ACDI/VOCA VACANCIES: VARIOUS POSITIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

AGOA Manager, Southern Africa

Category : Consultant

Id : 3769

AGOA Manager, Southern Africa

We are currently seeking an AGOA Manager for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub Program. The project's primary focus will be to provide expert technical assistance to help farmers and firms, through private sector associations, to efficiently meet market requirements of quality and volume and succeed in the international market place. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve international competitiveness of target commodities at all levels of the value chain. Focus of those strategies should be on investment attraction and facilitation, commercial partnerships, and trade expansion.
• Improve ability of Southern African countries and firms to benefit from AGOA preferences. Lead coordinated efforts to develop AGOA strategies, and monitor progress in implementing those strategies across all countries.
• Develop mechanisms for targeted promotion and knowledge sharing of AGOA benefits and rules of trade.
• Establish commercially viable and sustainable partnerships with national and regional entities involved in export promotion and trade capacity building including export promotion bodies, business associations and councils, and regional economic blocks.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree required, strongly preferred Master's degree or equivalent in international trade, economics, public policy, business administration, or related area or equivalent.
• At least ten years of relevant experience, five of which shall be in developing countries, preferably in Southern Africa.
• At least five years of experience (strongly preferred over five years' experience) managing and coordinating promotion activities.
• Strongly preferred experience assisting developing countries supporting developing country firms export, particularly under preferential trade agreements such as AGOA.
• Strongly preferred experience serving in an advisory capacity to high-level government officials on achieving global competitiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs.
• Excellent English.

Please apply online at http://www.acdivoca.org/internationaljobs. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE

 

Agriculture Trade and Investment Director

Category : Consultant

Id : 3679

Since 1963 and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 60 projects in 30 countries and total revenues of $173 million.

Agriculture Trade and Investment Director

We are currently seeking an Agriculture Trade and Investment Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Trade Hub program. The project’s primary focus will be to increase international competitiveness, intra-regional trade and food security in Southern Africa. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade. Agriculture Trade and Investment Director responsibilities will include:

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve regional competitiveness of target commodities at all levels of the value chain. Focus of those strategies should be on investment attraction and facilitation, commercial partnerships, and trade expansion.
• Work with producers and enterprises across Southern Africa to develop their capacity to identify and respond to regional and international business opportunities in the potential value chains.
• Use a market led, facilitative approach to identify and remedy enabling environment barriers to agricultural trade.
• Develop and advise on policies that will support sector competitiveness and trade.
• Improve the competitiveness and develop the demand for service provision.
• Facilitate strategic, commercially viable partnerships between value chain actors.
• Facilitate private sector engagement and investment among various levels of target value chains including but not limited to producer, processor, wholesaler and exporter levels.

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S., M.B.A., or other post-graduate degree in trade, agricultural development, marketing or other relevant field
• At least ten years of relevant experience, five of which should be in developing countries, preferably in Southern Africa
• Strongly preferred extensive experience related to developing an enabling environment for agricultural investment and trade
• Demonstrated ability policy development and technical assistance in implementation
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting;
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs
•  Excellent English.

Please apply online at www.acdivoca.org/internationaljobs. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.

                                      

Chief of Party, Southern Africa

Category : Consultant

Id : 3698

Since 1963 and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 60 projects in 30 countries and total revenues of $173 million.

Chief of Party, Southern Africa

We are currently seeking a Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Trade Hub Program. The project’s primary focus will be to provide expert technical assistance to help farmers and firms, through private sector associations, to efficiently meet market requirements of quality and volume and succeed in the international market place. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade. Chief of Party responsibilities for this program include but are not limited to the following:

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership in trade, transport and logistics, export promotion, investment facilitation and institutional development.
• Lead the overall planning, implementation and management of the project.
• Responsible for establishing the administrative framework to monitor and assure progress toward the achievements of the goals and objectives of the project.
• Responsible for  managing relationships with counterparts at various levels of government, NGOs, private sector associations, and stakeholders from international assistance projects
• Quality control and timeliness of all deliverables.
• Preparation or supervision of work plans, financial, logistical and other documents
• Recommendation and evaluation of proposed staff.
• Serve as principal liaison with USAID staff, institutions, and client country partners to exchange information and develop professional relationships.
• Develop and facilitate verbal or written presentations as requested by the COTR to varied audiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise and a minimum of 10 years’ experience in managing large (at least $35 million), complex trade, value chain or agri-business projects, with progressively responsible experience and expertise to successfully achieve meaningful and sustainable results in trade, transport and logistics, export promotion and institutional development
• A  minimum  of  10 years’  experience  as  a  COP,  Project  Director,  or  similar  senior management position for projects with similar magnitude and complexity in developing countries.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Southern Africa.
• Demonstrated ability to be collaborative across projects, flexible and creative.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations (government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions).
• Master’s degree of higher in business, public administration/policy, economics, law, social sciences or related fields.
• Fluency in English required.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.

Please apply online at www.acdivoca.org/internationaljobs. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.

Export Business Development Director, Southern Africa

Category : Consultant

Id : 3678

Since 1963 and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 60 projects in 30 countries and total revenues of $173 million.

Export Business Development Director

We are currently seeking an Export Business Development Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Southern Africa Trade Hub program. The project’s primary focus will be to increase international competitiveness, intra-regional trade and food security in Southern Africa. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade. Export Business Development Director responsibilities will include:

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve international competitiveness of target commodities at all levels of the value chain. Focus of those strategies should be on investment attraction and facilitation, commercial partnerships, and trade expansion.
• Improve ability of Southern African countries and firms to benefit from AGOA preferences. Lead coordinated efforts to develop AGOA strategies, and monitor progress in implementing those strategies across all countries.
• Develop mechanisms for targeted promotion and knowledge sharing of AGOA benefits and rules of trade.
• Establish commercially viable and sustainable partnerships with national and regional entities involved in export promotion and trade capacity building including export promotion bodies, business associations and councils, and regional economic blocks.

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S., M.B.A., or other post-graduate degree in trade, economics, business, marketing or other relevant field
• At least ten years of relevant experience, five of which should be in developing countries, preferably in Southern Africa
• Trade promotion and market linkages development experience required
• Experience educating firms as to AGOA objectives, provisions, procedures and eligibility requirements
• Experience in expanding awareness of the benefits, provisions and procedures of regional trade agreements to private sector organizations and government officials
• Demonstrated experience helping developing country firms meet the requirements for exporting goods, including agricultural goods, to the United States and other international markets with regard to meeting regional and international standards and external market demand (e.g., formation of strategic alliances with buyer organizations)
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting;
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs
• Excellent English

Please apply online at www.acdivoca.org/internationaljobs. No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.