Market Strategy Specialist, Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) Ghana

Job Description

The Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) Ghana is the apex rice value chain organization in Ghana and serves as the national chapter of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO). CARP Ghana brings together stakeholders from across the rice value chain to promote collaboration, policy dialogue, investment, and innovation to enhance the competitiveness of Ghana's rice sector.

To strengthen its Secretariat and support the implementation of its strategic priorities, CARP Ghana seeks to recruit a Market Strategy Specialist to provide technical support in market development, value chain coordination, stakeholder engagement, and investment promotion.

Purpose of the Role

The Market Strategy Specialist will support CARP Ghana in developing and implementing market-oriented strategies that improve coordination among value chain actors, strengthen market linkages, promote investment, and enhance the competitiveness of Ghana's rice sector.

• Reporting to: Manager, Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) Ghana

Key Responsibilities

Market Development

• Conduct market and value chain assessments to identify opportunities and constraints.
• Develop strategies that improve market access and value addition for rice stakeholders.
• Support market intelligence and dissemination of market information.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Strengthen collaboration among farmers, processors, traders, input suppliers, financial institutions, and buyers.
• Organize stakeholder meetings, business forums, and partnership engagements.
• Support development of collaboration frameworks and partnership agreements.

Investment and Business Development

• Identify market and investment opportunities across the rice value chain.
• Support business matchmaking and investment promotion activities.
• Assist in mobilizing private sector participation in CARP initiatives.

Policy and Knowledge Management

• Support policy dialogue through market research and evidence generation.
• Prepare technical reports, briefs, presentations, and market updates.
• Document lessons learned and best practices

Required Skills or Experience

Qualifications and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Marketing, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, or a related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in agribusiness, market systems development, value chain development, or agricultural marketing.
• Experience working with private sector organizations, farmer groups, development projects, or multi-stakeholder platforms is an advantage.
• Good understanding of Ghana's agricultural and rice value chain.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Good report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Terms of Employment

• The successful candidate will be employed on an initial one-year renewable contract, subject to satisfactory performance and continued funding.
• The position is based in Accra, with regular travel to rice-producing regions across Ghana.