Jobs

Propcom Mai-karfi Job recruitment in Nigeria, 12th March 2014

---

Propcom Mai-karfi is an innovative, market-driven programme funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to reduce poverty in Nigeria. The programme works with government, the private sector and businesses to enable rural markets to work better for the poor.


The programme uses a 'making markets work for the poor (M4P)' approach in creating systemic changes in agricultural and rural markets in northern Nigeria. We work with motivated partners in the private and public sectors to deliver the programme's goals and objectives.

Propcom Mai-karfi is looking for experienced people with significant experience in agriculture and rural businesses, to work in this dynamic DFID funded project.

Job Title: Research Manager

Location: Abuja

Job Description
You will be;

• Experienced in managing research teams and developing efficient work-plan for them.
• Able to manage research officers based across the north of Nigeria.
• Up to date with current Value for Money thinking.
• Conversant with a range of information gathering, research, analysis and dissemination strategies and tools.
• Experienced in working in a diverse team.
• Willing to travel frequently to rural areas in northern Nigeria.
• Proficient in the use of excel and appropriate statistical analysis software.
• Skilled in articulating, reporting and presenting the data/information to the target audiences.
• Fluent in both written and spoken English.

In Return we Offer:

• A friendly and team-based working environment in Abuja.
• Opportunity to work with national and international colleagues and consultants.
• Vital contribution to an innovative Nigerian development programme for the development of Nigerian economy.
• The opportunity to truly "make a difference".
• A competitive salary with benefits.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV (maximum of three pages) and a 1 page covering letter, outlining how your skills and competencies match the requirements of the post to: [email protected]

 
Job Title: Market Section Manager

Location: Abuja

Job Description
You will be;

• A skilled Making Market Work for Poor' (M4P) practitioner with a solid history of working with agricultural and rural businesses to reach rural markets.
• Able to effectively manage a team of Intervention Managers and Technical Advisers based in Abuja and across the north of Nigeria.
• Commercially oriented and experienced with strong understanding of business, finance and operations.
• Able to work with partners to develop innovative and sustainable business cases in selected rural markets.
• Familiar with Market Analysis tools to assess attractiveness, dynamics and growth potential of selected rural markets in the north of Nigeria.
• Able to provide strategic direction and management in agreed markets and interventions.
• Resourceful and well-connected in the business and agricultural community in Nigeria.
• Up to date with current thinking on Value for Money.
• An articulate and clear personal communicator with the ability to connect with a variety of partners and audiences.
• A team player with a proven ability to work with others in a multicultural setting.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the agricultural business sector and business development in the north of Nigeria.
• Good written and spoken Hausa.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV (maximum of three pages) and a 1 page covering letter, outlining how your skills and competencies match the requirements of the post to: [email protected]
Job Title: Business Development Manager / Intervention Manager

Location: Abuja

Job Description

• Propcom Mai-karfi is recruiting for an Intervention/Business Development Manager. This is an important position within the programme. It is an exciting but challenging job requiring commitment and flexibility, and a range of intellectual skills. You would lead and manage your own work as part of a market section of five people. If you have a strong commitment to improving the lives of poor rural women and men, are physically and emotionally robust, have a business attitude, and an ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team, then we would like to hear from you.

Background:
The goal of this six year programme is "Increased incomes for the poor through enhanced employment opportunities in Northern Nigeria". The purpose is 'Increased employment and improved productivity in selected agricultural market systems in Northern Nigeria'.

It is expected that the programme will deliver the following results:

• At least 500,000 poor people in Northern Nigeria, 50% women, will see their incomes raised by at least 50%;
• At least £100m of additional public and private investment will be stimulated in support of the agriculture sector.

