Position Description
The Business Advisor will assist in developing the irrigation agricultural development plan and corresponding business plan at scheme level and support implementation. The BA will coach and train irrigation smallholder farmers’ organizations as well as Development Agents to enhance their ability to analyze entrepreneurial and irrigation production options and support effective organizational/enterprise management. The Business Advisor will facilitate linkages to buyers, irrigation input providers, distributers, financial institutions and other key market actors as well as ensure ongoing learning, knowledge exchange and capacity building.
Business Advisor (BA) Duties and Responsibilities
1. Training and Coaching
a. Assist the Market Specialist in identifying market as well as business knowledge gaps in irrigation water user associations and Market Access Alliances;
b. Coach and give on-the-job support irrigation water user associations (IWUAs) and primary cooperatives to build their capacity around management/leadership, management, financial management and marketing
c. Assist irrigation farmers and their organizations to make choices on major irrigation crops to be cultivated and technologies applied;
d. Support preparation of crop calendar; Assist IWUA/Cooperatives in the development and implementation of annual scheme ADP planning;
e. Advise on market oriented irrigation crop production including postharvest management;
f. Lead formal training of Development Agents (DAs), irrigation cooperatives leaders and farmers on market oriented irrigation crop production, management and marketing;
g. Promote and support enhanced gender and youth mainstreaming;
2. Facilitate relationships between market system actors
a. Act as a link between IWUAs, support service agencies and other market system actors;
b. Facilitate linkages with financial lending institutions
c. Assist irrigation agriculture input supply chain plan and distribution chain linkages;
3. Deliverables
a. Assist other market-related deliverables within the PASIDP program activities, as needed
b. Carry out ongoing market data collection and analysis;
c. Assist the production or translation of training materials into appropriate regional languages;
d. Develop and translate training materials to relevant regional languages under the guidance of the Market Specialist and Project Manager
e. Develop business plans working directly with Farmers, Development Agents and under guidance of Market Specialist
f. Assist the development of Irrigation Agricultural Development Plan (ADP); Support business growth planning and implementation in selected irrigation crops
g. Other deliverables as assigned by Market Specialist
4. Work planning, Reporting and Learning
a. Develop and maintain work plan, in consultation with Market Specialist;
b. Assist documentation of progress, outcomes, challenges and lesson learned; for example, document irrigation production market success stories and best practices;
c. Identify and share knowledge with key stakeholders and TNS team;
d. Facilitate partners and external guests visiting respective target areas;
BSc Degree in Irrigation, Agronomy, Horticulture/Crop Science, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics/Cooperative, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, other irrigation and business-related studies at least with 3 years of experience.
· Experience on IWUA and Irrigation Cooperative organization;
· Ability to work according to a work plan and meet deadlines;
· Fluency in Tigrigna
· Willingness and experience serving remote PASIDP woredas areas;
· Ability and willingness to ride a motor bicycle (attach a renewed license);
· Knowledge on Gender responsive irrigation implementation tools and techniques