Medior Advisor Rural Economic Development

• Type: Job
• Location: Sikasso, Mali
• Organisation: SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
  The rural society in Mali is involved in two important dynamics: political decentralisation, wherein the central state transfers competences to local governments, and liberalisation, wherein the private sector, including farmer's organisations, take over economic functions of the central state. Rain fed agriculture and livestock keeping remain for the moment the main sources of revenues, although gold precedes cotton (2) and livestock (3) as the main source of export revenues. Agro-climatic conditions and markets vary considerably and influence food security and income generating severely, explaining why it's important for rural households to make balanced choices of economic activities & market chains. The decentralisation process, crucial for adequate basic services delivery and investment in socio-economic activities, is progressing slowly, but certainly; most competences and financial resources are not yet transferred to local governments. The Netherlands Development Organisation SNV is working in 33 developing countries. Its work emphasises on poverty reduction through two key impact areas: "Sustainable and Equitable Production, Income and Employment" (PIE), as well as "Effective, Efficient and Increased Access to and Delivery of Basic Services" (BASE). Governance is an important cross-cutting theme. Sustainability, gender equity and social inclusion are key elements of good governance. SNV contributes to poverty reduction by providing capacity strengthening services to partner organisations in order to improve their performance, so they can better make their own deliberate choices, deliver appropriate services to their members and defend the interests of poor people. In the PIE impact area, SNV/Mali is supporting the development of three agricultural sectors: 'cotton', 'livestock/pastoralism' and 'oil seeds'. SNV stimulates value chain development for products of different farming systems, with a focus on improving access to markets for small holder farmers and livestock keepers, on sustainable natural resource management and on better supply of socio-economic services of rural households. SNV seeks to improve the functioning of farmers' organisations and rural service deliverers, to stimulate farmer-induced economic projects and to develop alternative chains (for cotton and other farm products). In current agricultural reorganisation, capacity development of farmers (in analysis, negotiation) is important for securing the revenues and services, which especially the cotton sector has delivered for a long time. SNV tries to influence agricultural policies, as well as legislative environment in alliance with national stakeholders. SNV/Mali consists of four regional teams of advisers based in Bamako (urban district), in Dioïla (with a branch in Sikasso), Koulikoro and Gao. It has a national team based in Bamako. The teams collaborate with different types of partners at national and local levels: civil society organisations, national and local farmers' organisations, rural small-medium enterprises, micro-finance institutions, inter-professional associations, municipalities, public services, as well as development organisations and donors and regional institutions in West Africa. The advisor participates in the rural economic development program in the cotton basin of South of Mali, where SNV has offices in Dioïla and Sikasso. He/she will be based in Sikasso and reports to the team coordinator, who is based in Dioïla.
• Closing Date: 20-May-2008
• Description:
  - Contribute to the development and implementation of the SNV strategy of rural economic development in the cotton area of Mali. - Provide advice and support to rural organisations (livestock and cotton farmers' organisations and local service deliverers) in order to professionalise their functioning and service delivery to members: set-up of economic projects, business planning, as well as internal strategy development, monitoring-evaluation and information mechanisms. - Elaborate and implement trajectories for capacity building in market chain development (alternative cotton and other farm products), in service delivery for sustainable production and influencing local policies for agriculture and land tenure. - Implement the cross-border exchange program with partners (farmers' organisations and local governments) and SNV colleagues in Mali and Burkina. - Facilitating contacts between farmers' organisations, service deliverers, commercial and financial partners, for joint projects and/or resource mobilisation. - Contribute actively to the development and sharing of knowledge on rural economic development in cotton areas as an active member of internal and external expertise networks.
• Applicant Requirements:
  Education: Master degree in Agro-economy, Agronomy or equivalent. Work experience: at least 5 years of relevant working experience, preferably in rural areas of Africa. Proven experience in analysis of agricultural sectors (preferably cotton), of value chains and natural resource management. She/he should have proven track record in capacity building through providing advisory services and process facilitating, having demonstrated competences in advising farmers' and other rural organisations in improving access to markets and rural services. Knowledge: (State of the art) knowledge of farming systems and value chain analysis. Knowledge of local economic development and relevant private sector development methodologies. Knowledge of gender and social inclusion concepts. Skills: Team player with networking abilities at the national and regional levels, combined with result orientation. Strong intercultural skills. Language: Speak and write fluently in French (working language in Mali) and in English (communication language within SNV-worldwide). Other: Computer skills and ability to work in a challenging and dynamic context. Affinity with farmers' organisations and the private sector in rural areas. Duty station Sikasso, capital of the administrative region of the same name. It's Mali's second town with 157000 habitants. Distance to Mali's capital Bamako is 370 km, 5 hours by car. Medical services: Reasonable. For specialized health care you will have to go to Bamako. Educational services: Only local schools (primary and secondary school). Security: Good. Accessibility: Telephone and internet connections available (VSAT installation). Salary Scale 10: minimum 2349,63 - maximum 3776,60 maximum Euro gross per month (hypo tax will be deducted) depending on relevant working experience, excluding attractive secondary conditions and individual allowances. Contract period: Three (3) years Starting date: July 1st, 2008
• Application instructions:
  You can send your application letter and CV (in English) to Mr Alidji Toure (atoure@snvworld.org) before the 20th of May 2008 under reference number ML 6376.
• Contact Person: Mr Toure Alidji talidji@snvworld.org
• More information about this Job...

Dev-Zone Opportunity ID No. 10439     Hits: 6