Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) - Business Development

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): Recruitment of an Individual Consultant

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking to engage the services of an Individual Consultant to support the implementation of agribusiness development and youth entrepreneurship activities across the project locations. The consultancy is aimed at strengthening youth participation in agribusiness through capacity building, enterprise development, access to finance, and market linkage opportunities.

The Consultant will provide technical support in the delivery of agricultural entrepreneurship and business development training programs, establishment and operationalization of agribusiness parks for experiential learning, and facilitation of sustainable youth-led agribusiness enterprises. The assignment will also involve working closely with local partners and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of project activities and achievement of project objectives.

In addition, the Consultant will support advocacy and sensitization activities targeted at promoting positive youth mindsets toward agribusiness as a viable and profitable career path. The role will further include guiding beneficiaries in the development of bankable business plans, training on cooperative management and access to finance, as well as facilitating linkages to financial institutions and markets for established enterprises.

The Consultant will also be responsible for providing business support services to youth-led enterprises and preparing periodic reports on business performance and overall project activities. This assignment is critical to advancing IITA's commitment to promoting sustainable agribusiness development, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth through innovative and practical agricultural enterprise solutions.

In line with this, we invite suitably qualified and experienced individuals to express their interest in providing the required services.

Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities

• Lead Agricultural entrepreneurship and business development training in the project locations.
• Establish and manage the operationalization of an agribusiness park for experiential agribusiness training activity.
• Work with the local partners to conduct training activities on the core area of agribusiness development, ensuring timely project deliverables.
• Conduct advocacy events targeting the youth mindset change toward agribusiness in the project location.
• Support beneficiaries in the development of a bankable business plan.
• Train beneficiaries on the essentials module on cooperative management and access to finance.
• Facilitate the establishment of profitable and sustainable youth-led agribusiness enterprises.
• Provide business support services to youth-led agribusiness enterprises.
• Facilitate access to finance and linkage to the market for established enterprises.
• Prepare and submit reports of business performances and all project activities.