Team Leader / Senior Value Chain Expert (Cassava)

Background of the Organizations GOPA AFC GmbH is a private German consulting firm based in Bonn, founded in 1973, that works on agricultural, agribusiness, and financial development projects in developing and transition countries. It has implemented projects in more than 120 countries for clients including the EU, AFD, GIZ, KfW, the World Bank, and several development banks. The firm has worked extensively on the cassava value chain in Nigeria and Ghana, including the GIZ-funded SEDIN and AgriBiz programs. Part of the GOPA Group and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, it serves as the lead partner for this consortium. IRAM (Institut de Recherches et d’Applications des Méthodes de Développement) is a Paris-based associative consultancy firm that has worked in international development since 1957, operating in about 40 countries with a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, economists, sociologists, and development specialists. It has a record of Expertise France contracts, including the AFIDEC project in Comoros, the PGE Gabes in Tunisia, and the PAGOF project in West Africa, as well as extensive technical assistance for AFD and the EU. Its cassava work includes value chain analysis and extension strategy development in the D.R. Congo. IRAM is the consortium partner. BASA Development Initiatives (BDI) is a legally registered Liberian non-profit and non-governmental organization with a mission to empower women, youth, and communities through sustainable, locally led development that improves livelihoods, strengthens resilience, and advances inclusive social and economic growth. Its main intervention areas are agribusiness, environmental sustainability, education, youth and women empowerment, and health and nutrition. BDI has implemented work funded by the Global Environment Facility, the European Union, and GIZ. The EU-funded Cassava Transformation Project in southeast Liberia provided business support services and training in climate-smart agriculture and good agricultural practices across Maryland, Sinoe, and River Gee counties. BDI is built on the principle of local ownership, with Liberians championing their own development. Project Background The GOPA AFC–IRAM consortium, with its Liberian sub-contractor BASA Development Initiatives (BDI), is being awarded “Strengthening the cassava value chain in Liberia – boosting sustainable production, processing, and market access” (Lot 1), a technical assistance assignment tendered by Expertise France under the Liberia Private Sector Development Project and funded by the European Union. Cassava contributes about 23% of Liberia’s agricultural GDP, but yields are low. The assignment addresses these gaps through five results across the value chain. Results 1 to 3 target the core segments: production, processing, and marketing. Results 4 and 5 operate at the meso level, focusing on service provision and stakeholder organization. Cross-cutting attention goes to food security, poverty reduction, gender, youth, and people with disabilities. A team of seven subject-matter specialists will deliver the work, covering value chain development, production, processing, marketing, finance, social inclusion, and monitoring and evaluation, and will be complemented by local experts and facilitators. The GOPA AFC–IRAM–BDI team is now recruiting a Team Leader / Senior Value Chain Expert (Cassava) to lead a team of international and Liberian experts. Job Title: Team Leader / Senior Value Chain Expert (Cassava) Location: Monrovia, frequent travel to Gbarpolu, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Rural Montserrado. Project: Cassava Value Chain Development Component under the EU-funded Private Sector Development Project Reporting to: Principal Technical Backstopping Lead Status: National / International Duration: 6 months with renewal based on performance Job Overview The Team Lead provides overall leadership, strategic direction, and coordination for the project, designing and implementing interventions that strengthen the cassava value chain from production through processing to market access. The role brings public and private stakeholders together farmer organizations, MSMEs, cooperatives, and government through multi-actor platforms, oversees capacity-building for farmers, extension agents, and value chain actors, strengthens market linkages and inclusive business models such as contract farming, promotes climate-smart production and MSME value addition, and ensures gender equality and youth inclusion across all activities, while leading planning, monitoring, and reporting to donor standards. Key Responsibilities Provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and coordination for the project. Design and implement interventions to strengthen the cassava value chain, from production through processing to market access. Facilitate collaboration among public and private stakeholders, including farmer organizations, MSMEs, cooperatives, and government institutions. Establish and support multi-actor platforms and coordination mechanisms for inclusive value chain development. Oversee the development and delivery of capacity-building programmes for farmers, extension agents, and value chain actors. Strengthen market linkages, including structured buyer–seller relationships and inclusive business models (e.g., contract farming). Promote sustainable production practices, including climate-smart approaches, improved seed systems, and mechanization. Support MSME development in cassava processing and related value addition (e.g., gari, flour, starch, by-products). Ensure integration of gender equality and youth empowerment across all project activities. Lead project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting in line with donor requirements. Liaise closely with project steering committees, advisory bodies, and donor representatives. Required Qualifications and Experience Advanced university degree (master’s or PhD) in agriculture, agronomy, agribusiness, economics, or a related field . Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in agricultural value chain development, with substantial experience in cassava or other staple crops in Sub-Saharan Africa . Proven track record of leading complex, multi-stakeholder, donor-funded projects , preferably in rural development or agrifood systems transformation. Demonstrated experience in coordinating large, multi-disciplinary teams and managing high-level stakeholder engagement processes. Strong expertise in: Value chain analysis and development Capacity development and extension systems Market access and private sector engagement Organizational strengthening of farmer groups and umbrella bodies Solid understanding of inclusive approaches , including support to smallholders, MSMEs, and cooperatives. Experience with monitoring systems, performance tracking, and impact assessments . Familiarity with EU-funded projects is an asset. Prior experience in West Africa (preferably Liberia or neighboring countries) is highly desirable. Preferred Profile Extensive hands-on experience across all segments of the cassava value chain, including input systems, production, aggregation, processing, and marketing. Strong background in facilitating multi-actor platforms , public-private dialogue, and sector coordination mechanisms. Proven experience in designing and delivering training programs on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), business skills, and farmer organization development. Experience working with extension systems , research institutions, and service providers to reach large numbers of smallholder farmers. Demonstrated ability to promote innovation and climate-smart solutions , including improved varieties, mechanization, and service delivery models. Track record in supporting MSMEs and value addition , including linking processors to markets and strengthening business performance. Experience integrating gender mainstreaming and youth inclusion into agricultural development programs. Excellent project management, coordination, and reporting skills in line with international donor standards. Fluency in English ; additional languages relevant to West Africa are an advantage.

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