Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Transformation

Position Title: Senior Business and Market Systems Manager – Resilience
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 strengthening the resilience of agricultural market systems while ensuring the application of market system principles to project interventions. Resilience strengthening encompasses a number of strategic programmatic approaches including providing technical support for: i). the Business Literacy Program which develops smallholder entrepreneurial skills; ii). development of effective crop insurance products; iii). climate adaptation initiatives at the municipal level and incorporation of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) tools and technologies in USAID Agricultural Transformation interventions; and improved early warning systems. The Manager will support identification of, and outreach to, agri-businesses strategically placed to drive agricultural economic development (especially in the USAID Agricultural Transformation’s Economic Growth Centers) and support creation of customized packages to strengthen the capacity and resilience of partners to ensure efficient supply chain functions across targeted value chains. Simultaneously, s/he will support activities that integrate small holders into key value chains.  

Essential Responsibilities: 

• Support the Senior Business and Market Systems Director in:
  a. Identifying and analyzing different markets and trends across the working area, particularly centered on the USAID Agricultural Transformation’s five Economic Growth Centers (Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Bharatpur, Birgunj); and providing strategic input to determine targeted value chain and private sector partnership opportunities.
  b. Building strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders (local, national and international).
  c. Analyzing and enabling relationships among actors that translate into shared benefits to incentivize new investment in market systems.
  d. 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.
  e. Incorporating CSA technologies into USAID Agricultural Transformation interventions (and evaluating impact).
  f. Collaborating closely with the policy team regarding private sector policy requirements in the agricultural sector (e.g., CSA technology promotion and climate change adaptation; crop insurance; Early Warning Systems; increased access to finance) to ensure integration of activities into overall project design. 
• Develop a network of lead/anchor firms and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to a strategic framework for engaging them with tailored support plans.
• Provide technical guidance for updating the Business Literacy Program (BLP) curriculum; identifying suitable local partner(s) to implement the BLP; orienting partner(s); and overseeing partner implementation of BLP. In addition, responsible for exploring opportunities for sustainable implementation of BLP, such as through GON, cooperative, academic or other long-term modalities.
• Provide guidance and technical support for identification and onboarding of Digital Champions and in formation of Peer Support Networks which will engage with and provide business counseling to BLP participants.
• Lead engagement of public and private sector stakeholders, such as the Nepal Insurance Authority and the Nepal Insurers’ Association, in developing viable crop insurance models/products. This includes coordinating with the GON, financial institutions and insurance companies to help set up an appropriate incentive mechanism(s) to cover insurance premium for farmers.
• Identify and work with lead market actors to expand the share of local products within their supply chains as a risk mitigation strategy. Also, strengthen the capacity (absorptive, adaptive, and transformative) of farmers and lead firms to plan for and respond to predictable shortage or increased demand (especially at Indian border areas) to strengthen the resilience of Nepal’s market systems. 
• Identify and address barriers to economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized groups (WYM) by generating new opportunities to engage in profitable agribusinesses. 
• Identify and promote enterprise opportunities to improve the resilience of rural households through diversification into off-farm agricultural enterprises.
• Provide technical guidance to local capacity strengthening field teams in: i). exploring opportunities to improve the capacity of local institutions for planning, accessing funds, and implementing climate change adaptation action; ii). contributing to establishing climate-smart villages and climate-smart farms; iii). coordinating with local government authorities to streamline the process for obtaining formal business registration for WYM; and iv). supporting the development of an improved business development services (BDS) ecosystem.
• 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 and the Nepal Bankers’ Association.
• Coordinate closely with other component leads to ensure integration of activities into overall project design including Objective 1 lead for matching grantees with farmer groups and technical support packages. For example, serve as a liaison with Objective 1 Lead to ensure that BLP participants are able to access other training opportunities.
• Coordinate with consortium finance lead on Green Taxonomy and other climate-finance opportunities. 
• Collaborate with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Director to ensure integration of GESI considerations. 
• 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). Master’s degree in related field (Masters in agri-business or agri-economics 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.
• Experience in forming strategic partnerships with lead firms, SMEs and supporting capacity strengthening initiatives for them.
• Experience in collaborating with financial institutions, commodity associations, business networks and BDS providers.
• Ability to design and implement targeted interventions, capacity-building initiatives and partnership management tools including use of digital technologies and resources.
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening business and value chains (particularly for rice, maize, lentil, and other high-value commodities). 
• Experienced in providing technical assistance to diverse resilience enhancing measures such as developing and diversifying smallholder entrepreneurial skills; improving early warning systems; developing crop insurance products; increasing access to financial tools and products; supporting climate adaptation measures including use of CSA technologies. 
• Demonstrated ability to work with government counterparts at three tiers.
• 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.