Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada

Kenya - Technical Specialist (Specific Partner and Co-op Needs) - Marketing and Value Addition Advisor

3-6 months (In-country support)

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Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Kenya

Marketing and Value Addition Advisor

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria: Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Location: Makueni

Start Date: Exact timing will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Duration: 3-6 months, in-country and online support

Language Requirement: English (Mandatory)

Reporting to: Country Program Officer

The Project – VOICE for Women and Girls

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is an eight-year initiative (2020 – 2028) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalized communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

· Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and

· Growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and all members in the countries of operation, and it is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions, are also engaged to increase capacity and prioritize vulnerable groups.

The Partner you will work with

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK)

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) is a public institution that provides education and training with an emphasis on Cooperative development. The mission of the college was defined and stated as a national training institute involved in the training of personnel of co-operative societies and unions, as well as middle cadre government officers who help in the supervision of activities of the movement on behalf of the Ministry in charge of Co-operative Development (COCK Annual Report, 1983). CUK also works with small and medium entrepreneurs, Co-operative Enterprises in Kenya, to build their capacities and enhance their sustainability.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Marketing and Value Addition Advisor will report directly to the Country Program Officer, who oversees all project activities at the national level, and will work closely with the local partner, Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK), as well as the Boards of Directors and management teams of the targeted farmer cooperatives.

The advisor will collaborate with cooperative leaders and members to identify marketing challenges, value addition opportunities, and emerging market trends affecting agricultural value chains. Through technical advisory support, the volunteer will assist cooperatives in strengthening their marketing systems, improving product positioning, and exploring opportunities for value addition that can increase income for cooperative members.

Working closely with cooperative leadership and management, the Marketing and Value Addition Advisor will support the development and implementation of practical marketing strategies, improved product development approaches, and stronger market linkages. The role will contribute to building resilient and competitive farmer cooperatives that are better able to access markets, respond to changing consumer demands, and deliver greater economic benefits to their members, particularly women and marginalized groups supported through the VOICE project.

Objectives

The objective of the Marketing and Value Addition Advisor position is to strengthen the capacity of farmer cooperatives to identify and access sustainable market opportunities while promoting value addition across their agricultural value chains. The advisor will support cooperatives and the local partner in developing a comprehensive understanding of market opportunities both within the country and externally, and in establishing linkages that enable cooperatives to effectively access and benefit from these markets. The role also aims to support cooperatives in improving product quality, diversification, packaging, branding, and processing opportunities that increase the value of agricultural products. Through VOICE project, the advisor will contribute to building the marketing and entrepreneurship skills of cooperative leaders and members through tailored trainings that respond to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Deliverables

The Marketing and Value Addition Advisor is expected to carry out the following key duties and responsibilities:

Liaise with cooperative managers, Boards of Directors, and members to assess marketing challenges and identify opportunities for value addition in key agricultural value chains.
Support cooperatives in developing practical marketing strategies that improve market access, product positioning, and competitiveness.
Conduct market research and analyze data to identify potential buyers, market trends, and emerging opportunities for cooperative products.
Provide technical advice on value addition opportunities such as product processing, packaging, branding, quality improvement, and diversification.
Develop training materials and conduct capacity-building sessions on marketing, entrepreneurship, and value addition for cooperative members, leaders, and management.
Support the development of a market database identifying potential markets and buyers for products produced by the targeted farmer cooperatives.
Facilitate market linkages between farmer cooperatives and potential buyers, processors, aggregators, and other market actors within the country.
Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies and value chain actors, to strengthen the market ecosystem for cooperative products in Kenya.
Participate in knowledge management sessions with volunteers across the VOICE implementing countries to share lessons and best practices.
Develop and share case studies and success stories with the Communications Advisor for social media and project communication purposes.
Complete monthly reports and timesheets and submit them to the Country Program Officer.

Your qualifications

Education:

· A degree in Marketing, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Social Enterprise, or a related field from a recognized institution.

Experience:

Experience supporting economic empowerment initiatives within rural or marginalized communities.
Strong understanding of marketing and value chain development in agricultural or development programs.
Experience facilitating training and capacity-building sessions at the community or cooperative level.
Strong presentation, communication, proposal, and report writing skills.
Written and oral fluency in English.
Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized populations.
Commitment to upholding the values and principles of CDF Canada and CUK.

Support package

This is a voluntary assignment. CDF Canada supports volunteers through the provision of a comprehensive package designed to cover a modest and healthy lifestyle, while allowing for effectiveness in the placement:

· Monthly allowance.

· Return-trip international and/or domestic airfare.

· Visa-related costs (if needed).

· International health insurance.

· Vaccination and health-related costs (if needed).

· Interpreter and/or translator (if needed and depending on the position and duration of the assignment).

· Pre-departure support and orientation.

· Support and orientation during the assignment.

· Debriefing upon completion of the assignment.

E-volunteering

Depending on the nature of the placement, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners before or after their placement.

Engaging Canadians

CDF Canada provides technical and logistical support to young and experienced professionals through volunteer assignments to apply and acquire new skills and knowledge in international co-operative development. We ask each volunteer, regardless of the duration of their mandate, to share their experience during and/or at the end of their assignment either in the country of assignment or in Canada. The experience can be shared by providing stories of human interest and photographs that can be used for social media outreach; Participate in events/conferences or other public engagement activities to share their experience to motivate others.

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