• Job Description

  Req#: 3002052

  Job Title: Technical Advisor III – Market Systems and Value Chains	Reports to: Senior Technical Advisor Market Systems and Inclusive Finance
  Department: PIQA	Salary Grade: 11
  Location: Remote

  Job Summary

  The Technical Advisor III (TA III), Market Systems and Value Chains contribute to strategy development for Agriculture and Livelihoods programming at global and regional levels and provide technical advice and leadership to the design and implementation of a wide range of agriculture and livelihoods programs, with a focus on strengthening market engagement and value chains among farmers who are growing their commercial production. The TA III ensure that all projects and program are implemented in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable . The TA III’s expertise, advice and influence will significantly contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ Market Systems and Value Chain programming is across a region or regions.

  Roles and Key Responsibilities

  Contribute to the design, advocate for, and ensure implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Agriculture and Livelihoods with specific focus on market systems and value chains that effectively engage partners, private sector, donors, and governments. Ensure a cross-sectoral approach that advances the Agriculture and Livelihoods theory of change f ostering strong collaboration with other technical advisors to develop systems-focused approaches with strong integration across climate change, land restoration, gender and social inclusion, nutrition, and protection mainstreaming.

  Provide technical solutions globally, for regional and/or CP teams for strategic planning and how to best apply and adapt program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E in Agriculture and Livelihoods , particularly for aspects of market systems and value chains.

  Contribute to the development and deployment of new methods, tools and training to promote collaborative partnerships with a wide range of market actors to strengthen market systems.

  Promote and support systems-led program design and implementation that put local institutions in the lead of designing, implementing and adapting interventions using the Inclusive Systems Development principles and tools.

  Support value chain assessments, design of value chain upgrading strategies, foster strategic private sector partners and support learning for strengthening stronger linkages between small scale producers and entrepreneurs to sustainable market opportunities.

  Support the development of markets in fragile settings that foster market-based solutions in humanitarian and recovery contexts and market resilience for food and nutrition security.

  In collaboration with the other markets and value chain TAs, lead the development, application and learning of specific approaches in market systems and value chain approaches such as last-mile agent models, engaging women and youth in value chains, seed systems and market-led land restoration.

  Contribute to HQ, regional, and country program staff efforts to pre-position CRS for strategic growth opportunities in Agriculture and Livelihoods. Provide technical guidance in proposal development and project design with a focus on complex projects to ensure innovative programming solutions and technical excellence . Support CPs to cultivate relationships with market actors for effective co-creation and to appropriately staff project teams with skills ideal for facilitating inclusive systems development.

  Oversee and lead the delivery of capacity strengthenin g initiatives in market systems and value chain aspects of Agriculture and Livelihoods globally for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums; organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops and conferences; and mentoring and coaching staff in innovative CRS approaches and tools. Provide mentoring and coaching to TAs, as well as CP and regional staff.

  Support counterparts across levels of the agency in developing a collaborative understanding of the systems (including an understanding of the needs, interests, incentives and motivations of internal and external stakeholders) and underlying drivers for change related to market systems and value chains.

  Contribute to influence and scaling strategies. Facilitate systems analysis and support counterparts to identify opportunities to deepen engagement with government, private sector, civil society, academic institutions, etc. and identify shared interests and opportunities to collaborate toward outcomes at a larger scale than what can be achieved individually.

  Oversee and lead aspects of the agency knowledge management and learning agenda in Market Systems and Value Chain programming through helping implement conditions for collective learning that ensure the capturing, documenting, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based implementation research, internally and externally, including publications in peer reviewed journals.

  Represent CRS in targeted regional or global forums to develop opportunities and better ensure collaboration and shared learning in Market Systems and Value Chains to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies . Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile in Market Systems and Value Chains influence in the regional or global market systems community , and donor diversification.

  Qualifications

  Basic Qualifications

  Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Business or fields related to Agriculture and Livelihoods.

  Minimum of ten years of work experience in Agriculture and Livelihoods, markets and value chains, with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with three years overseas in multiple regions as a technical advisor and/or program manager of a markets-focused Agriculture and Livelihoods project and/or multi-sectoral project with a markets-focused Agriculture and Livelihoods component.

  At least five years of experience designing, managing and/or advising programs that support the development of markets systems and value chains working with all market systems actors including producers, private sector, public sector, research and others.

  Preferred Qualifications

  Master's Degree is a plus.

  Technical and/or academic publication(s) is a plus.

  Experience in fragile markets and/or supporting food fortification with agri-processors is a plus.

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  Experience in the development and production of curricula, tools, and other products to support Agriculture and Livelihoods interventions and programming, especially those with a focus on market systems and value chains. Demonstrated experience in transferring knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.

  Experience with program monitoring and evaluation including development of indicators, data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.

  Experience and skills to represent the organization at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners – faith-based and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.

  Strong understanding and application of technical principles a nd concepts in Agriculture and Livelihoods, especially market systems and value chain development.

  Demonstrated commitment to climate-responsive, nutrition-sensitive programming with experience developing and promoting approaches to integrate gender equity and social inclusion into market systems.

  Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in Agriculture and Livelihoods.

  Ability to "walk alongside" collaborators in project and strategy design as well as implementation to support adaptation to changing contexts and evolving understanding of resilient livelihood systems.

  Ability to coordinate across internal and external system actors to design effective projects and strategies that align with the priorities of system actors, CRS and donors.

  Exemplifies respect for local knowledge by integrating local insight and expertise throughout strategy, project design and implementation, and maximizes opportunities for local leadership.

  Ability to foster collaborative and trusting relationships with diverse system actors (e.g., government, civil society including the church and private sector) and apply a catalytic mindset to co-design sustainable solutions that maximize opportunities for local leadership.

  Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks .

  Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.

  Very strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment

  Very strong written and oral communication skills

  Very strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

  Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.

  Required Languages : Ability to work French or Spanish is highly preferred.

  Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 35%.

  Supervisory Responsibilities: No

• About the company

  Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

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