International Consultant: A4A Programme Adviser on Market Development and Market Linkages – EU ACP Business Friendly Project

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. Alliances for Action (A4A) is an ITC initiative to establish a network that transforms food systems and advances the Sustainable Development Goals through producer partnerships that cultivate ethical, climate smart, sustainable agricultural value chains.

Result of Service

The Consultant will submit a monthly report on the progress and completion of project activities for validation, including promotional activities for dissemination of market information, buyer identification and database management, product-market promotional activities, capacity development inputs, MSME product catalogues, market linkage support, trade show and market linkage strategy, trade show preparation support, South-South collaboration and partnerships, technical support to BSOs and associations, assessment of new MSMEs, impact surveys, and reporting.

For the GRACE project, deliverables include market knowledge training support and ToT, South-South partner engagement, one-on-one coaching for honey companies, product development and market linkage plans, group market development training sessions, buyer and market linkage facilitation, South-South exchange for honey MSMEs, and knowledge products and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the EU-ACP Programme Manager and under the overall supervision of the Chief of Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Market Development and Market Linkages Expert will be responsible for the following duties:

• Work with project managers and local project team to facilitate the development and implementation of promotional activities for dissemination of market information, engaging experts, buyers and experienced MSMEs.
• Coordinate with market and sales advisors provide directions on capacity development topics for workshop sessions as per project needs, market trends in selected sectors of the project (food, value addition, handicraft).
• In coordination with project team, prepare product catalogues for MSMEs in the selected project sectors and promote the MSMEs to potential buyers using catalogues and other communication materials developed under the project.
• Provide market linkage support to MSMEs and Producers to Buyers and Consumer-Facing Companies to develop and consolidate markets and or sales.
• Research and propose relevant market linkages activities including trade shows for MSMEs to attend.
• Guide the selected MSMEs to effectively attend trade shows (local, regional and international) by reviewing products, stands, brochures and coaching provided by sales advisors to pitch their products.
• Coordinate with different project stakeholders for planning and activating product development collaborations and market linkages and south-south collaboration for potential joint venture opportunities.
• Provide technical backstopping to relevant Business Support Organizations and/or sector associations on market development and linkages, including, where relevant, delivering TOTs to these institutions to enhance their offerings on market development.
• Assess potential new MSMEs and propose engagement activities for market linkages.
• Contribute to the preparation and dissemination of impact surveys to collect data of sales generation and partnership engagements.
• Prepare written report/presentations on market and product development with results achieved for the relevant projects’ reporting period.

For the GRACE project:

• Provide technical backstopping for the implementation of market knowledge training for producers in the project's target value chains.
• Conduct one-on-one coaching sessions with at least 10 honey companies, focusing on product development and adaptation, market trends, unique selling propositions (USPs), marketing & promotion and practical tools.
• Deliver at least two (2) online group training sessions targeting honey MSMEs and cooperatives supported by the project, with a focus on strengthening market development.
• Facilitate South–South exchanges by connecting South Sudanese honey MSMEs with export-ready agribusinesses supported by the Alliances for Action network.

Qualifications/special skills

• Postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA, PHD or other) in Social Communication or related fields. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
• At least 4 years of experience working with sustainable and inclusive food systems.
• Experience in communication and networking with interlocutors from different backgrounds.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, efficiency, competence and integrity and in harmony with people from different backgrounds.
• Extensive knowledge of the food and hospitality industry.
• Ability to produce documents for official circulation among institutions and international organizations.
• Good understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics.

Languages

Fluent in written and spoken English.