Company Profile

TechnoServe Inc (http://(www.technoserve.org) is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A nonprofit organization operating in 29 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. By linking people to information, capital and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.

Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the ImpactMatters charity ratings agency.

Job Description

• Supervisor: Regional Program Development Manager, West Africa 
• Location: Accra, Ghana
• Travel: Possible local travel in Accra        

Overview
TechnoServe seeks a short term consultant to support in-country research and information gathering on SMEs and stakeholders across export-oriented agricultural value chains in Ghana.

Position Description
TechnoServe is preparing for an anticipated trade and investment facilitation program in Ghana, in which the organization will lead activities related to SME capacity building.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) anticipates funding the five-year Ghana Trade and Investment Activity. The project will utilize a market systems approach to facilitate reforms and improve the enabling environment for trade and investment in Ghana. The project will focus on supporting the transformation of Ghana’s agriculture sector, specifically promoting investment in higher-value commercial value chains geared toward the export market.

The project has three main components: 1) Investment Promotion, 2) Trade Facilitation, and 3) SME development.

TechnoServe seeks a short term consultant to support on-the-ground research and information gathering to aid proposal development. The consultant will be engaged on an hourly, part-time basis over the course of 1-3 weeks in January with a potential extension into February.

Consultant responsibilities and deliverables

• Gather quantitative and qualitative data on existing SMEs, producer groups, and associations across selected value chains
• Conduct research regarding the engagement of women and youth across selected value chains, including barriers and opportunities for economic empowerment
• Present research in an organized and useful format, such as excel matrices, PowerPoint slides, etc.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews as needed
• Record and present all data and information sources

Required Skills or Experience

• Strong research and analytical skills; experience conducting primary and secondary data gathering
• Demonstrated knowledge of key export-oriented value chains in Ghana, SMEs along the value chain (ie. processing, storage, logistics), and related producer and exporters associations
• At least five years of experience working in agribusiness, through the private sector or through international development programs
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in agricultural economics, international development, business, economics, public policy, or other relevant areas