Winrock International: Open Call: Consultants: Business Advisory & Capacity Building/ Commercial Development Advisor and Capacity Strengthening – Wecap Cashew Program (Senegal) – Dakar

Position Overview:

The Business Development Manager will lead strategic efforts to build the competitiveness of West Africa’s cashew processing industry by unlocking market opportunities, developing sustainable business partnerships, and supporting processors to meet quality and certification standards. The role focuses on expanding market access – particularly for high-growth potential processors—through partnerships with international buyers, structured commercial agreements, and inclusive supply chain models.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

-In collaboration with the Director of Competitiveness, develop a work plan with concrete objectives and a timetable to support the development of processors and producers’ organizations

Market Development and Access

– Build relationships with processors, producer associations and other cashew sector stakeholders

-Identify and facilitate new buyer relationships in domestic, regional, and international markets

-Lead strategic market development for processed cashew kernels and derivative products (e.g., broken pieces, cashew apple, shells,).
– Identify and facilitate new buyer relationships in domestic, regional, and international markets.
– Structure long-term purchasing agreements and sustainable sourcing partnerships with buyers.
– Support processors in obtaining food safety, sustainability certifications and traceability certifications.

Business Partnership Structuring

– Facilitate co-investment models and inclusive partnerships between processors, micro-enterprises and producer organizations.
– Design and implement backward integration strategies linking processors to young women and men-led supply chains.
– Drive inter-firm collaboration and regional alliances to meet volume and quality demands.

– Design and implement backward integration strategies linking processors to young women and men-led supply chains.

Processor Competitiveness Support

-Link processors to integrated business advisory service packages tailored to processor needs.

– Support processors to host international buyer visits and scale sustainable sourcing practices.

-Facilitate co-investment models and inclusive partnerships between processors, micro-enterprises and Producer Organizations (POs).

Market Intelligence and Analysis

-Lead market analysis and intelligence to inform market entry and pricing strategies

-Contribute to market analytics to identify high-return market segments.
– Guide processors on product and marketing diversification strategies and competitive pricing.
– Assess investment opportunities with WEECAP supply chain and access to finance activities for coordinated business support.

Networking and Promotion:

– Represent the project at trade fairs and industry events and provide coaching for processors attending trade fairs and other industry events when necessary
– Build a network of market-ready processors and facilitate matchmaking.
– Collaborate with industry associations and federations to expand sustainable sourcing networks.

Capacity Building

-Support Business Development Service Providers in delivering integrated business advisory packages tailored to processor needs

Qualifications:

– Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agribusiness, Economics, or related field. Master’s preferred.

Preferred Experience:

– At least 7 years of experience in agribusiness, food processing, or supply chain development.
– Strong knowledge of cashew value chains and buyer networks.
– Success in market access, business to business partnerships, certification, and QMS adoption.
– Experience working with diverse agribusiness firms and producer organizations in West Africa.
– Excellent communication, negotiation, and facilitation skills.
– Willingness to travel within WAEMU countries.

How to Apply:
Applications accepted on a rolling basis—no fixed deadline. Send to [email protected]

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements