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Production/Agro-business Staple Food Crops Specialist - (Zimbabwe)
Company: ACDI/VOCA
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Open Til: 26-Sep-10
Industry Sector: Government/Industry Groups
Industry Type: Government/Association
Career Type: General
Job Type: Full Time
Minimum Years Experience Required: N/A
Salary: n/a

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For 46 years and in 145 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 93 projects in 40 countries and revenues of $124 million. 

We are currently seeking a Production/Agro-business Staple Food Crops Specialist for an upcoming multi-year program in Zimbabwe. Possible start date is October 2010 and the position is subject to ACDI/VOCA being awarded the program. The goal of the program is to increase incomes and food security of agricultural producers and generate more income and rural employment of rural agro-business through increased agricultural production, productivity, agro-processing and investment. 

Responsibilities: 
• Provide general technical support in project services and deliverables, particularly those related to best practices in staple crop production. 
• Oversee extension trainings and demonstration farms focusing on best practices in staple crop production, such as agronomy of crops, improved practices, pest and disease management, harvesting, post-harvesting, storage practices and farm level value adding. 
• Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate program adjustments. 
• Liaise with donor and beneficiary representatives to ensure an effective and responsive approach to project implementation. 

Qualifications: 
• Master’s degree or its equivalent (including an equivalent degree in a foreign education system in agro-economics, agro-business, and/or business administration; or in a closely related field strongly preferred. 
• Five years of relevant development experience in areas of staple food crops production, value adding, value chains, agro-business, and/or market linkages development experience. 
• Demonstrated experience implementing activities that resulted in increased income, production and lowering of costs to small holder farmers is preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience implementing activities that resulted in use of cutting edge technologies to increase production, income, lowering of costs to small holder farmers is preferred. 
• Five years work of relevant experience in international development program of equivalent size and scope of which experience in Africa is preferred. • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector 
• partners, stakeholders and donors. 
• Excellent writing and presentation skills. 
• Ability to utilize standard word processing and spreadsheet computer software 
• Packages. 
• Excellent English language skills. 

Please apply online by clicking "APPLY TO THIS POSITION". No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE.