Agriculture Expert Component Lead, International Development
April 18 2023
Bangladesh
Background:
Nathan, a Cadmus Company, is a leading provider of analytic and economic consultancy services worldwide. In the past decade, we have implemented more than 120 projects in more than 50 countries leveraging our global presence in Washington DC, London, and India. From improved transparency and deeper stakeholder engagement to more effective policies and more resilient businesses, we deliver results that impact economic growth, human development, and poverty reduction. We are passionate about applying our deep analytical expertise and advanced proprietary tools to generate economic solutions tailored to our clients’ unique challenges. Nathan focuses on a range of economic development subject matter areas including Trade & Logistics; Economic Policy & Governance; Private Sector Development; Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Financial Solutions.
Job Description:
This project in Bangladesh is intended to incentivize financial institutions and non-traditional lenders to provide financing to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in the agricultural sector. The project will target various priority populations and sectors, including women-owned agribusinesses, first-time borrowers, borrowers who lack immovable property as collateral, youth, minority and indigenous populations, and climate-smart agriculture. The procuring agency is also interested in piloting rural finance initiatives to strengthen farmer resilience.
KEY RESPOSIBILITIES:
·Conduct fieldwork interviewing and engaging with relevant agribusiness and MSME stakeholders;
·Employ feedback from agribusiness organizations, MSMEs, and farmer cooperatives to determine appropriate financial product solutions;
·Providing capacity building and trainings to agriculture businesses across the value chain
·Providing capacity building and trainings to regarding the agricultural sector to financial service providers;
·Evaluate existing and potential future agribusiness value chains in Bangladesh;
·Collaborate effectively with Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Access to Finance Expert, and all other project staff; and
·Assist with other project activities as needed.
Qualifications:
- A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in agribusiness trade/competitiveness;
- Master’s degree or higher in agribusiness, business administration, public policy, or a related field. At least 12 years of experience may be substituted for a Master’s degree if the candidate possesses solely a Bachelor-level degree;
- Experience working with local community associations and farmer cooperatives;
- Experience working with minority, youth, or women-owned MSMEs;
- An understanding of agriculture commodity value chains in Bangladesh;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; and
- Fluency in English
Desired
- Prior exposure to donor-funded development programs;
- Experience designing or analyzing crop insurance programs for rural MSMEs;
- Knowledge of agri-business finance and experience supporting access to finance for rural and agricultural MSMEs in Bangladesh; and
- Ability to speak and understand Bengali in a professional capacity.
Nathan is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Nathan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. EOE Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans. Candidates that need to request reasonable accommodations during the application process should communicate their request to . For more information on Nathan's policies, candidates are encouraged to review our EEOC Policies for Applicants.