Horticulture Market Development Advisor – Horti-LIFE Green Growth

Role Overview

The Horticulture Market Development Advisor is responsible for strengthening inclusive and sustainable horticultural market systems that improve the competitiveness, profitability, and resilience of farmers, farmer organisations, agribusinesses, and service providers. The advisor will lead market analysis, identify systemic constraints and opportunities, facilitate market-driven interventions, and support the development of commercially viable business models.

What You Will Do

Conduct market systems analyses, design and facilitate market development interventions, identify opportunities to strengthen supporting functions, facilitate collaboration between producers, buyers, exporters, service providers, financial institutions, and government stakeholders, and lead and coordinate value chain studies, market assessments, market intelligence exercises, and business opportunity analyses.

Why It Might Be a Fit

The role contributes directly to increased market access, export competitiveness, private sector engagement, and sustainable sector transformation within Ethiopia’s horticulture industry. The advisor will facilitate improved governance, business planning, aggregation, quality management, buyer engagement, and compliance with food safety and certification standards.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Rural Development, International Trade, or another relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree or 9 years with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience implementing market development approaches in agriculture or horticulture.
• Proven experience conducting market studies, value chain analyses, feasibility studies, and market assessments.
• Proven experience strengthening farmer organisations, cooperatives, and producer businesses.
• Demonstrated experience supporting export market development and market linkages.
• Practical experience with food safety management systems and certification processes.
• Proven experience supporting Local GAP and Global GAP certification processes.
• Experience engaging with exporters, buyers, agribusinesses, service providers, and financial institutions.
• Experience working in donor-funded programmes and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong understanding of Ethiopia’s horticulture sector and export market dynamics.
• Excellent networking and relationship management skills.
• Ability to translate complex market information into practical interventions.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with excellent reporting facilitation and presentation skills.