ensuring contractual compliance in line with Chemonics and USAID standards and regulations;
• Maintains complementarity of technical and business-development aspects of ARE’s interventions under the supervision of the DCOP/Chief Technical Officer, and in coordination with the BDO, BPMs, CoP and across all of the project’s technical objectives;
• Contributes to achievement of project objectives by evaluating and designing interventions, grants, and technical assistance that enable increased sales and export potential, job creation, and increased incomes for private sector partners and selected beneficiaries;
• Contributes to project deliverables like weekly, quarterly, and annual reports; annual work plans, as directed by the Deputy Chief of Party and/or Chief of Party;
• Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party and/or Chief of Party.

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, marketing, management, business or other field related to ARE’s technical activities
  • Minimum of 10 years of recent relevant experience (within the last 15 years) in identifying, analyzing and implementing value chain activities.
  • Demonstrated experience in engagement in trade, export business transactions, access to markets, agricultural/agri-food product development and others with demonstrated results;
  • Demonstrated experience in the design and implementation of technical value chain assessments and/or market systems analysis, preferably for agricultural value chains;
  • Must be familiar with Lebanon’s municipalities, local communities, and private sector, particularly focused on agro-business, strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in a team structure, versatility, and integrity
  • Strong interpersonal, analytic, and written communication skills
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.