Job Reference: SPO/FSS/12/2022

Role Summary

The Senior Partnerships Officer for Food Systems will play a leading role in this AGRA Food Systems work leveraging partnerships and constituency engagement for priority objectives. S/he will engage with the finance community, private sector partners, producers, and other priority constituency groups to deepen partnerships and come through with accelerated action on commitments during the Food Systems Summit or new commitments made during follow-ups. 

S/he will particularly shape strategies and engagement approach for AGRA to leverage multi-stakeholder partnership platforms to channel knowledge, action, and resources to priority opportunities, needs, and gaps of African countries in relation to Food Systems. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Leverage multi-stakeholder partnership platforms to channel knowledge, action, and resources to priority opportunities, needs, and gaps of African countries.
• Building around and on top of the Africa’s Food Systems Forum (AFSF) as the premier continental platform for food systems and agricultural transformation, strengthen AGRA’s engagement with partners across private sector, civil society, producer organizations, youth organizations, research institutions, and beyond by focusing their attention on priorities at country level. 
• Deepen strategic partnerships with at least 5 top peer institutions carrying forward food systems action. 
• Track and ensure follow-through of action plans and priorities for the next two years. In partnership with other AGRA units, this could include partner institutions such as the AUC/AUDA, the UN and its Rome-based Agencies (FAO, IFAD, and WFP), the World Bank, and the CGIAR
• Plug into multi-stakeholder food systems platforms on AGRA’s behalf to exchange knowledge and serve as a conduit to inform AGRA programs and share what AGRA programs are doing to advance shared country-led priorities. 
• Devise strategies and engagement approaches with the Unit lead to best plug AGRA into multi-stakeholder partnerships and leverage them for impact on shared priorities in delivering on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063. 
• Engage at the minimum with (i) the AFSFand nutrition thematic platform, (ii) the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, (iii) the Food Action Alliance, (iv) the Food Forward Consortium, (v) the Food and Land Use (FOLU) Coalition, (vi) the One Planet Network Sustainable Food Systems Program, (vii) the Committee on World Food Security, (viii) the Just Rural Transition, (ix) the Friends of Food, (x) the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and (xi) the Good Food Finance Network.
• Devise and advance cross-cutting opportunities to support an African-focused food systems champion network. In partnership with other African and global organizations working on follow up to the UN Food Systems Summit, seek to build on the experience of the Summit Champions Network and bring to bear the leadership of actors all across the continent and all parts of food systems.
• Work to unlock private sector investments aligned with investment plans and flagship initiatives.
• In collaboration with AGRA’s Partnerships Unit and external partnership network, the SPO-FS will identify key investment opportunities to unlock and engage in discussions with governments and partners to bring them to fruition. 
• Cultivate new opportunities and work to share lessons and insights through the AFSF deal room and other knowledge-exchange opportunities critical for bringing public and private sector financing for food systems interventions at national, regional and continental level.
• Contribute to shaping and advancing AGRA’s food systems narrative position and priorities through the course of priority regional and global events. This includes the development and executive of engagements linked to major milestone moments, such as COP27 in Egypt, COP28 in UAE, the UN High Level Political Forums (HLPF), the CFS, and several other moments that can help advance the food systems agenda over the next two years.
• Advance AGRA’s thought leadership by showcasing models and lessons from work on food systems. In collaboration with other AGRA units, capture what AGRA is learning and delivering through each of these workstreams and document it for wider thought leadership. 

Academic, Professional Qualifications and Relevant experience:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Strong private sector experience in either agribusiness, finance or related sector at the global level to leverage on regional and global partnerships.
• 15 years’ post qualification experience, with proven experience in managing partnership networks with many constituencies.
• At least 5 years of senior-level experience in program management.
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of French and/or other official UN languages will be an advantage.
• Has experience in working on joined projects with governments, researchers, development partners in Africa and/or other regions of the world. 
• Deep understanding of the Food Systems Agenda.
• Deep understanding of African Agribusiness trends, activities, investment related policies.
• Familiarity with agricultural development programs. Familiarity with other programs in climate, environment, nutrition, and other sectors will be an added advantage for building partnerships across food systems communities. 
• Highly organized, results and detail orientated with a very hands-on approach.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Excellent organizational, and problem solving/decision making ability.

