Business Development and Extension Capacity-Building Specialist (NKE 4)

Ukraine is one of the most important producers and exporters of cereals and oilseed crops in the world and a country with abundant natural resources for fisheries and aquaculture. Ukrainian farms and other value chain actors nevertheless lack production capital and financing for equipment, storage and related infrastructure. Agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government of Ukraine on the "Ukraine Agri-food APEX Loan" makes available very substantial resources for investments in these value chains.

To facilitate the on-lending of the EIB funds, a consortium led by NIRAS A/S (Denmark) and including Agriconsulting Europe SA (Belgium), TA Consult Partners Ltd. (United Kingdom) and Unicon (United Kingdom) has been contracted for a three-year project, "Technical Assistance to Support the Implementation of the 'Ukrainian Agri-food APEX Loan' Operation" (UAFATA).

The UAFATA project is, among other tasks, to facilitate the application of potential final beneficiaries for funds and to assist loan recipients in their use of the funds. It is also, based on that work, to support the improvement of agricultural productivity and profitability through general exposure of those improved techniques and technologies. These activities will strengthen existing, pluralistic agricultural extension and advisory systems by training extension and advisory personnel in technical and financial/business management skills and training techniques; facilitating the productive and profitable activity of actors throughout the subject value chains; and helping to network agricultural research, training and advisory activities to support loan beneficiaries.

The consultant will particularly focus on the organizational and institutional development of the aquaculture and fresh/littoral waters fishery value chain(s) and the provision of extension services to that chain.

Scope of Services and Responsibilities

Activities to be performed by the Consultant will include but not be limited to the following:

• Act as principal point of contact between local and national providers of agricultural research, extension and training and the UAFATA project
• With the project office manager, maintain a database of relevant contacts
• Analyse potential and actual Apex Agri-Food loan beneficiaries' needs for agricultural research and extension, particularly business development, and training services
• Recommend and design project activities, and requests for broader support by the other actors in the value chains, the MAPF and the international community, to meet those needs
• Carry out training activities, particularly training-of-trainers, to prepare specialists to meet those needs
• Prepare training materials, reports and analyses as necessary and requested
• Prepare occasional written translations/summaries into English of key advisory documents as requested
• Assist UAFATA staff in meetings as needed
• Travel as necessary throughout Ukraine
• Perform other appropriate duties as requested
• Accept and comply fully with the NIRAS code of professional ethics

Key Deliverables

• Advice and recommendations to project management about fulfilment of project tasks as appropriate
• Contribution of assigned sections to regular project reports
• Recommendations for, design and conduct of training and capacitybuilding activities as appropriate and requested/directed
• Briefing notes, extension/training materials and other products as requested
• Appropriate contributions to project progress reports
• Establish and maintain good relations with relevant stakeholders and sectoral organizations

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications and skills

• At minimum, undergraduate Degree in Agriculture, Adult Education, Organizational Management or another related field
• Fluency in written and spoken Ukrainian; working proficiency in English. German would be an advantage
• Computer literacy and familiarity with basic office software

Professional Experience

• At least 5 years' demonstrated experiences in Agriculture or aquaculture extension and advisory services, capacity development design and development, training of trainers and participatory education/development,
• Demonstrated experience as a trainer-of-trainers
• Demonstrated experience with participatory development methodologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and to work with minimum supervision in order to meet changing deadlines;
• Knowledge of the fisheries sector preferred

Duration of the assignment

A total of 323 paid working days may be allocated to this position over the life of the project. The initial consultancy contract will be for six months. Extension of the contract is conditional on successful completion of deliverables, in particular on the focus on aquaculture and the project's continuing need for the consultant's services.