Agribusiness Associate

Agribusiness Associate

Based in Seoul, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a model of economic growth known as “green growth”, which targets key aspects of economic performance such a poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. The organization partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and private sector to help build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.

GGGI has a diverse portfolio of programs in developing countries around the world. These in-country programs, together with global products and services, focus on delivering results through an integrated approach of evidence-based green growth planning and implementation aligned to countries’ development priorities. The organization also focuses on knowledge development and management activities which build a strong theoretical and empirical basis for green growth, while providing concrete options and guidance for policymakers; as well as building the conditions for public and private green infrastructure investments.

POSITION SUMMARY

Nepal’s terai flood plain is hard hit by recurrent climate emergencies and a humanitarian crisis induced by returning economically displaced migrant workers. The new project, titled ‘Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers through Climate Smart Agriculture in the Terai Flood Plain, Nepal (2022-2025)’ – hereafter KOICA CSA project – will support widespread adoption of climate smart agriculture to reduce vulnerability and improve food and job security, especially for women and returned migrant workers. It will do this by a) improving emergency management in the agriculture sector to protect lives and livelihoods; b) strengthening resilient agriculture planning and implementation; c) building and financing climate smart agriculture businesses for job creation and long-term resilient green growth.

The Associate will assist the implementation of the KOICA CSA project’s output 2.1 which aims to invest in climate smart agriculture for job creation and competitiveness. The Associate will set up and operationalize Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund, USD 1.52 million, to incubate selected 120 climate smart agribusinesses in the region. This Challenge Fund will allow for CSA opportunities to be significantly scaled up across municipalities, generating a further estimated 530 jobs over the project life. The project will create employment and business opportunities in value chains which can benefit landless people as well. Seed capital can be spent to acquire needed equipment and infrastructure, or to implement new crop, soil, or water resources management practices in line with CSA principles. In addition, the project will mobilize USD 20M in financing to support the scale up of such practices in other districts of the flood plains of the terai.

The Associate will work closely with GGGI under the leadership and guidance of the Country Representative, Senior Project Coordination Officer, and Senior Agriculture Officer (KMCO) to ensure that the outputs delivered are in line with the CSA project KPIs.

PURPOSE

The Associate will be responsible for the delivery of the following specific activities.

Specific tasks for this assignment shall include the following:

• Set up and operationalize the Challenge Fund – a) through a competitive process, select a local handling bank to manage the Challenge Fund; b) set up fund capitalization and disbursement procedures; c) capitalize fund with funding, and d) disburse the funds held by the Challenge Fund.
• Disburse seed capital to winning agribusinesses and provide identified technical support – a) organize calls for proposals, where agribusinesses submit applications to receive seed capital from the Challenge Fund; b) receive and evaluate applications against objective criteria; c) disburse seed capital; d) provide tailored technical support and a platform for peer-peer learning and networking; and e) provide bi-annual capacity building programme
• Work collaboratively with diverse groups operating with the selected value chains including but not limited to, the agribusiness community, farmer-based organizations, and the public and the private sector to identify and fund investments along the selected agribusiness value chains.
• Support to mobilize climate finance from bilateral or international climate funds to support scale up and replication nationally – a) scope potential public and private sector investors to support scale up of program for Phase II, for example private impact investors; b) shortlist five priority investors; c) undertake required agricultural assessments and studies; d) prepare two proposals for scaling-up the program.
• Monitor and assess implementation of each investee’s project, including services provided to smallholder farmers and the achievement of the expected targets and objectives (outputs and impacts)
• Other relative duties assigned by the Country Representative and Senior Project Coordination Officer.

ENGAGEMENT

• Assist engagement with key government counterparts, private sector institutions, relevant academic institutions and, non-governmental agencies to identify best-practices, lessons to be learned in development of and implementation of capacity-building related to climate-smart small-holder agricultural production systems, and promotion of climate-resilient agri-businesses MSMEs and associated government agencies.
• Assist coordination among GGGI/partner experts to consolidate a coherent curriculum of best-practices in climate-smart small-holder agricultural production and processing systems and to oversee its delivery to stakeholders.
• Support coordination among GGGI/partner experts to mainstream social/gender inclusivity consideration across the project/country portfolio and ensuring that this is effectively reported upon.
• Support organizing events and sessions between farmers, entrepreneurs and enabling institutions, and potential investors.

DELIVERY

• The established and operationalized Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund
• Guidelines for applicants to the Challenge Fund.
• A peer-to-peer learning platform for selected agribusinesses.
• Climate smart agribusinesses capacity building curriculum (10-12 weeks) focused on selected value chains for selected agribusinesses
• Bi-annual capacity building program
• Monthly group mentorship meeting with selected agribusinesses Bi-monthly monitoring and assessment report of selected agribusinesses
• Mapping on potential public and private sector investors to shortlist five priority investors
• Agriculture assessment and study (Pre-feasibility study) to develop a full funding proposal
• Collection/submission of information for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) purposes, and technical reporting and administrative reporting needs.
• Monthly/quarterly progress report.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree degree in agribusiness, business administration or related field.
• Preferred 3 to 5 years’ experience in the agribusiness sector, particularly in value chain development and facilitating market linkages.
• Experience in agricultural administration, economic and financial analysis, market and risk assessment, and evaluation of programs or related activities.
• Experience in developing or advising agribusiness projects in Nepal.
• Track record experience in project cycle management.
• Excellent fluency in English and Nepali, both written and verbal required.
• Work experience in Province 2 preferred.
• Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders, including financial institutions, government institutions, NGOs, civil society, others, would be an advantage.

FUNCTIONAL

• Strong understanding of the needs and challenges of agribusinesses, smallholder farmers and other agribusiness value-chain actors in Nepal or similar contexts.
• Working experience on agri value chain development.
• Experience in working with Government of Nepal, local governments, bi-lateral organizations and I/NGOs.

CORPORATE

• Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision, and values
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership
• Has strong client orientation
• Process and share information easily and is excellent at problem solving
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily
• Demonstrate high level of integrity in handling privileged information and in stewardship of public resources
• Value the importance of promoting environmental sustainability within the workplace and green growth within society as a whole

WORKING CONDITIONS

• GGGI provides 13% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.
• GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.
• The start of this position is still pending the signing of the contract between GGGI and KOICA.

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Location: Nepal
City: Janakpur
Contract Type: Staff
Grade: X6
Salary scale: Country Scale
Contract Duration: 3 years
Date to close (KST): 30/06/2022
Job Reference: NP07_KOI_02