Thematic Director: Public Private Partnership and Market Access

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Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) is seeking an experienced Thematic Director: Public Private Partnership and Market Access. SAA currently operates in four focus countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda. This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


About SAA and SAFE
The Sasakawa Africa Association was established in 1986 and registered in Geneva, Switzerland as a Swiss NGO. Its administrative headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan. SAA spearheads efforts to modernize the techniques small farmers use to produce food and help them organized to obtain credit, acquire inputs, and market their harvests more successfully.

The SAA mission is to help sub Saharan African governments reduce poverty, enhance food security, and protect the natural resource base through the accelerated adoption of productivity enhancing agricultural technology.

The Sasakawa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) was established in 2002 and registered in Geneva, Switzerland as a Swiss NGO. Its administrative headquarters are also in Tokyo, Japan. SAFE identifies outstanding mid-career extension workers who have strong field level technical and leadership skills and offers them the opportunity to study for a BSc or MSc degree in agricultural extension. These efforts are underpinned by SAFE’s work with selected African universities to reform and modernize their agricultural education program.

SAA and SAFE have highly complementary objectives and work closely together to improve the delivery of extension services to Africa’s smallholder farmers. Both organizations have Managing Directors who serve as Chief Operating Officers responsible for day-to-day implementation of their Board approved programs of work. The two organizations have overlapping Boards of Trustees.
Board oversight of both organizations is exercised on a continuous basis by two Executive Directors, one focused on programmatic matters and the other on management –related issues. These EDs are full members of the SAA and SAFE Boards. For more information, go to www.saa-tokyo.org.

Primary Role and Responsibilities
While the specific responsibilities of the Thematic Director: Public Private Partnership and Market Access (PPP MA) will largely depend on the prevailing operational environment, his/her role in the organization entails a generic set of responsibilities that include:

1. Provide oversight of the personnel, assets and finances relative to the area of PPP MA;
2. Provide technical leadership, backstopping and guidance;
3. Ensure a comprehensive log-frame and long-term plan are in place and updated as required;
4. Work closely with Country Directors (CDs) and their national staff to ensure that PPP MA country programs, goals, objectives and activities are properly aligned with the overall SAA plan of work;
5. Ensure that appropriate expertise is brought to bear in timely ways to strengthen the efforts of country staff to successfully implement the program;
6. Provide technical leadership and support, regionally and at country level, relative to PPP MA;
7. Build capacity of private sector to impact on agricultural extension by linking them with crop management and production;
8. Strengthen a sound smallholder seed supply marketing system (formal and community-based) in synergy with crop management and production;
9. Work towards institutional coordination linkages between major stakeholders (research, extension, farmers, private sector);
10. Build and/or support networks and associations at international, regional and national levels for advocacy;
11. Broker a shared process for sustainability (exit strategy) with major stakeholders;
12. Ensure that technical, financial and other required reports are produced in a timely manner and to high quality standards.

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated candidate who has:

• A PH.D. or equivalent in Rural Development or an MBA with a major in market issues. A minor in extension, farmers’ organizations and/or private sector linkage is an advantage;
• A holistic vision of rural development and a good sense of project management;
• A good grasp of market access for small producers and is business-oriented and understands that technology transfer is not an end by itself but only a tool to achieve prosperity;
• 10 years experience, as s/he will form part of a matrix management in which Thematic Directors (4) are seasoned scientists and practitioners;
• Computer literacy;
• Proven track record of working with farmers’ organizations, private sector, public sector (including researchers);
• Good written and spoken English and French communication skills.

How to apply:
If you wish to apply, send by email an up-to-date CV and cover letter describing why you are interested and why you feel you are especially qualified for the position of Thematic Director: Public Private Partnership and Market Access. Emails should be sent to:

Ms. Karen Bromham (kdbromham@gmail.com)

NOTE: SAA provides an internationally competitive salary package, is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages women applicants. Closing date for application is December 18th, 2010.

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