AgTech Advisor

Closing Date:01/08/2022
Key Responsibilities
Successful delivery of the role will include:

• Develop and deploy a comprehensive agtech offering in Malawi, securing agreement from the Government on an ambitious, impact-oriented strategy
• Design and deliver the Tech for Development Malawi agriculture programme - created and staffed with engaged and results-oriented people 
• Establish effective and trusted relationships with senior counterparts in government, such as Ministers and Special Advisors, as well as key stakeholders across the private sector
• Deliver tangible results in the sector, including deployment of solutions to enable the government of Malawi to drive forward its agriculture transformation agenda, including collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture on improved data collection and utilisation efforts
• Thought leadership recognised in country/regionally/globally and contribution to TBI’s broader Tech for Development global offer

The Agtech Advisor will be responsible for:

• Representing TBI, our core beliefs and our value proposition
• Engaging key senior government counterparts on the national vision, priorities, and challenges across the sector, and assessing entry points where TBI’s Tomorrow Partnership programming adds strategic value to the Government’s agriculture objectives   
• Assessing short and long term feasibility of agtech opportunities, taking into account considerations including infrastructure, skills, policy and regulatory frameworks, funding and other enabling factors
• Aligned with the TBI’s Tech leadership team and the Malawi Head of Tech, developing clear action plans for TBI to support implementation of identified agtech opportunities, with clearly articulated timeframes, milestones and outputs
• Provide technical expertise to Agtech initiatives, overseeing delivery of individual workstreams, leveraging skills and expertise from across the organisation, and delivering in coordination with TBI’s wider agriculture offering.
• Build strong relationships with senior public sector stakeholders, maintaining an in-depth understanding of current trends across the agtech ecosystem, identifying opportunities for collaboration
• Develop relationships with actors across the broader tech ecosystem, including private sector and development partners. Identify partnership opportunities with stakeholders with capacity to support product/solution development, infrastructure establishment or enabling factors around scoped agtech opportunities
• Support the Head of Tech with the recruitment of required technical and programme management expertise to support agtech delivery 
• Regularly inform TBI country-level and central TBI Tech colleagues of progress through reporting and engagement sessions, and proactively escalate issues for further support as needed
• Thought leadership recognised in country/regionally/globally and contribution to TBI’s Tomorrow Partnership global offer and playbook  

Person Specification
The successful candidate must demonstrate a good understanding of the agriculture ecosystem and tech/digital space in Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Prior work in Malawi is highly desirable. Additional skills and competencies required include:

• Significant years of relevant experience, ideally including experience in AgTech implementation with governments
• Experience working with government on public reform programmes or investment projects
• Prior experience working on programmes/projects in emerging markets, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa is highly desirable
• Ability to present information in a concise, insightful and structured manner, in written and oral form
• Problem-solving and analytical skills, including sound knowledge of data analysis, strategic planning, and project management practices
• Experience in development and/or implementation of risk management/matrix frameworks
• Ability to coordinate with multi-disciplinary advisors
• High quality communication, drafting and presentational skills
• Excellent relationship building and management skills, including the ability to navigate complex political environments
• Fluency in English (oral and written)