| Salary band 4–Professional 4T | Advisor – Cassava Value Chain |
| Reports to: | Regional Coordinator |
| Duty Station: | Bo, Sierra Leone |
| Contract Duration: | 01 October 2025 – 31 December 2027 |
Overview
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements projects and programmes based on a bi-lateral agreement between the Governments of Germany and Sierra Leone. As a provider of international cooperation services for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to building a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. GIZ has been working in Sierra Leone since 1963 with now more than 100 national and international personnel working in projects implemented together with our Sierra Leonean partners funded by the German Government, the EU, and others.
The GIZ project “Youth Employment Promotion through Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation of selected Rural Value Chains” (ET) aims at strengthening MSMEs in selected value chains in Sierra Leone with respect to business and job creation aspects, particularly for women and youth. To this end, the project works in three main fields of action:
1. Support for MSMEs in selected agricultural value chains: Through a holistic value chain approach, tailored training and coaching as well as different financial support modalities, MSMEs in several agricultural value chains will be strengthened, production facilities optimized, and new products and supply chains developed. Supported value chains are the cassava, vegetables, poultry and cocoa/coffee value chains. The focus is on the creation of jobs for women and young people.
2. Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem: Under this output, ministries and the central bank will be advised on improving the general framework conditions for MSMEs and economic growth as well as an improved access to finance for MSMEs.
3. Women economic empowerment: Women organisations and female entrepreneurs will be strengthened through training and mentoring along the 3R approach focusing on improved access to rights, representation and resources.
We are advertising the position of “Advisor – Cassava Value Chain in the EET Project in Bo”.
The Advisor – Cassava Value Chain will support the Regional Office in Bo under the Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation (EET) project in Sierra Leone. You will work closely with the Regional Coordinator to enhance the competitiveness of the cassava value chain byproviding technical expertise, implementing strategies, and ensuring the inclusion of key stakeholders, particularly women and youth, in value chain development. Your role will be pivotal in improving the business environment and fostering private sector development in the region.
This position requires an expert who can lead technical interventions, coordinate and cooperate with partners, and contribute to the overall success of the EET project in the region.
You are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex tasks within the cassava value chain, requiring a high level of technical expertise and advisory skills. This includes strategic planning, budget management, coordination and implementation of activities along the value chain, as well as the monitoring, evaluation, and communication of project outcomes. All activities must be carried out in compliance with GIZ rules and regulations. The role requires a high degree of independence, initiative, and discretion within defined guidelines.
A. Responsibilities
• You will provide technical advice on the development and improvement of the cassava value chain, along all stages of the value chain from sourcing quality inputs to production, processing and marketing.
• You will build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including farmers, cooperatives, MSMEs, government partners, private sector and civil society organisations.
• You will design and implement capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the technical and business skills of beneficiaries and stakeholders involved in the cassava value chain.
• You will develop and promote inclusive strategies that support the active participation and economic empowerment of women in the cassava value chain.
• You will support your Line Manager in budget planning and expenditure monitoring of cassava-related activities.
• You will be responsible for the planning, implementing and monitoring of change projects in the cassava valuechain, ensuring quality implementation and alignment with project objectives.
• You will contribute to internal and external communication activities by drafting social mediacontent, success stories, and by engaging with partners and stakeholders to ensure visibility and transparency.
• In addition, you will contribute to regular reporting on cassava value chain activities, outcomes and lessons learned to commissioning parties and any relevant partners.
B. Tasks
Specific tasks of the Advisor – Cassava Value Chain in Bo include, but are not limited to:
Technical Support and Advisory Services:
▪ Ensure cassava value chain activities are strategically aligned with the overall objectives of the EET project in coordination with line management.
▪ Mapping of existing stakeholders in the cassava value chains identify key actors, opportunities, and gaps.
▪ Identify opportunities to improve cassava production, processing and marketing through innovative solutions, skills adaptation, access to finance and markets.
▪ Support the preparation of an annual operational plan for the regional office in line with the overall project.
▪ Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government institutions, private sector and civil society organisations relevant to the cassava value chain.
▪ Collaborate with partners to design and implement change projects that align with the overall strategic direction of the project.
▪ Providing technical support to District Authorities and MSMEs on fostering private sector development andimproving the business environment in the region, specifically the cassava value chain.
▪ Advise local partners and stakeholders, including farmers, cooperatives and MSMEs on best practices to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in the cassava value chain.
▪ Advising women-led enterprises and women organisations/cooperatives on promotion of women economic empowerment.
▪ Support the monitoring and evaluation of interventions falling under the regional hub.
Communication:
▪ Ensuring timely and smooth communication withproject partners and within the project.
▪ Support the internal and external representation of the programme in coordination with the M&E Advisor of the programme and line management.
▪ Provide input to and develop ideas for communication materials and forward to the M&E Advisor of the programme.
▪ Ensure visual documentation of activities.
Administration and Reporting:
▪ Support the reporting according to BMZ standards.
▪ Active participation in the monitoring of the programme and exchanging experiences and lessons learnt with other colleagues.
▪ Ensuring compliance with GIZ processes and rules (PuR).
Supervision Received and Exercised
Receives general direction from the EET RegionalCoordinator.
C. Required qualifications, competences, and experience
Qualifications
• Completed university degree in business studies, agricultural studies or comparable degree programs, a master’s degree would be an added advantage.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills as well as high advisory competence
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementing and monitoring projects in the context of international development cooperation.
• Experience in the agricultural value chain development, particularly in cassava or similar crops.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• English, also in reading and writing level C2, is a must.
Professional experience
• Several years of relevant experience in development cooperation in the field of private sector development, agriculture, employment promotion, TVET or similar areas.
Other knowledge, additional competences
• Commitment, team spirit, reliability, diplomatic skills, gender competence and intercultural understanding.
• Ability to think and act strategically and analytically or quick perception and an eye for the essentials.
• Excellent people skills and ability to negotiate between different stakeholder groups.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving skills, proactive, responsible and result oriented.
• Committed to deadlines and goal-oriented person.
Mode of Application:
Suitable candidates are invited to apply not later than 31.07.2025 with this ref: Advisor – Cassava Value Chainin the EET Project in Bo.
Applications include:
– Cover letter
– CV (including work experience and references)
– Photocopies of certificates
and have to be submitted to the email address recruitmentsl@giz.de. Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. GIZ-Sierra Leone is an equal-opportunity employer, and therefore women are strongly encouraged to apply.
