Market Access Manager – Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau 256 views1 applications

Shelter For Life International (SFL) is an international faith-based relief and development organization with over 30 years experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance to post conflict countries around the world. We are currently operational in Afghanistan, Liberia, and Senegal, with Headquarters located in Minnetonka, MN. Our team provides support and assistance in the following areas:

1. Population Movement and Settlement
2. Public Infrastructure Reconstruction
3. Economic and Social Development

Our mission is to Demonstrate God’s love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. To learn more about us, please head to www.shelter.org

Position Summary:

Under USDA/FAS Food For Progress (FFPr), SFL is implementing a six year program in Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea- Bissau with a goal to develop and upgrade value chain linkages necessary to support an integrated regional trade network for the cashew value chain. The program is addressing these linkages in four program components: (1) market infrastructure, (2) financial services, (3) market access and linkages, and (4) on-farm practices. The “Linking Infrastructure, Finance, and Farms To Cashew” (LIFFT-Cashew) program is working to create durable trade infrastructure, increase access to financial services, organize and train smallholder farmers to increase production and bargaining power, and build the capacity of local processors to add value to kernels in the cashew production zone of West Africa. As a result, the program will benefit smallholder farmers, a range of processors, and a variety of other businesses associated with the cashew value chain.

We are currently seeking a Market Access Manager to lead the Market Access component of this project. The Market Access Manager will manage a team to establish and support commercially viable Cashew Marketing Associations. This will involve working with producers, nurseries, buyers, and processors to improve their approaches to marketing, branding and selling their products. The Market Access Manager will also facilitate buyer-seller relationships between local suppliers and international buyers. As such, he/she will identify and facilitate opportunities for finance and investment for cashew-related enterprises. The Market Access Manager will be a key focal point on the SFL team and will lead other components in the project’s commercial approach.

Areas of Responsibilities:

Private-Sector Development

· Facilitate buyer-seller relationships between international buyers, local producers, associations, nurseries, and processors

· Explore and pursue opportunities to commercialize cashew by-products, particularly the cashew apple and shell

· Implement targeted strategies that increase competiveness of cashew-related enterprises

· Work in collaboration with other project components to create opportunities for finance and investment

Organizing Cashew Marketing Associations

· Organize cashew producers into commercially viable Cashew Marketing Associations (CMAs)

· Create and administer training modules for CMAs on topics including business skills, drying techniques, and collective bargaining

· Create, monitor, and strengthen governance structures for CMAs

· Assist CMAs, nurseries and other value chain actors to apply for industry standards, such as organic certification

· Establish relationships with partners and clients, and represent the Shelter For Life team at key meetings

Program Operations Management

· Provide supervision, support, and direction to the Market Access team

· Monitor component performance and document progress on project indicators

· Lead the development of detailed annual work plans for the Market Access component

· Provide quality reports on project progress to SFL headquarters and project donor

· Coordinate and communicate activities with SFL headquarters, the Chief of Party, and other Component Managers

Education and Experience Requirements:

· Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Development, Corporate Finance, or related field required; master’s degree preferred.

· A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience e.g. in market systems approaches and private sector development, private consultancy, business management, or working at senior level in the private sector

· Experience in managing and implementing market-based solutions within large-scale sector development programs; and/or experience of managing interventions to enhance sector competitiveness;

· Industry knowledge and experience in the cashew sector, specifically in West Africa

· Exceptional past performance in facilitating buyer-seller relationships and product development

· Demonstrated experience in reporting project progress and adhering donor guidelines

· Strong leadership and administrative skills, management in a cross-cultural environment

· Comfortable with presentation, and reporting, with communication skills

· Prior experience in West Africa required; specific experience in Senegal, The Gambia or Guinea-Bissau preferred

Personal Skills & Abilities:

· Dynamic leadership skills with ability to maintain a positive work environment with professionalism

· Strong teamwork and listening skills combined with excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity

· Ability to research, analyze, coordinate, & plan – both strategically and innovatively

· Ability to quickly assess complex programs and situations and form accurate opinions

· Ability to respond practically and operate successfully in difficult field conditions

· Willingness to adopt the use of locally appropriate technologies

· Ability to be flexible, persistent and diplomatic and to gain respect among staff, local community leaders as well as local government ministries and donor organizations

· Proficiency in written and spoken French and written and spoken English required; Fluency in Portuguese, Creole, or local languages (Wolof, Diola, etc.) preferred

SFL is interested in applicants whose professional ethics, values and determination to achieve impact are evident and aligned with organizational priorities.

Additional notes:

· A minimum of 12+ months commitment to live and work in Ziguinchor, Senegal is required

· Is comfortable with frequent travel, particularly within the SeGaBi region