The purpose of the USAID Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity is to support increased agriculture productivity and income, access to finance and markets, and access and consumption of nutritious food products in Rwanda, while increasing the resilience of the agriculture and food systems to the changing climate. To achieve this goal, the Activity will sustainably increase agricultural productivity, increase access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses, improve producers’ market outcomes, and strengthen the enabling environment to foster market-driven outcomes in agriculture.
Position Description
Reporting to the Director of Agriculture Productivity, the Seed Market Systems Advisor will be responsible for advancing seed market systems development for Hinga Wunguke target value chains. S/he will work with private and public seed market actors to ensure that the seed market system is functional and systemic changes are fostered resulting in increased and sustainable availability of quality seeds to smallholder farmers in Hinga Wunguke target districts and the wider seed market in Rwanda. The Seed Market Systems Advisor is based in Kigali.
The main duties of the Seed Market Systems Advisor include, but are not limited to:
- Lead seed market systems analysis to identify and understand the root causes and inefficiencies in the seed market system and facilitate relevant actors to design and implement development interventions to improve performance of the seed market system in Rwanda;
- Facilitate or provide technical support to MINAGRI, RAB, RICA, PSF and other market actors to improve the seed market system;
- In collaboration with Enabling Environment Director, facilitate MINAGRI, RICA, RAB, PSF and others to initiate laws and policies enabling performance of the seed sector;
- Support seed market actors to comply with laws, regulations, procedures and quality standards requirements as set out by regulating institutions;
- Facilitate and provide expert advice to a range of seed market actors including seed breeders, seed producers, seed processors, seed distributors to produce and avail seeds adapted to the needs of farmers;
- Support seed market actors to produce and distribute high-quality seeds (including hybrid, bio-fortified, and climate-resilient) for Hinga Wunguke target value chains;
- Provide regularly updated information to seed market development actors regarding the release of improved, climate resilient and adapted crop varieties which might be of benefit to smallholder farmers; availability of breeder and foundation seed and parental line maintenance, commercialization of new varieties;
- Organize and facilitate forums to discuss policies and regulations issues affecting the performance of seed market development and needed improvements for farmers’ access to quality seeds, especially for Hinga Wunguke target value chains;
- Collaborate with the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor to ensure all Activity seed system interventions are inclusive of women, youth, people with disabilities and other groups;
- Interface and collaborate with Hinga Wunguke targeted value chain stakeholders to advance program objectives and activities;
- Identify and lead the development of seed market system innovation and partnership opportunities for Hinga Wunguke;
- Undertake other assignments or tasks at the request of the Agriculture Productivity Director, the DCOP and/or the Chief of Party.
- Advanced degree (or bachelor's degree with two years of additional relevant experience) in agriculture, agribusiness, seed systems development, value chain development, private sector development, international development, development studies, rural development or a related field;
- At least five years of progressively responsible work experience leading capacity building activities to facilitate sustainable input supply systems for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and input dealers;
- Proven experience of working with both public and private seed market actors at various levels including but not limited seed producers, agrodealers, seed distributors, seed importers, regulators, etc.
- In-depth knowledge and experience with Rwandan seed supply system;
- Considerable knowledge of laws, regulations, procedures and quality standards related to seed business in Rwanda and regional bodies (EAC, COMESA,) that Rwanda is part of.
- Demonstrated experience working with complex donor-funded project(s) related to agricultural finance, value chain development, private sector investment management and/or access to finance;
- Technical experience with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and NGO procedures;
- Demonstrated ability to interact and effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing;
- Effective at collaboration; willingness to innovate and ability to think systematically;
- Advanced Kinyarwanda as well as oral and written communication skills in English required; French considered an asset.
