Consultant - FPO Strengthening

Heifer International; India; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Heifer International is seeking a Consultant – FPO Strengthening to support Goat Producer Companies and Producer Groups in Bihar. The role is field-intensive, requiring extensive travel to mobilize communities, strengthen governance, and build sustainable, producer-owned enterprises.

The incumbent will lead governance development, capacity building, and governance SOPs, while aligning with MSC, JEEViKA, DPCUs, and GPCs to deliver tangible results for women-led agribusiness within JSPVAT

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Rural Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Social Work, Cooperative Management, Commerce, or related fields.
• Experience: 3–6 years in FPO/FPC strengthening, institution building, rural livelihoods, producer collectives, or enterprise development.
• Preferred: Experience with SHGs, PGs, FPOs, governance strengthening, and government programs.

Responsibilities

• Establish and operationalize new GPCs and mobilize shareholders.
• Facilitate governance structures and compliance systems.
• Lead capacity-building and mobilisation activities for women producers.
• Coordinate governance SOPs, board meetings, and leadership development.
• Develop annual business and operational plans for producer groups.
• Maintain records, track progress, and support audits.

Skills

Facilitation

Stakeholder management

Capacity building

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Rural Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Social Work, Cooperative Management, Commerce, or related fields

Tools

MS Office

Digital tools

Job description

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Consultant – FPO Strengthening (Goat Value Chain)

• Position: Officer – FPO Strengthening (Goat Producer Companies)
• Duration of Project: Until April 2029
• Number of Positions: 2
• Duty Station: Araria, Bihar and South Bihar (districts to be finalised; expected support to GPCs in Nawada, West Champaran, and other identified districts)
• Functional reporting and coordination with: MSC (MicroSave Consulting), JEEViKA State Livestock Team, DPCUs, Goat Producer Companies (GPCs), Producer Groups (PGs), Cluster‑Level Federations, community cadres, and other stakeholders
• Travel Requirement: Extensive field travel across districts, blocks, villages, PGs, and GPC operational areas

About JSPVAT Phase‑2.0

The JEEViKA Special Purpose Vehicle for Agricultural Transformation (JSPVAT) Phase‑2.0 is a flagship initiative of the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar. Supported by the Gates Foundation and implemented by MSC in partnership with technical agencies, the program strengthens commercially viable, climate‑resilient, and market‑oriented agricultural and livestock enterprises.

Within the livestock sector, JSPVAT 2.0 focuses on:

• Strengthening existing Goat Producer Companies (GPCs)
• Establishing new women‑led goat enterprises
• Improving aggregation systems and market access
• Building sustainable producer‑owned institutions for long‑term income generation

Position Summary

The Consultant – FPO Strengthening will support the formation, incubation, and operationalization of Goat Producer Companies and Producer Groups. The role emphasizes governance, shareholder engagement, business processes, and institutional capacity building to ensure sustainable, producer‑owned enterprises.

This is a field‑intensive role requiring regular travel to mobilize communities, strengthen governance, and support enterprise development.

Scope of Work -

GPC Formation and institutional development

• Establish and operationalize new GPCs
• Mobilize shareholders and facilitate incorporation processes
• Build governance structures and compliance systems
• Deliverable: Functional GPCs with governance and compliance systems in place

Governance & FPO strengthening

• Implement governance frameworks and SOPs
• Facilitate Board meetings and build leadership capacity
• Develop annual business and operational plans
• Deliverable: Strengthened governance, leadership, and operational efficiency
• Link PGs to GPCs and strengthen aggregation systems
• Promote collective marketing and member participation
• Deliverable: Functional PG‑GPC integration and active aggregation systems

Capacity building & mobilization

• Organize training, workshops, and exposure visits
• Build leadership among women producers
• Deliverable: Enhanced member awareness, leadership, and community ownership

Monitoring & reporting

• Maintain records, track progress, and document best practices
• Prepare reports and support audits
• Deliverable: Timely reporting, reliable data, and documented lessons
• FY 2026–27: New GPC formation, governance systems, PG integration, foundational capacity building
• FY 2027–28: Operationalisation, business strengthening, expanded shareholder services, enterprise growth
• FY 2028–29: Sustainability, governance maturity, long‑term business planning, replication models

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Rural Management, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Development Studies, Social Work, Cooperative Management, Commerce, or related fields
• Experience: 3–6 years in FPO/FPC strengthening, institution building, rural livelihoods, producer collectives, or enterprise development
• Preferred: Experience with SHGs, PGs, FPOs, governance strengthening, and government programs
• Strong understanding of FPOs, Producer Companies, and community enterprises
• Skills in institution building, governance, compliance, and business management
• Facilitation, training, and capacity‑building expertise
• Effective communication, documentation, and stakeholder management
• Proficiency in MS Office and digital tools
• Fluency in Hindi and local languages of Bihar
• Willingness to travel extensively
• Commitment to rural livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment
• Initiative, ownership, and accountability
• Strong interpersonal and problem‑solving skills
• Adaptability to dynamic project environments
• Results‑oriented with attention to detail

Disclaimer

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.