Outgrower Scheme Coordinator - Cassava Value Chain Project

About the role

Solidaridad Network West Africa is looking for an Outgrower Scheme Coordinator to lead the development and monitoring of inclusive out-grower schemes under the GIZ-led Cassava Value Chain Improvement Project in Sierra Leone. The post is based in Bo with regular travel to project locations, reports to the Project Lead/Value Chain Expert and is a fixed-term position for the project implementation period.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development of inclusive out-grower schemes linking smallholder cassava farmers with buyers and processors.
• Monitor scheme performance and report on progress, challenges and results.
• Facilitate engagement and agreements between farmers, farmer organizations and private-sector partners.
• Support farmer organizations to strengthen their institutional capacity.
• Coordinate with the Field Coordinator and Project Lead so out-grower activities fit farmer training and project workplans.
• Maintain accurate records on participants, transactions and outcomes, and prepare regular progress reports.
• Promote gender equality, youth inclusion, safeguarding and environmental responsibility.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or higher in agribusiness, agricultural economics, agriculture, rural development, business administration or a related field.
• Experience in out-grower, contract-farming or agribusiness market-linkage programmes, and with smallholder farmers, farmer organizations and private-sector buyers or processors.
• Knowledge of cassava or other food-crop value chains is an advantage.
• Strong written and spoken English; knowledge of Krio and local languages is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project locations.

Required skills

• Monitoring, data management and report writing.
• Negotiation, partnership development and stakeholder engagement.
• Out-grower scheme and agribusiness development.

Applications include a cover letter, an updated CV with three referees' contacts, copies of certificates where requested, and must state the district in Sierra Leone. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.