Details of Value Chain and Access to Market Expert

Job description

Invitation for Applications

Country Somaliland

Project Holder Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD)

Project Climate Smart Agriculture in Sanaag Project

Fund Somaliland Development Fund Phase 3

IFA Title Value Chain and Access to Market Expert – MoAD

Duration 12 months renewable contract based on performance

IFA No P103-034

The Somaliland Development Fund – Phase 3 (SDF3) covers the period 2025-2028, with the possibility of a two-year extension. SDF3 aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in Somaliland while creating increased income and job opportunities, thereby helping to reduce poverty. SDF3’s ambitions are aligned with NDP3 and reflect the priorities set out in Somaliland Vision 2030.

SDF3 funding is provided by Denmark, Norway and United Kingdom (UK).

The SDF3 Joint Steering Committee has approved the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Project in Sanaag, which aims to shift subsistence farming to resilient, inclusive, and market-oriented systems.

Targeting 4,500 households in Erigavo and El-Afwein districts, the project will address climate and market challenges through climate-resilient infrastructure, drought-tolerant crops, good agricultural practices, integrated pest management, and solar-powered irrigation. Complementary actions will include capacity building, cooperative strengthening, and value chain development. Guided by a triple dividend approach, the project seeks to enhance climate resilience, raise farmers’ incomes, expand market share, and promote social inclusion for women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Following the approval of the project, the SDF intend to recruit a Value Chain and Access to Market Expert to join the Project Management Team (PMT), in accordance with the approved proposal and the SDF3 Operational Guidelines (September 2025). The Value Chain and Access to Market Expert will lead interventions aimed at increasing farmer incomes and strengthening the commercial viability of farmer cooperatives under the Sanaag Climate-Smart Agriculture Project. The SDF Secretariat therefore invites qualified professionals to apply for this position.

Skills and qualifications

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Marketing,

or a closely related field.

• At least 5 years of experience in facilitation of trainings and stakeholders’ management.

• Demonstrated excellent command of spoken and written English. General Professional Experience

• At least 12 years experience in value chains, market systems development, and inclusive business models.

• At least five years’ experience in donor-funded or government-led projects focused on market

access and cooperative development Specific Professional Experience

• At least five years’ hands-on experience in developing and implementing market linkages for

smallholder producers, including formal contracts and a functional MIS for real-time pricing and demand

• At least three years of experience in strengthening producers’ cooperatives and value chain

interventions benefiting at least 1,000 farming households.

• At least three years’ experience in overseeing post-harvest infrastructure and SOPs, and facilitate financial partnerships to improve credit access and literacy.

• Evidence of establishing or strengthening at least 5 primary producer cooperatives as

commercially functioning entities. As part of the selection process, the candidates may be requested to provide examples of verifiable project reports from their most recent or relevant assignments. Links to reports which are available online can be provided as a part of the application.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send their application (cover letter and CV) to the Somaliland

Development Fund Secretariat through e-mail jobs@sdf-secretariat.org. Candidates should indicate in ntheir cover letter how they fit the criteria outlined in the advert. All applications must be received by 26 January 2026 at 1600hrs East African Standard Time. Applicants should clearly indicate the position they are applying for in the email subject line. Full Terms of Reference can be accessed on the SDF website through the link: https://somalilanddevelopmentfund.org/opportunities

Any attempt by a candidate to influence the outcome of the recruitment process in any way which can be interpreted as canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification from being considered for this position.

This role is open to both International and Somaliland nationals

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

apply to jobs@sdf-secretariat.org