Agriculture Advisor

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About Us

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Assignment Title: Agriculture Advisor

Department/Location: USAID Democratic Republic of the Congo / Kinshasa

Technical Point of Contact: Director of the Economic Growth Office

Type: Consultant

Classification: Consultancy for 200 days, to be completed over 12 months commencing Jan/Feb 2025

Possible permanent role available

Category: Ongoing Project

Clearance Required: Facility and Network Access, applied for on engagement

Travel: 1 trip per quarter (TDY within DRC)

One trip home (approx. 2 weeks) midway through the 200 day term

Overview:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest, most food insecure countries in the world. As of 2020, 40% of the population is undernourished and nearly 70% of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day. Gross Domestic Product per capita stands at just $577, thirty-seven million Congolese are suffering from malnutrition, and 37% of the population is in severe multidimensional poverty. The country’s food insecurity has been exacerbated by factors such as sharp fuel and food price increases resulting from the war in Ukraine, inadequate infrastructure, poor governance, and fragmented market systems.

In July of 2022, USAID/DRC was designated as a Feed the Future target country in an effort to advance solutions to reduce extreme poverty and malnutrition in the DRC. As the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future (FTF) will work in the DRC to give families and communities the freedom and opportunity to lift themselves out of food insecurity and malnutrition. By equipping Congolese with the knowledge and tools they need to feed themselves, the FTF program in the DRC will address the root causes of poverty and hunger, helping people end their reliance on aid, and creating important opportunities for a new generation of young people.

In September of 2024, the USAID/DRC mission received final approval of it’s country plan and strategy for implementing FTF in the DRC and is in the process of designing, soliciting and launching multiple interventions to reduce extreme poverty and malnutrition for 2.5 million people residing in the newly designated Zone of Influence (ZOI). At the same time, the Agriculture Team, located within USAID/DRC’s Office of Economic Growth (EG), while recently adding new personnel to implement that $22 million per year program, is also in the process of losing more seasoned personnel to retirement and change of duty station.

Given the staff transition and launch of the FTF program in the DRC, on behalf of USAID/DRC, IBTCI seeks to hire a Agriculture Advisor on a short-term consulting basis to support the implementation of the FTF portfolio. The Short Term Technical Advisor (STTA) will play an active role in assisting and advising the EG Agriculture Team throughout the launching of up to four new FTF activities and in the transition or closeout of legacy activities. The Advisor will also play an important role in advising and mentoring Foreign Service National (FSN) staff and first or second tour U.S. Direct Hires (USDH), as they design, manage and evaluate high-impact activities that focus on the accelerated agriculture sector development as a means of enabling inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

The STTA will report to the Director of the Economic Growth Office or the Feed the Future Country Coordinator as his/her designee, and will work in close collaboration with program, budget, technical, and policy staff within the Mission.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

The STTA Agriculture Advisor will provide strategic leadership advice in identifying and applying innovative approaches and best practices to achieve measurable results in the areas of agricultural production; agribusiness establishment and growth; food systems strengthening; seed system strengthening; trade and commerce; development finance; private sector and small enterprise development; and in other areas needed to improve inclusive economic growth in DRC. The Advisor will provide senior level mentoring and guidance on project management and on USAID internal processes and business practices. They will be expected to complete assigned duties with little direct supervision, exercising extensive independent judgment as he or she works with diverse teams from within the U.S. government (USG) interagency and among public and private sectors in DRC and abroad.

Specifically, the STTA Agriculture Advisor is expected to perform duties in the following areas:

A. Strategic and Technical Guidance in Market and Food Systems Approaches and Resilience to Strengthen Food Security and Improve Nutrition — 35%

Serves as a key advisor in the implementation of the Mission’s overarching Feed the Future program, including:

  • Conduct strategic analysis and research, review reports and technical proposals, and prepare substantive reports and briefing materials on issues related to technical and programmatic approaches in enhancing a market and food systems approaches and resilience within the agriculture sector and beyond.
  • Advise the EG Office Director, the Deputy Director, A/CORs, the Program Office, USAID Mission Management, and the USG interagency on market and food systems approaches, resilience and private sector engagement in support of USAID-funded food security activities.

B. Advise on Oversight and Management of Economic Growth Program Mechanisms — 35%

Responsible for advisory support on a complex portfolio, including improving business enabling environment, strengthening market and food systems approaches, and private sector engagement across food security and nutrition activities and advising on how these activities can increase complementarity within EG. They will also:

  • Conduct and supervise administrative and financial analyses, develop and track budget preparation, and advise on implementation and other budget requirements for the EG portfolio.
  • Monitor, and advise on the activities of grantees and*/*or contractors implementing USAID’s activities. Keep contractors, recipients, and grantees informed of USAID requirements and priorities.
  • Develop performance monitoring plans and monitor their implementation. Conduct evaluations and reporting in support of the EG portfolio.
  • Liaise with implementing contractors, recipients and grantees, and undertake visits to project sites on a regular basis.
  • Contribute to the development of all mission reports, including Operational Plans, portfolio reviews, semi-annual and annual Performance Plan & Reports; quarterly financial reports; data quality assessments; and site monitoring reports; among others.
  • Make recommendations to OEG and Mission management on program direction and management.

