Agribusiness Advisor (Agronomist)

Agribusiness Systems International; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Agribusiness Advisor to lead the Imbewu Farmer Development project. This role involves managing project activities aimed at enhancing smallholder maize farmers' productivity and profitability. The advisor will work closely with various stakeholders, including farmers and agricultural input providers, to implement innovative agricultural practices and ensure adherence to good agricultural practices. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the agricultural sector while promoting sustainable development and empowering local communities. Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to transforming lives through agriculture.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in agricultural project implementation.
• Proficiency in MS Office and good organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage project activities to improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods.
• Provide technical support and training to stakeholders.

Skills

Project Management

Technical Assistance

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Business Management Training

Fluency in English

Knowledge of Local Languages

Education

Bachelor or Honors Degree in Agricultural Science

Degree in Agribusiness or Agricultural Extension

Tools

MS Office

Excel

Teams

Zoom

SharePoint

Job description

Tanager is an international nonprofit that connects smallholder producers and private businesses to co-create new ways of realizing life-changing economic and social opportunities.

Our process builds on years of technical expertise, on-the-ground presence and public / private partnerships to unite economic growth with social innovation.

Together, we are ushering in an era of equitable market systems that combine profitability with the power to address urgent challenges in poverty, malnutrition, and gender inequity.

In partnership with the John Deere Foundation, Tanager is piloting the Imbewu Farmer Development program to transition smallholder maize farmers from subsistence farming to commercial production.

Derived from the Zulu word for "seed," Imbewu symbolizes growth and potential—values central to the program's mission. Building on the success of the first program, Tanager and John Deere Foundation are proud to launch the second phase of Imbewu from November to October.

Imbewu II will expand efforts to improve smallholder farmers' productivity, minimize post-harvest losses, and enhance overall profitability, driving sustainable agricultural development. Key components include digital extension, on-farm training through demonstration plots, improving access to finance and markets to maximize block farming initiatives, and more tailored support to commercial-level farmers.

Across all activities, the program emphasizes climate-smart approaches, digital extension, gender and youth empowerment, farming as a business, and access to finance. Building on its initial work with 2,000 smallholder maize farmers, Imbewu II aims to support 6,000 farmers, increase yields by 37%, and increase incomes by 68%.

Pursuant to its mission, Tanager is seeking experienced and talented professionals for the position of Agribusiness Advisor (Agronomist) who can provide agronomic and enterprise development support to smallholders and lead farmers for the Imbewu Farmer Development project.

This position will be the project point of contact with lead farmers, agriculture input providers, mechanization providers, maize storage facilities, and maize buyers, among others. This position will be based in Mthatha and report to the Imbewu Team Lead. The term of the contract is annual with the possibility of extension based on a satisfactory performance review.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project Management: Manage a portfolio of project activities related to promoting economies of scale for maize smallholder farmers, improve access to storage solutions, and promote a vibrant ecosystem of small and medium enterprises (SME) associated with the maize production sector.
2. Support and inform the co-creation process of project activities with local stakeholders.
3. Provide timely and accurate technical information to ensure opportune procurement/grant processes.
4. Collect program data to enable fact-based donor reporting on the intervention's results and impact.
5. Prepare activity and technical reports on monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually to the M&E Manager and Project Team Leader.

Technical Support

1. Support the co-creation of innovative agricultural production activities with maize sector stakeholders.
2. Provide technical assistance to project stakeholders to ensure they follow good agricultural practice (GAP) standards.
3. Support the MEL team in capturing key indicators and coordinate project data collection.
4. Conduct and/or facilitate the provision of business management training to SMEs.
5. Work with the Team Leader to identify new project stakeholders and ensure their inclusion in the Imbewu project.
6. Provide technical inputs to work-plan and technical deliverables.
7. Contribute to team learning and knowledge sharing, including documenting best practices and compiling success stories from the field.
8. Conduct any other relevant activities related to project implementation as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor or Honors Degree in agricultural science, agribusiness, agricultural extension, or related field.
2. 5 years of relevant experience in agricultural project implementation promoting smallholder farmers' livelihoods.
3. Experience in the grain production sector will be considered an added advantage.
4. Experience working with an international or local NGO/NPO is desirable.
5. Ability to communicate fluently in English; ability to communicate in local languages (i.e., Xhosa and Zulu) will be an added advantage.

Skills and Capabilities

1. Proficiency with MS Office, including Excel and Word, and other communication tools (i.e., Teams, Zoom, SharePoint).
2. Good organizational and interpersonal skills.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English and Regional Language.
4. Willingness to travel within and outside the region as required.

To Apply

Please submit your resume by or before 8th December. Please include the position title in the subject line of the mail. Please submit the resume and related application documents as a single attachment. Include long-term employment history and any relevant short-term consulting work.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.

Tanager is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply. Please be aware that Tanager does not charge any fee at any step of recruitment.