The current programme outputs are described in the original ToR as including, but not limited to:

• Changes in 4-6 agriculture and rural product markets based on the assessed needs of these sectors. (e.g. increased access to private sector supply and distribution of inputs);
• Government policies and their implementation processes changed in order to create an enabling environment for agriculture and rural sector development. (e.g. increase in Government investment in enabling infrastructure or a decrease in distorting government intervention),
• Improved economic opportunities for women in Northern Nigeria,
• Improved food security and nutrition and reduction in the vulnerability of poor people living in rural areas in Northern Nigeria, and:
• Improved market linkages into the neighboring Sahel.
• The 6-year programme (Design and Implementation) of between £22 million and £27 million will provide intensive support to a range of market functions and value chains in selected sectors, support entrepreneurship development and enterprise innovation, stimulate private sector provision of services and promote innovative and inclusive business models which have a potential to reach a large number of low-income people, using the methodology of Making Markets Work for the Poor.

General Responsibilities

• The Intervention Manager will report primarily to the Team Leader or a senior designated staff.
• The Intervention/Business Development Manager will lead and manage 2-3 programme interventions. This involves the usual functions of: design, strategy, plan, communicate, control, monitor and report.
• S/he will develop and maintain close relationships with project partners (mostly businesses) while overseeing and coordinating the implementation of project interventions.

Specific Responsibilities
The Intervention Manager will:

• Represent the programme in selected markets, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with partners, other members of the programme, and with public.
• Understand how the political economy impacts rural markets, and how changes in the functioning of markets may impact the political economy.
• Formulate strategies to develop service markets in these commodity chains/rural markets and seek opportunities to work as per sector strategy.
• Maintain contacts with key stakeholders to increase synergies.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure proper implementation of activities.
• Take part in facilitating and managing the work of partners/co-facilitators/service providers of programme and ensure "value for money" for the tasks given.
• Remain well aware of developments in the relevant sectors/markets/commodity chains.
• Refine and adapt the intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs and opportunities, within the overall program of Propcom.
• Help supervise/facilitate the identification and development of networks among key stakeholders, helping identify common interests between the networks and Propcom.
• Help identify market failures and pressure points for addressing them; help identify ways to render a given market more functional and efficient, in a manner that will benefit the poor.
• Refine and adapt the commodity chain intervention strategies in light of participant and stakeholder requests and changing needs, within the overall program.
• Develop intervention strategies and implementation procedures in a participatory manner with key stakeholders.
• Identify priority areas for interventions that will change as opportunities pass or are realized and new ones emerge.
• Assist in establishing contacts with national and regional institutions, stakeholders and participants that would contribute to the successful implementation of market activities.
• Support the Communications staff and Results Measurement staff in implementing the project RM system, particularly as it pertains to the markets, systemic change, and gender disaggregated impacts on the poor, as well as other social development issues.
• Assist to update and supervise RM aspects of the intervention activities, including establishing baselines, indicators, and results.
• Assist in collecting baseline data related to interventions targeted for study or implementation by the project.
• Assist in providing technical oversight of the market and the fulfilment of its development purpose as expressed in the program action plans and log frames.

Requirements

• A post graduate level qualification in Economics, Business, Design, or Sciences.
• Understanding and interest in how markets work.
• Good working knowledge of Nigeria's economic development.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years' work experience in activities related to agricultural commodities and rural development, with some experience working with the private sector and confirmed knowledge of the institutions and organizations that provide services to the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
• Ability and experience of developing simple business plans
• Ability to influence a range of people including client organisations, government agencies and other key stakeholders by building constructive relationships through clear communication and generate effective discussion and mutual support for plans and ideas.
• Strong project management expertise, exposure to implementing technical assistance projects, and ability to bring together sector stakeholders.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal/people management skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to work in the field.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills.
• Fluency in Hausa language is an advantage.

Personal Qualities:

• The commitment and flexibility to carry out varied responsibilities.
• There must be a strong commitment to gender sensitive, pro-poor development work and an ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team.

Duty Station:

• This position is based in Abuja but the Intervention Manager will be required to travel extensively within the Northern States of Nigeria.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV (maximum of three pages) and a 1 page covering letter, outlining how your skills and competencies match the requirements of the post to: [email protected]


Application Deadline 21st March, 2014 

---