Training Assistant in Agricultural Extension Consultant

• Develop selected orange-fleshed sweetpotato processed products and one for sweetpotato silage for cattle.  Cost benefit analysis will be included in these studies.
  
• Participate to gendered market analysis assessment for sweetpotato and cassava roots in the target regions, including leaves of both crops.
  
• Assess the potential CBO to be selected for successfully engaging in a OFSP-based value chain with an enterprise perspective and identifying 2 target markets in each district.
  
• Assess the potential 2 Primary School and/or 2 Health Center to be selected for successfully engaging in OFSP vine multiplication and utilization in each district.
  
• Collaborate with the baseline survey enumerators to ensure that the value chain activities are captured, taking gender and socio-economic conditions into account.
  
• Select youth and/or women as value chain specialists. Implement the gender-responsive training program for marketing and business development skills of sweetpotato-focused value chain specialists.
  
• Contribute to brief report that summarizes the legal options for organizing value chain specialists (VSCs) into a cooperative or other type of legal entity for service provision.
  

• Initial workplan, approved by project coordinator.
  
• Monthly progress report and next month approved plan:
  
• A. Two feasibility studies on sweetpotato processed products;
  
• B. One feasibility study on sweetpotato silage;
  
• C. One gendered market analysis;
  
• D. Report assessing the potential of 15 community-based organizations (CBOs) for successfully engaging in a sweetpotato value chain with an enterprise perspective.
  
• E. Report examining the potential candidates for larger-scale production of sweetpotato puree
  
• F. Draft training program for sweetpotato-focused value chain specialists
  
• G. Report on the legal options for organizing value chain specialists into a legal entity for service provision
  

• This consultancy contract is for February to August (132 working days)
  
• The payment is a fixed and consolidated fee.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agro-business, or marketing
  
• Expertise in:
  
• Understanding of agricultural value chains, including the processing sector
  
• Knowledge in marketing and agribusiness
  
• Experience in designing training tools and conducting youth trainings.
  
• Conducting survey and collecting data
  
• Experience in gender-responsive interventions preferred
  
• At least 3 years of professional experience
  
• Knowledge in community rural behaviour and mobilization
  
• Business oriented mindset (cost benefit analysis, price analysis)
  
• Excellent French and Malagasy speaking and writing skills; working knowledge of English
  
• Knowledge of legal regulations concerning cooperative, or association formation and governance preferred
  
• Ability to use Word, Excel, and Power Point (MS Office package)
  
• Willingness to travel and spend overnight in difficult conditions