C. Mentor Junior Officers and Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) – 10%

Provide support, training, and mentoring to new and junior USDH and FSN staff working on the FTF portfolio, on project management, A*/*COR responsibilities, as well as specialized knowledge of technical and programmatic approaches in enhancing market and food system approaches and private sector engagement to improve food security. (NOTE: the STTA would not perform A/COR activities but could mentor junior USDH and FSN staff in their performance of this role).

D. Build Strategic Partnerships with the Government and Private Sector- 20%

Develop new and innovative partnerships and maintain working relationships, including:

  • Fostering and maintaining strategic partnerships with new and existing partners, mid- to senior-level DRC government officials, private sector representatives, the donor community, and civil society to enhance collaborative efforts that achieve mutual goals and objectives.
  • Serving as a member of USAID technical working groups and other relevant forums to plan and improve the USAID and USG portfolio around market and food system approaches and private sector engagement for sustainable food security and improved nutrition outcomes.

NOTE: The incumbent will not perform other inherently governmental functions or duties (e.g. will not serve as AOR/COR or supervise staff), but rather will advise, mentor, and facilitate as appropriate on the performance of inherently governmental functions on the part of the Office or Mission.

Deliverables:

Specific deliverables include

  1. Provide technical input and engage in the co-creation process for a seed system activity resulting in a SOW within the first 50 days of LOE expended.
  2. Provide technical input and engage in the co-creation process for a policy support activity resulting in a SOW within the first 50 days of LOE expended
  3. Complete at least three mentoring sessions for junior officers and/or FSNs providing advice on both the soft and hard (technical) skills needed to build a successful career in the field of international development.
  4. Provide strategic and technical input on best agricultural practices; resilience; food systems approaches; trade and economic growth, including market systems approaches; and other relevant technical fields in the form of comments and edits to inception reports submitted to USAID by the contractor for the Resilient Food Systems activity. The RFS activity is expected to submit a suite of reports and assessments between June and September of 2025.
  5. Within the 100 days of LOE, develop at least 2 presentations summarizing the FTF portfolio suitable for consumption by Mission leadership and/or external stakeholders;

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional or program experience in market systems or food system approaches and/or private sector engagement, and agricultural development programs with international donors, non-government organizations (NGOs), and/or government. A strong understanding of USAID processes and business practices and of the Feed the Future program is strongly preferred. Prior experience with international development agencies procedures and operations (e.g., development approaches, procedures for programming funds, defining objectives, and monitoring results, and procedures for awarding grants and contracts) is highly desired. Prior experience working in sub-Saharan Africa with exposure to the DRC, highly preferred.

Education:

The applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of experience or a Master’s Degree plus five years of experience in applied agriculture, agricultural economics, agronomy, business administration, or a related field.

Job Knowledge required:

Specialized knowledge of technical and programmatic approaches in enhancing market and food system approaches and private sector engagement to improve economic growth and nutritional outcomes is required. This may include demonstrated knowledge in the areas of agricultural value chain development, on- and off-farm agricultural sector*/market-led job creation, increasing dietary diversity, digital agriculture, digital business solutions, entrepreneurial innovation, and/*or access to agricultural finance.

Significant knowledge of program management and monitoring and evaluation methods as well as a broad range of issues related to agriculture-led development is required. Expert knowledge of best practices in agriculture development program design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning, including collaboration, learning and adapting strategy is necessary. Knowledge of strategies, programs, and working methodologies of other donor agencies in the livelihoods sector is desired. Knowledge of the structure and workings of the USG broadly is desired.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong analytical, management and organizational skills are required. The position requires demonstrated ability in strategic planning, technical and socio-economic analysis, and budget preparation and reporting skills. Considerable confidentiality, sensitivity, poise and maturity are mandatory as the applicant will represent USAID in meetings with mid- to senior-level Congolese government officials and with private sector and donor partners. The applicant should possess strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, the ability to work within a team setting and with minimal supervision. Strong leadership and negotiating skills are required. Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Windows, Word, and Excel and the Google suite of applications, are required. Familiarity with Microsoft Access and PowerPoint is desired.

Leadership and diplomacy skills are required as the incumbent will work with new private sector partners, technical and senior GDRC officials, USAID Implementing Partners, donors, media, judiciary and civil society to resolve issues and to further progress towards improving food security and nutrition outcomes in the DRC.

Language Proficiency:

Excellent English writing and speaking ability is required. French writing and speaking ability is strongly desired. The candidate should have a demonstrated capacity to communicate complex policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile or conflict prone zones.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Organization:

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education & human capacity development, energy & infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page, https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs).

How to apply

https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs/4040?lang=en-us

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