Team Leader / Senior Value Chain Expert (Cassava)
About the job
The overall objective of this project is to strengthen the cassava value chain in Liberia by increasing its competitiveness, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. This will contribute directly to food security, poverty reduction, decent job creation, and economic diversification.
Specific objectives
1. To improve the productivity and resilience of cassava farmers through access to improved planting materials, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, and the promotion of sustainable and market-oriented farming systems.
2. To reduce post-harvest losses and increase value addition through improved storage, processing, and packaging capacities for cooperatives and MSMEs engaged in cassava transformation.
3. To strengthen the market position of cassava products by facilitating sustainable market linkages, improving competitiveness, and reducing dependency on imports.
4. To enhance financial inclusion and business development support for cassava producers, processors, and MSMEs, with a particular focus on women-led and youth-owned enterprises and enterprises owned by persons with disabilities (PWDs).
5. To build institutional and organisational capacities of farmer cooperatives, business associations, and sectoral stakeholders to ensure effective participation, coordination, and long-term sustainability of cassava value chain development.
Specific objectives
1. To improve the productivity and resilience of cassava farmers through access to improved planting materials, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, and the promotion of sustainable and market-oriented farming systems.
2. To reduce post-harvest losses and increase value addition through improved storage, processing, and packaging capacities for cooperatives and MSMEs engaged in cassava transformation.
3. To strengthen the market position of cassava products by facilitating sustainable market linkages, improving competitiveness, and reducing dependency on imports.
4. To enhance financial inclusion and business development support for cassava producers, processors, and MSMEs, with a particular focus on women-led and youth-owned enterprises and enterprises owned by persons with disabilities (PWDs).
5. To build institutional and organisational capacities of farmer cooperatives, business associations, and sectoral stakeholders to ensure effective participation, coordination, and long-term sustainability of cassava value chain development.
What you will do
Management of expert team.
Technical contribution to the workstream activities.
Preparation of project reports.
Overseeing activities in five main workstreams:
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Workstream 1 – Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement: Comprehensive baseline and stakeholder mapping of cassava sector, including production, processing, storage, financing, and markets. Builds on existing studies (UNIDO, IITA, etc.) to guide project design
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Workstream 2 – Sustainable Production and Farmer Capacities: Training for farmers and cooperatives, dissemination of improved varieties, demonstration plots, and promotion of sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices. Cooperative strengthening to ensure market orientation.
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Workstream 3 – Processing, Value Addition, and Market Access: Training MSMEs/cooperatives in processing, packaging, food safety; facilitating access to equipment; supporting product diversification (gari, flour, starch, animal feed); conducting market studies; facilitating trade fairs and B2B events. Coordination with LiFSI and other programmes.
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Workstream 4 – Financial Inclusion, Business Development, and Policy Dialogue: Financial literacy programmes, tailored business coaching, facilitation of access to credit and innovative financing mechanisms in collaboration with banks, MFIs, and cooperatives. Gender- and inclusion-sensitive approach.
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Workstream 5 – Monitoring, Evaluation, and Governance Participation: Development of M&E framework, quarterly progress reports, participation in Steering Committee and working groups, systematic data collection on gender, youth, PWD inclusion, and climate-smart adoption.
Your qualifications
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Master degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, or related field.
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At least 10 years of professional experience in value chain development, with a strong track record in cassava or staple food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Proven experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects funded by European Union.
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Strong skills in project management, stakeholder coordination, and reporting.
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Experience in West Africa, preferable Liberia.
Offer details
Last modified
4 days 10 hours
Languages
English
Application deadline
Duration
15.03.2026 – 30.11.2029
The project
Client
EXPERTISE FRANCE
Sector
Agriculture
Economic Development and Finance
Countries
Liberia
Start & Duration
15.03.2026 – 30.11.2029