Food and Agriculture-Associate Director – ()
Description
Description
Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is the social impact implementing arm of Equity Group Holdings. EGF aims to transform the lives and livelihoods of the people of Africa socially and economically by equipping them, capacity building and linking them to modern, inclusive financial services that maximize their opportunities. Since its inception, EGF has led high-impact development programs in East and Central Africa in the fields of Education and Leadership Development; Food and Agriculture; Enterprise Development and Financial Inclusion; Energy, Environment & Climate Change; Social Protection; Health; Innovation and Technology and Advocacy.
Agriculture is an anchor pillar of the Equity Group’s strategic Africa Recovery & Resilience Plan. (ARRP). The Food & Agriculture pillar of the foundation focuses on supporting the transformation of small-scale farmers into agribusiness entrepreneurs through technology, capacity building, linkage to markets and finance.
The Associate Director, Food & Agriculture is part of the core leadership of EGF and will collaborate with other stakeholders including the EGF pillar leads, Subsidiary Food & Agriculture leads, Chief Strategy Officer, Group Director, Sustainability, and other team members to drive impact at scale.
Main Responsibilities
1. Overall lead for the Food & Agriculture pillar of EGF, while providing support to the other pillar leads and functions within EGF.
2. Team leads program conceptualization and program design for priority focus areas for EGF in Food & Agriculture to create social impact across various touch points in Agriculture and Food Systems development.
3. Oversight of the pillar’s strategy and workplans targeted towards aggregating and empowering small holder farmers.
4. Engaging, onboarding, and maintaining partnerships towards EGF’s aspirations in Food & Agriculture. Stakeholder Engagement, high level liaison, partnerships, and relationship management:
5. Contributing to the execution and strengthening of Equity Group’s Africa Recovery & Resilience Plan (ARRP) anchored on Agriculture as a key pillar.
6. Lead Equity Group Foundation’s (EGF) program design in Food & Agriculture including capacity building and other derisking tools towards empowerment and access to finance.
7. Business development, crowd in partnerships, support and funding for projects and programs across the agriculture sector. Onboard partnerships and collaborative Projects with funding partners and other implementing organizations and foundations, on projects aimed at strengthening Agriculture and food systems.
Key Deliverables for this position
1. Partnerships – In country, Regional and Global partnerships
2. Stewardship – Insights and team collaboration to deliver on the capacity building, engaging, and onboarding programs within Equity Group’s Agriculture sector.
3. Business development and fundraising for Equity Group Foundation Food & Agriculture programs
4. Innovation: Innovative approaches to empower small-holder farmers and link them to relevant value chains
5. Awareness: – Anticipate global developments that may have an impact on the agriculture and food sectors and systematically develop initiatives to address those issues using advanced strategic planning.
6. Collaboration: – Engage and feedback on strategic planning in food and agriculture and collaborate with other pillar leads, unit directors in implementing strategies, monitoring program outcomes, and ensuring their alignment with the ARRP strategic plan.
7. Risk mitigation and management.
8. Culture, reporting, Corporate Governance – Developing, recommending, and fostering the values, culture, and philosophy of Equity Group Foundation
9. Stakeholder/ Relationship Management – Under guidance of EGF Executive Chairman, representing Equity Group Foundation externally to customers, community, other organizations, and key stakeholders in the Food & Agri sector.
10. Regulatory & Compliance – Facilitating strict compliance to statutory & regulatory norms of process/operational adherence.
11. Management and mentoring of staff both in HQ and in the field.
Qualifications
Academic & Professional Qualifications & Skills
- Proven experience in the development sector, with a focus on Food & Agriculture, Agri- systems development, partnerships, fundraising.
- Advanced degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Agronomy, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, International Development, Development Finance, and related fields. MA, M.Sc., MBA
- PhD in the above fields presents an advantage.
- Knowledge, awareness and experience in the future of Agri food, smart farming, climate smart agriculture and agricultural transformation, especially digital farming.
- A track record of high performance in the Agri sector.
- Commitment to results, business savvy, change leader, team motivator.
Relevant Experience
- At least 7 years in management and hands- on work within the Agri sector/ International Development.
- Experience in program design, fundraising, and program implementation.
- High level relationship management, international partnerships management, business development competence & experience, with solid commercial awareness, understanding and proven leadership skills.
- Experience in Banking/ Financial Services presents a key added advantage.
- Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
- Possess the ability to build personal relationships with key business stakeholders and have distinguished hands-on execution skills.
- Experience and ability to manage and mentor more than 30 staff.
Desired Competencies
1. Commitment to results: A systems thinker who is customer focused, and goal driven. The desirable candidate is action oriented and innovative & translates broad goals into achievable steps. S/he anticipates and solves problems and takes advantage of opportunities, is a self-starter and team player.
2. Sector savvy: Has a strong understanding of the broader Agri sector per country (of Equity Group operation) the region (East & Central Africa) and Global partners and partnerships in the field.
3. Stakeholders, Teams, and Communication: A high level of personal skill to make formal, persuasive presentations to groups and to deal effectively with all stakeholders.
4. Leading change: The EGF Food & Agriculture pillar lead possesses the skills of a proven team leader. S/he shares Equity Group Foundation values, mission, and vision. S/he consistently displays integrity, models behavior, develops people, and builds teams. This individual deals effectively with demanding situations and designs and implements interventions to ensure seamless operations & growth.
5. Motivating: The targeted leader manages continuity, change and transition. This individual knows how to influence and enable others. S/he addresses the impact of attitude and action on EGF Food & Agri pillar operation & its key stakeholders.
Other Desirable Experience / Competencies
- Adaptive thinking and a strong, critical mindset.
- Forward-thinking, swift & methodical execution and adaptable to dynamic situations.
- Deep understanding of innovation models and applicability in the Agri sector.
- Experience/ understanding of leading social change with a history of balancing commercial outcomes with social imperatives.
- Demonstrated capability leading multi-disciplinary teams.
- Executive presence and experience managing effective high-level relationships.
- Methodical thinker with strong people management/team development skills
- Project Execution: Ability to plan for, manage, and successfully complete multiple complex projects simultaneously and in budget. Knowledge of the full project cycle and ability to complete and execute all the phases.
- Developing & Leveraging Relationships: A track record of building trust and sustaining excellent internal and external relationships
- Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
- Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner.
