For inspiring and creative professionals with a passion for agricultural cooperatives focused on impact.

About Agriterra 

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Agriterra jobs in Rwanda

We are Agriterra, a Dutch agri-agency that provides business development services to ambitious cooperatives and farmer organisations in developing and emerging economies. We assist them with advice and training by locally based business advisors and by deploying practitioners from the Dutch, and international farmer organisations and (cooperative) companies; the so-called Agripool experts. We apply a three-track approach: We make cooperatives bankable and create real farmer-led businesses, we improve extension services to farmer members, and we enhance farmer-government dialogues. Our advisory practice covers the full range of services on Management & Organisation, Financial Management, Governance, Business Development and Lobby & Advocacy. For more information, visit our website www.agriterra.org. 

Job opening for a Cooperative Advisor (CA) 

Currently, we are looking for two (2) consultants cooperative advisors to join our team, who will be expected to work 36 hours and 40 minutes per week. The cooperative advisors will have profound experience in the agricultural sector and has the ambition to take the selected cooperatives to the next level in terms of business development, governance, and financial management. In addition, the candidates should have experience in external relations especially with local government. The position will be under Agriterra’s Acting Now program, where we work on food and nutrition security, in multiple value chains including rice, cassava, maize and potato. 

Duties  

• Provide business development advice and facilitate change management that allow cooperatives to realise their business growth potential.
• Proximity coaching of farmers on the application of good agricultural practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and post-harvest handling technics in value chains like rice, cassava, maize and potato.
• Keeping detailed records regarding demo plots.
• Advise cooperatives on financial management (adequate bookkeeping and financial reporting); general proper recording (membership, volumes produce, minutes, etc), financial procedures, business development, marketing & sales, business practices in cooperatives.
• Investigate opportunities to finance business plans of cooperatives, support the establishment of contacts and negotiate business agreements with banks, investors, and other financiers (governments and the business sector).
• Contribute to the development of financially sustainable structures within cooperatives and farmers’ organisations to enhance their service provision and agricultural extension to their members.
• Provide clients with guidance relating to change trajectories, to promote the interests of farmers, and cooperatives, with the authorities of the relevant developing countries.
• Collect and systematise information about clients and advisory processes, such as financial reports and annual overviews. 

Profile 

• A bachelor’s degree in agribusiness, agricultural and applied economics, agronomy, economics, business, or a similar field.
• Strong network of national and international service providers and relevant actors.
• Interested in and knowledge of one or more of the fields in which Agriterra achieves results, such as cooperative business development, value chain development, agricultural service provision, entrepreneurship, governance, and financial management.
• High level of proficiency in Kinyarwanda and English.
• Strong networking, good communication combined with solid writing and reporting skills, and presentation skills,
• Business mindset, pro-active work approach, attention to detail, able to adapt to shifting demands and deadlines.
• Enthusiastic, focused on results and service, and with adequate advisory or training skills.
• Experience with working with cooperatives.
• Able and willing to travel frequently to rural areas. 

What do we offer? 

• A position which requires you to show initiative and to operate in a dynamic network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from colleagues across the world.
• A temporary 1-year contract, with the possibility of renewal based on the performance and the availability of funds.
• A collegial and ambitious work environment with a focus on achieving results. 

Are you interested? 

Are you interested in this position, and do you fit the profile? Apply before 15^th June 2023 with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and academic certificate in one PDF file, by sending an e-mail to rwanda@agriterra.org to the attention of Mr. Jasper Spikker, Regional Manager for Africa Great Lakes, with reference code Acting Now. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.