Job Reference: SPO/SPD/12/2022

Reporting to the Head, Gender and Inclusion, the Senior Program Officer, Women entrepreneurships in agriculture,  will lead the strategic analysis, conceptualization, planning, coordination and delivery, monitoring, learning and evaluation of the WEA  across countries and across the continent. He/ she will be responsible for developmental activities planned for WEA and VALUE4HER in the coming years, including implementation of the VALUE4HER Network Vision, strategy and activities at continental and country level. This position will work closely with amongst others, the inclusive markets and youth entrepreneurship team to ensure synergy and leverage. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads in strategic analysis and conceptualization of projects, services and events in support of women in agribusiness.
• Leads in provision of technical assistance and backstopping in developing and delivery of integrated business solutions and services to women agripreneurs in Africa, refining models of services as per relevance and desired impact. 
• Identifies and monitors key trends and contextual dynamics which the support to women in agribusiness enterprises in in Africa.
• Guides implementing partners in the design and implementation of projects and grants that enhance the positioning of women in agribusiness and agri-trade, agri-finance and an equitable business enabling environment.
• Guides implementing partners in the design and implementation of projects that enhance women agripreneurship.
• Advocates for partnerships between women networks, governments and agribusinesses to upgrade women’s agri-businesses, to boost trade and market opportunities for increased viability and profitability. Mobilizes service providers to strengthen the WEA and the VALUE4HER platform services to increase buy in from actors and women members.
• Advises women in agriculture stakeholders on needs and opportunities for women in agricultural market trade policies, finance, and investment opportunities and enabling an equitable business environment 
• Builds partnership with inclusive markets team and all other teams in AGRA to better leverage capabilities and investments to boost impact for women in agribusiness.
• Devise Advocacy and knowledge agenda for the initiative, lead the development of research and insights, useful for advocacy and improving the growth pathways for women’s agribusinesses.  
• Communicates results through written and verbal communication.
• Oversees the implementation of the VALUE4HER business case, and delivery of strategic implementation plan.  
• Creates background documents, analysis, briefs and presentations, often on short timelines.
• Plans and facilitates the delivery of programs and grants in fulfilment of WEA and VALUE4HER objectives.
• Tracks and regularly provides intelligence on key trends and opportunities within the continent and across AGRA focus countries.
• Oversees the improved coordination and investment in WEA and the Value4Her  initiative and the women agripreneur networks in country and across the continent. 
• Develops the relevant tools for monitoring and evaluation of the initiative, implements successes and advises when remedial actions are necessary.

Relevant Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years’ experience working in various African countries in program design implementation and management working with women in agriculture networks, women private sector, governments, development partners or other such institutions. 
• Experience in a management consulting firm in the broad field of strategy and/or other related areas (business efficiency, performance improvement, organizational change, business and sector intelligence, stakeholder engagement etc.) will be an added advantage.
• Extensive experience in agriculture markets and trade, and private sector engagement with agricultural systems targeting women. 
• Good command of English, a working knowledge of French will be an advantage.
• Aware of the new opportunities and priorities for agriculture development to both internal and external audiences.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple competing demands.
• Demonstrable ability to work in complex work dynamics and challenges. Able to adapt rapidly to new technical areas.
• Ability to deliver high quality products under pressure.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrable ability to engage government, development partners and private sector.
• Experience in developing and managing strong partnerships and relationships inside and outside the organization, managing conflicts, and building consensus. Comfortably engages with senior decision makers within organization and constructively challenges colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Experience of end-to-end project management, including scoping and design, resourcing, risk management and quality assurance.
• Good team working skills.
• Excellent oral, facilitation, and written communication skills; works well in diverse teams, with efficiency and diplomacy.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Masters’ degree in agribusiness, agricultural economics, gender economics, gender in agriculture, finance and investments or other relevant disciplines related to gender, agricultural or agribusiness development.
• Deep knowledge of women’s economic empowerment and market systems development and the demonstrated ability to catalyze change in addressing challenges faced by women.
• Solid knowledge of international, continental, and regional gender in markets policies and trade institutions.
• Possesses a good understanding of agriculture market development efforts in public, private and donor sectors in Africa.