Manager – Agribusiness Incubation & Entrepreneurship

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic and innovative professionals for the position of Manager – Agribusiness Incubation & Entrepreneurship to support Agribusiness Innovation Platform under the Global Research Program Enabling Systems Transformation.  The position will be based in ICRISAT, Nairobi, Kenya.  The incumbent will report directly to the Cluster Leader of the Agribusiness Incubation Platform (AIP) and administratively to ICRISAT’s Country Representative for the designated country.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 millions of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandated crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on drylands and on protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

For the position:

The ideal candidate should be an expert with considerable experience in business research, strategic consulting, project planning and execution, industry networking, promotion, marketing and business development. The incumbent will work with other ICRISAT and other CGIAR staff and local partners to design. He/she will also have the opportunity to contribute to business development.

Responsibilities:

•  Lead the implementation of agribusiness projects across various locations in Africa
• Contribute to project proposal preparation and report writing for donors
• Facilitate project design/development and institutional partnerships with the private sector for AIP through networking and liaison
• Develop marketing, promotion and branding strategy for various projects
• Contribute to donor acquisition and servicing based on the target deliverables
• Strengthen farmer-based organizations and conduct technical training for farmers and extension officers focusing on farming as a business as well as handhold MSMEs
• Assist in development of MIS platforms for various projects on need basis 8. Develop mechanisms of working with ICRISAT scientist on public-private partnership (PPP) models to enhance the outcomes and impacts of ICRISAT project interventions
• Liaise with the international donors for the establishment of similar platforms in the developing countries of the world.
• Organize programs, trainings, conference, seminars for start-ups, entrepreneurs, farmerbased organizations/cooperatives, MSMEs among other key actors.
• Strengthen farmers’ organizations and conduct technical training for farmers and extension officers focusing on farming as a business.
• Track the progress of AIP projects in Africa for its effective delivery of services to it clients.
• Liaise with the Scientists sand team members of other programs to explore new funding opportunities, while enhancing the operations of AIP for increased impact.
• Any other assignment as assigned by the immediate supervisor and ICRISAT Leadership Team.

Required skills:

• A Postgraduate degree in Agribusiness Management or a related field is a must for this position
• A minimum of 7 years of hands-on career experience working within agribusiness ecosystems including sound project management skills, preferably in the ESA region.
• Solid and up-to-date understanding and experience in agribusiness incubation, operation of start-ups and digital entrepreneurship.
• Proactively meet the needs of the incubatees and assist them with technology validation, business development, mentoring, and funding among other services.
• Help with go-to-market strategy and assist with fundraising for the incubatees through HNIs network, and Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists.
• Plan and execute workshops/events/webinars/expos to promote incubation services, incubatees and generate a pipeline of new incubatees and partners.
• Prior proven experience in running an agribusiness incubator will be an added advantage.
• In consultation with the CEO of the Agribusiness Incubation Platform, liaise with the international donors for the establishment of agribusiness incubators in Africa.
• Good computer skills, especially in MS OFFICE applications.
• Effective communication skills in spoken and written English and networking skills with ability to communicate in local languages a plus.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and time management skills with good ability and demonstrated expertise to write, plan business research, analyze data and complete timely reports.
• Proven coordination/leadership skills, ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams with proven sensitivity to cross-cultural and gender issues and interact effectively with the Institute’s partners and service providers.
• Willingness to travel extensively in the WCA region and to other ICRISAT operational regions as needed.

General:

This is a contractual position for a period of 36 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 15 November 2024 with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer