Senior Specialist - Rice Business Development

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About the Organization

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Our work aims to improve the health and livelihoods of rice farmers and consumers, promote environmental sustainability in the context of climate change, and empower women and youth in the rice sector. IRRI’s research-for-development approach is rooted in collaboration with advanced research institutions, national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES), governments, the development sector, and the private sector to ensure scientific innovations are translated into real-world impact.

Job Description

The IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) serves as a regional hub supporting collaborative research, capacity building, and service provision for stakeholders from India, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. ISARC aims to enhance South-South cooperation, strengthen rice production and seed quality, increase farmers’ incomes, deliver research services through its advanced laboratory facilities, and facilitate knowledge transfer through short courses and IRRI Education offerings.

The World Bank-supported UPAGREES project aims to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen rural enterprises, and improve market access across 21 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh by fostering resilient agri- food value chains, empowering farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and encouraging private sector engagement. Under this initiative, the IRRI South Asia Regional Center will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UPDASP) and the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) to support the implementation of interventions in rice-based systems. While IRRI will provide technical support, UPDASP— supported by a designated Support Organization (SO)—will coordinate the implementation of project activities, including demonstrations and training.

Under the minimal direction of the Scientist-I Agricultural Economics, and Resident Coordinator, the successful candidate will coordinate the activities on business and entrepreneurship, including mentoring, training and capacity building of farmers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, market linkages, and technology transfer. He/She will contribute and lead other value chain development related activities, documentation, reports and knowledge product development in collaboration with other teams at ISARC. S/he will work in close coordination with the SO for better implementation of the IRRI- supported UPAGREES activities in the project locations.

Job Responsibilities

• Identify the critical market and value chain inefficiencies and issues of targeted agri-food systems.
• Recommend strategic, evidence-based interventions to strengthen value chain efficiency, competitiveness, and market connectivity.
• Identify strategies for marketing and business development for FPGs and other farmers for their products (premium quality rices, etc.) and input services.
• Lead the design, establishment, and strengthening of forward and backward market linkages across diverse value chain actors.
• Provide high-level technical inputs in the assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, analysis, and reporting of market and value chain support services and associated activities.
• Enhance stakeholder participation by analyzing end-user needs and integrating them into project designs and market development strategies.
• Recommend immediate intervention in the design and implementation of project activities when necessary and ensure effective execution of activities.
• Lead and coordinate entrepreneurship and business development training programs for target stakeholders.
• Consult, coordinate, and collaborate with key stakeholders of other work packages of project in the integration of the execution of the project activities.
• Provide expert advisory services to internal stakeholders on market, value chain, and agribusiness-related components of the project.
• Establish strong network and linkages with rice value chain and market actors (FPGs, millers, traders, warehouse/storage, MNCs, etc.) and facilitators (APEDA, export agencies, etc.) at national and international level.
• Actively engage with project teams in planning, implementing, and reviewing market and value chain activities.
• Monitor and review of field level engagements and their implementations and feedback generation.
• Participate and contribute to institute-wide initiatives, collaborations, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Ensure that socio-economically inclusive approaches are considered in the execution of the project.
• Ensure proper monitoring and implementation of the activities related to the market and value chain.
• Oversee the collection, validation, and analysis of data and ensure high-quality process documentation for learning and reporting.
• Understand the vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms of key stakeholders to the risks in agri-food systems.
• Contribute to the development of technical reports, knowledge products, and research publications for academic, policy, and stakeholder dissemination.

Education Qualification/Required Skills &Experience

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics/Marketing/Agribusiness, Management (ABM) or related field with minimum 5-6 years of relevant experience.
• Or PhD in Agricultural Economics / Marketing or related field with minimum 2-3 years of relevant experience desirable.

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Experience in market and value chain development activities
• Experience in project planning and implementation
• Accountable for the delivery of project outcomes
• Strong advocacy and networking skills
• Understand change management/familiar with Theory of Change Value chain and market analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication and networking skills
• Language: English

Preferred

• Familiar with the different cultural aspects of India
• Experience of working in agri-value chain and agri-marketing related projects
• Language: Hindi

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