Technical Advisor: Value Chains and Sector Development

Reports to: Component Manager; BioInnovation Africa (BIA) and ABS Compliant Biotrade in South(ern) Africa (ABioSA) 

Duration: Until 31 December 2025 - BIA; Until 31 December 2024 - ABioSA

Background

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a globally acting federal enterprise that supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ is mainly commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) but also implements multi-donor funded initiatives that include funders such as Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

The GIZ and the Government of South Africa through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), have recognsed the economic importance and potential to create a high-growth, jobs-rich and innovative South African biotrade sector, including through the support for the establishment of European-African business partnerships, compliant with national Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) regulations, supporting sustainable development goals and contributing to livelihoods of rural people and the sustainable use of its plant biodiversity in line with the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS and the South African National Biodiversity Economy Strategy.

Within this context, the GIZ is implementing two related projects both following a regional approach, and both hosted within the Center for Cooperation with the Private Sector (CCPS), an umbrella body, within GIZ South Africa office, which in total hosts four regional/global programmes that support sustainable development for employment, economic growth and natural resources.

The two projects are:

1. The BioInnovation Africa (BIA) project, with Cameroon, Madagascar, Namibia and South Africa as partner countries, is funded by the BMZ and implemented by the GIZ.

2. The ABS Compliant Bio-trade in South(ern) Africa (ABioSA) project is funded by SECO and implemented by GIZ under the umbrella and as part of the multi-donor funded ABS Capacity Development Initiative.

This job description is related to the BIA & ABioSA projects in a synergistic approach as both of these projects are working with the same political partner and stakeholder groups. The projects are implemented in line with the DFFE’s mandate.

The roles and responsibilities are as follows:

RESPONSIBILITIES - see full job description download below

The Technical Advisor is responsible for:

  • Organising and facilitating various outreach and engagement formats for knowledge exchange, capacity building and matchmaking for and between providers and users, including intermediaries along the selected value chain partnership, in close concertation with the ABioSA project and their partners as well as building on the experiences and knowledge of the CCPS South Africa.
  • Support the strengthening and capacity-building of providers towards compliance with international quality standards, sustainable farming and harvesting practices, development of biodiversity action plans, conservation measures and regenerative agricultural practices.
  • Facilitating and coordinating the administrative procedures and implementation of activities within selected value chain partnerships in line with the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by partners.
  • Coordinate support towards ABS compliance and permitting procedures. 
  • Together with the component manager and the other national advisor, support the preparation of annual operational country-specific activity plans in concertation with key stakeholders and assure monitoring, evaluation and documentation of activities to feed and update the HQ team on project progress, including the preparation of periodic reports.
  • Liaison with the government partner through the bi-weekly Jour Fixes on operational day-to-day activities.
  • Supporting ABioSA/BIA Technical Advisor with ABioSA component 1 related to the BioProducts Advancement Network SA (BioPANZA) SMME support, direct SMME financial and technical support and the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of component 1.

APPLICATION PROCESS

GIZ will only assess applications which meet the following criteria:

  • Suitable candidates should apply by submitting a:
    • Cover Letter (concisely 1 page) clearly stating your motivation for applying for the position and as well as salary range expectation.
    • A detailed CV.
    • Proof of eligibility to work in South Africa (copy of SA ID).

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de with subject line “Application for Technical Advisor: Value Chains and Sector Development” for the attention of Head of Human Resources.

Closing date for applications: 20 November 2023

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!