Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Transformation

Position Title: Senior Business and Market Systems Manager - Organizational Strengthening
Location: Kathmandu (frequent domestic travel required)
Unit: Agriculture, Resilience, and Water 
Reports To:  Sr. Business and Market Systems Director  

Background:

The new five-year Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Transformation (“USAID Agricultural Transformation”) aims to catalyze the transformation of Nepal’s agricultural sector required for long-term inclusive economic growth. USAID Agricultural Transformation is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD), CrossBoundary, Banyan Global, and the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). USAID Agricultural Transformation’s working area will include 26 districts across six provinces, with the goal to reach more than 500,000 farming households.  

Building on successful Feed the Future (FTF) investments in Nepal, USAID Agricultural Transformation will apply a refined evidence-based market systems development approach that empowers Nepali private and public actors to identify, design, implement, and own solutions that address root causes of market inefficiencies across five target value chains (fine rice, industrial maize, high-value vegetables, lentils, and goat) through four interrelated objectives: 

Objective 1: Agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and diversification increased  
Objective 2: Enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture and equitable access to market systems improved  
Objective 3: Climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities enhanced  
Objective 4: Capacity of national agricultural research institutions and extension systems strengthened.  

USAID Agricultural Transformation will place women, youth, and marginalized populations at the center of intervention design to strengthen their economic participation and address underlying constraints to accessing productive resources, markets, and information. Strategic facilitation pathways will catalyze new investment in inclusive business models, facilitate adoption of climate smart practices, technologies, and services tailored to the diverse needs of users, and strengthen the Government of Nepal (GON) at all three tiers. 

Position description:

This position will lead activities related to capacity strengthening of agri-businesses which, in turn, will be responsible for delivering training to farmer groups. The Senior Business and Market Systems Manager -Organizational Strengthening will ensure the application of market system principles to project interventions and will lead the development of an improved business development services (BDS) ecosystem that is responsive to the variable needs and sizes of diverse agri-businesses. This position will identify agri-businesses strategically placed to drive agricultural economic development (especially in the USAID Agricultural Transformation’s Economic Growth Centers) and create tailored support packages to strengthen the capacity of partners to ensure efficient supply chain functions across targeted value chains. He/she will act as a key liaison between the Senior Business and Market Systems Director and the Grants and Subcontract Director for ensuring appropriate technical support is provided to grantees and for assessing the effectiveness of the grantee support as well as their delivery of training to farmer groups. This position will collaborate closely with the other Objective leads and consortium partners to make effective links and integrate critical cross-cutting features, such as finance and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies, into the capacity strengthening packages. 

Essential responsibilities: 

• Support the Senior Business and Market Systems Director in:
  a. Identifying and analyzing different markets and trends across working area, particularly centered on USAID Agricultural Transformation’s five Economic Growth Centers (Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Bharatpur, Birgunj), and providing strategic input to determining targeted value chain and private sector partnership opportunities.
  b. Building strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders (local, national and international).
  c. Implementing interventions that leverage the interconnections between farmers and private companies providing improved inputs and services that farmers need to be able to improve quality and produce competitive products for end markets.
  d. Identifying and addressing barriers to economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized groups (WYM) by generating new opportunities to engage in profitable agribusinesses.
  e. Identifying and promoting enterprise opportunities to improve the resilience of rural households through diversification into off-farm agricultural enterprises.
  f. Collaborating closely with the policy team regarding private sector policy requirements in the agricultural sector (e.g., finance; mechanization; research and extension; CSA technology promotion and climate change adaptation; warehousing standards and financing; crop insurance; contract adherence and timely payment to farmers etc.) to ensure integration of activities into overall project design. 
• Develop a network of lead/anchor firms and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and a strategic plan for engaging them with tailored support plans. 
• Lead development of a robust business development services (BDS) ecosystem with new modalities and domestic partnerships. This includes: i). identifying international/regional BDS advisory service providers; ii). overseeing BDS technical assistance including matching local businesses with appropriate support and overseeing customized support plans; and iii). developing a cadre of domestic BDS providers with focused technical expertise. 
• Develop, oversee, and assess effectiveness of customized business capacity strengthening plans according to needs of individual firms. These plans will need to integrate distinct cross-cutting components, such as marketing, human resource development, communications, digital tools usage, access to finance etc. 
• Coordinate closely with Market Systems Team (including Business and Market Systems Manager -Finance and Business and Market Systems Manager/Resilience) to integrate cross-cutting activities including improving access to finance, crop insurance, digital resources, climate resilience and risk-mitigation etc. 
• Coordinate closely with the Senior Business and Market Systems Manager - Resilience to advise on Business Literacy Program content and training delivery modality updates. 
• Coordinate closely with the Grants and Subcontract Director and Grants Managers to provide technical oversight for the Grants under Contract (GUC) program including technical support on Request for Applications (RFAs) and Annual Program Statement (APS).
• Provide technical assistance to the Food and Management Trading Company (FMTC) to strengthen its supply chain management and distribution mechanisms.
• Collaborate with major commodity associations such as the Seed Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal (SEAN), the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries (ANROPI) and the Nepal Agri-machinery Entrepreneurs’ Association Nepal (NAMEA). 
• Collaborate with national and district level business and banking associations such as the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA).
• Coordinate closely with other component leads and field teams to ensure integration of activities (including GESI considerations) into overall project design including Objective 1 lead for matching grantees with farmer groups and technical support packages; and Objective 4 lead for advising on private sector capacity strengthening activities for the research and extension feedback loop.  
• Participate in and contribute to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. 
• Provide technical inputs on USAID Agricultural Transformation annual workplans (verbal and written) related to USAID Agricultural Transformation design, sequencing, outcomes, location, partner responsibility, as well as quarterly and annual reports.
• Undertake other related tasks assigned.

Qualifications and requirements: 

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required (preferably in agriculture or agri-business). Master’s degree in related field (Masters in agri-business or business administration preferred).  

Required Experience & Skills: 

• At least 5-7 years of experience working in agriculture/agribusiness, with demonstrated experience integrating GESI considerations in implementation. 
• Proven experience in market systems development, private sector engagement and enhancing value chains.
• Extensive capacity strengthening experience including working with firms of different business levels and sub-sectors (e.g., for USAID Agricultural Transformation’s purposes this refers to agrovets, aggregators, millers/processors, cooperatives, local agri-service providers etc.); and incorporating digital tools and resources in capacity strengthening initiatives.
• Proven experience working with BDS providers. 
• Proven experience utilizing evaluation tools to determine effectiveness of capacity strengthening initiatives.
• Ability to design and implement targeted interventions, capacity-building initiatives and partnership management tools (including previous experience with grant design and oversight).
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening business and value chains (particularly for rice, maize, lentil, and other high-value commodities). 
• Experience collaborating with financial institutions, commodity associations and business networks.
• Demonstrated ability to work with government counterparts at different levels.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, organizational skills and experience working in diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and environments.
• Strong coordination and communication skills.

Language: Fluent Nepali is required. Fluent/advanced English is required, including excellent report writing and English communication skills, with the ability to deliver high-quality reports/technical documents.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA): 

Winrock International seeks to cultivate an environment where all candidates relish equal employment opportunities devoid of discrimination, misconduct, fraud, and abuse. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Localization guides our practices not just in hiring, but also in staff retention, growth, and policy implementation. This commitment signifies that we value diversity in all its forms including age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and cultural background. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, recognizing the rich tapestry of the communities in which we live and work. 

Disclaimer:  Winrock does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (resume submission, interview, processing). Any canvassing during the application and recruitment process will result in disqualification.