Resilience Technical Advisor - Land O'Lakes Venture37

Land O'Lakes Venture37 seeks a Resilience Technical Advisor for an anticipated USAID Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity. This activity will facilitate the development of a competitive market space that is inclusive, resilient and sustainable in the provision of goods and services demanded by actors. The approach for this activity will help identify and minimize the root causes of market failure for barriers that disadvantage the vulnerable, women and youth and exclude them from economic opportunities. This activity will also create incentives for actors to invest in development and sustaining productive relationships for the efficient delivery of goods and services and an improved enabling and regulatory environment for agricultural sector growth. This activity will target solutions including: an inclusive financial system for the rural poor as well as SMEs to have access to finance across sectors; address the inefficiencies in the inputs distribution system; establish strong and transparent relationships between actors, etc. This activity will also identify energy interventions that can increase agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and incomes; and complement production or postharvest processing, supply chain and value-added activities.

Position Summary: 

This position will lead technical implementation of resilience activities and manage a team of field-based staff. The Resilience Technical Advisor will bring a deep knowledge of resilience programming within Ghana and will have the technical capacity to build building upon previous USAID investments. The Resilience Technical Advisor will have significant experience in leading a team with diverse skillsets and integrating resilience activities into agricultural and market development programming. The Resilience Technical Advisor will have the capacity to represent Venture37 within the Market Systems and Resilience Activity and with local stakeholders, including government and the private sector. This position will be based in either Accra or Tamale and reports to the project Chief of Party.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the overall implementation of resilience-related interventions and meeting project objectives;
• Provide technical expertise, coordination, capacity building activities to strengthen market system and agricultural value chain resilience;
• Effectively plan and achieve project goals, oversee performance and meet project indicator results and targets;
• Form and build relationships for innovative collaboration with the private sector at both local and regional levels, ranging from individual entrepreneurs to established, large-scale agribusinesses; 
• Participate in regular field visits and provide technical assistance in field activities; 
• Ensure close collaboration and coordination with community, district, and broader Government of Ghana stakeholders;
• Represent Venture37 to stakeholders, USAID, as well as other development organizations and donors, host government officials, community groups and partners.

Skills and Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in business, management, agricultural science, economics, marketing, trade or other relevant graduate degree.
• Minimum five (5) years of work experience in resilience and agricultural development planning, or similar lines of work.
• Deep understanding of role of agriculture and market system resilience, particularly in vulnerable households in a West African context.
• Prior experience in Ghana is required.
• Prior USAID experience is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, writing, and oral presentation skills in English.