Scope of Work

USAID Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship

Agriculture and Livestock Lead 

Antananarivo / Fort Dauphin, Madagascar (TBD)

1.    Background

DAI seeks an Agriculture and Livestock Lead for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in Madagascar entitled Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship. This new activity will focus within the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI), specifically within the ZOI in Anosy, Androy, and Toliara, and will layer with other donors and USAID projects, particularly Harena, USDA Food for Progress, Harena, Riake, and Rano WASH. The activity will have two components:

1.     Increasing sustainable production of diverse and nutritious foods: addressing the low productivity and vulnerability of local food crops, livestock, and fisheries, increasing food security and strengthening value chains by focusing on a diversified, climate-sensitive approach; and

2.    Strengthening resilient market systems: strengthening the private sector and entrepreneurship to create opportunities and build resilience of Madagascar’s food systems, and encouraging, facilitating, and mobilizing private sector investment and financial services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

2.    Position Purpose

The Agriculture and Livestock Lead manage technical activities under the proposed Component 1. S/he will design and oversee technical activities related to strengthening capacities of agricultural organizations, increasing adoption of sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices, promoting high income and nutrient dense crops, investment in local agro-processing, and increasing market linkages to output markets and increasing access to agriculture market infrastructure. S/he will report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).

3.    KEy Duties & Responsibilities

·       Lead the design, implementation, and reporting of all agriculture and livestock-related activities related to Component 1.

·       Design and lead capacity building approach for agricultural organizations and agribusinesses.

·       Design and lead approach to promoting adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and increasing access to agriculture market infrastructure.

·       Oversee and ensure timely completion of technical deliverables (including monthly, quarterly, annual reports) and assigned sections of annual work plans

·       Provide direct supervision and leadership (motivation and mentorship) for assigned personnel (including direct reports and technical experts).

·       Support the Chief of Party (COP), DCOP and senior field technical staff in developing, reviewing and adapting technical vision and intervention plans for transformational changes in the agricultural market systems.

·       Support in the development or review of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) indicators or activities, as they relate to agriculture and livestock programming/Component 1.

·       Leads and/or conducts periodic updates to agriculture and livestock-related analyses where needed; evaluates the business case and potential of business models and technologies to improve impact.

·       Build and manage relationships with national and local-level businesses and related associations, and coordinate with partners and private sector programs operating at the national and local levels. 

·       Defines and coordinates research to capture lessons learned and best practices from projects and ensures their documentation and dissemination to inform Activity intervention design, implementation, and industry best practices.

·       Other tasks as assigned.

4.    minimum Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, animal husbandry, international development, or a related field required; Advanced degree preferred.

·       At least 8 years of experience in the planning, design, and implementation of agriculture and livestock activities for international development programs.

·       Experience working with USAID or other international donor funded programs.

·       Demonstrated experience and capacities as it related to principles, methods and techniques of enhancing sustainable agriculture opportunities, including training and capacity building.

·       Demonstrated experience working on / implementing local level grant/partnership programs.

·       Proven ability to work closely with external stakeholders, including providing support to local partners.

·       Professional-level oral and written fluency in English and French required; professional-level in Malagasy also highly preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI Organization and Values

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.