West Africa Private Sector Partnership Consultant

Position description

AGRA a is a not-for-profit organization working with African governments, other Development Partners, NonGovernment Organizations (NGOs), the private sector and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor smallholder farmers in Africa. AGRA’s overall goal is to grow Africa’s food systems and recognizes the central role of the private sector in achieving inclusive and sustainable food systems, while creating work opportunities specifically for youth.

AGRA strongly believes in partnering with the private sector as a strategy to sustainable and inclusive development. Over the past 5 years, the institution has managed to build successful partnership business models and an extensive network of partners and relationships across the globe. AGRA will be looking to scale this under its new 5-year strategy dubbed ‘AGRA 3.0’, with the mission “To catalyze the growth of sustainable food systems across Africa by influencing and leveraging partners to build a robust enabling environment where private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food.” The institution will deliver this mission through four strategic business lines; sustainable farming, inclusive markets and trade, seeds systems and policy and state capability.

Private Sector Engagement is core to AGRA’s delivery, the institution recognizes the criticality of working with ecosystem players in order to achieve scale and reach in food system transformation. In the role out of its partnership strategy, AGRA will actively seek the following objectives:

1. Scale – Increase farmer and SME reach by leveraging partner networks and resources.
2. Sector expansion through crowding partnerships around prioritized interventions that un-lock private and public sector investments.
3. Accelerate delivery through reducing execution risk and creating efficiency with partners to achieve targets.
4. Influence and agenda shaping through identifying and partnering with institutions that champion food system transformation and ensuring the inclusion of Africa’s food systems agenda as a priority on regional and global agenda.

AGRA will achieve this through strategic sub-components as below:

1. Asia partnerships
2. Anchor private investors
3. SME finance with a focus on High Growth companies

The strategy will be implemented across the 15 countries that AGRA is working in and aims to achieve the following high-level targets:

1. 28 million farmers reached, of which 30% should adopt sustainable farming practices and 40% nutrient dense crops.
2. $3bn leveraged through government NAIPS and flagships
3. $300 m invested through AGRA platforms to enhance value chain competitiveness 
4. 2.4 million youth for job creation and ensure that 1.5 million youth have dignified and fulfilling jobs.
5. 30,000 SMEs and strive for women-led SMEs to increase revenue by 25%.

Core to delivery across each of these is the partnerships lever that not only creates scale through leverage but also sustainability of each of these efforts.

Objectives of the Consultancy 

Under the guidance of the Head of Private Sector Partnerships, the objective of this consultancy is to support the Private Partnerships Team in intensifying and expanding on AGRA’s partnerships by building upon existing country strategies with the private sector in West Africa, specifically AGRA countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Cote D’Ivoire in support of AGRA’s mission, more specifically by building and closing a pipeline of viable of private sector partnership activities.

Scope of Work 

Building on efforts and extensive work in the past 5 years, the consultant, under the guidance of the Head of Private Sector Partnerships, will be required to intensify and expand on AGRA’s partnerships by building upon existing country strategies with the private sector in West Africa private sector partnerships under AGRA 3.0. The consultants role will include the scope below:

1. Work closely with AGRA Country Directors, Country Program Leads and Program Officers, providing advisory and technical support on all matters private sector.
2. Liaise with private sector companies, industry stakeholders, and partners to cultivate strong relationships and collaborations.
3. Drive partner network development, leading on partner prioritization, partnership initiation, and negotiation of new partnerships and the renewal of existing ones.
4. Analyze the West African market to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for AGRA’s engagement.
5. As the West Africa expert, support the design of the partnership’s strategy and partnership assets.
6. Support the design and execution of private sector engagement strategies with a clear value proposition to leverage existing investments AGRA in West Africa.
7. Contribute to the design of country grant proposals ensuring a clear private sector engagement model and value proposition.
8. Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, and briefs related to private sector partnerships.
9. Participate in regional and international forums, conferences, and meetings to represent AGRA’s interests and forge new connections.
10. Facilitate the coordination of resources, including budgets, timelines, and deliverables for ongoing projects.
11. Provide technical advice and insights based on the West African context to inform AGRA’s broader strategic plans.
12. Mobilize and on-board West Africa private sector and investors to the Agribusiness Dealroom and the Africa Food Systems Forum
13. Represent AGRA in all relevant alliances and forums. 
14. Organize external and internal events (workshops and training sessions) for both AGRA staff and private sector stakeholders on partnership development and management.
15. Track the progress of all private partnerships in the region. 
16. Develop and submit monthly and quarterly progress reports.
17. Document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories.
18. Contribute to the knowledge sharing and dissemination across AGRA and with external stakeholders.
19. Develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy to engage the private sector in support of AGRA’s mission and to support AGRA’s West Africa regional priorities.
20. Support in logistical arrangements for partnership events, workshops, and meetings.
21. Provide a full handover note including key contacts, next steps and concept notes.

Key Qualifications and Experience Required 

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and expertise:

1. An advanced degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Sustainability, Marketing or related fields 
2. A strong understanding of agricultural systems and players specifically in the African context
3. Experience working with regional and global leading private sector operating across food systems
4. Strong existing network of relationships with private sector players in West Africa
5. Experience in developing private sector or partnership strategies for high performing firms
6. Good understanding of business policy environment in Africa
7. More than ten years of professional experience in carrying out similar assignments (include a sample of 3 similar or related works with client contacts for reference)
8. High-level written and oral communication skills in English, with French as an added advantage

Application instructions

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