The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a leading intergovernmental policy research and training institution that promotes sustainable development in Africa through science, technology, and innovation. Under the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain innovations.
ACTS operates as the first Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishment (SPOKE) within the Clean Cooling Network (CCN). It works with stakeholders across the agriculture sector to support smallholder farmers’ integration into structured markets by enhancing agribusiness practices, marketing systems, and cold chain innovations.
Employer
African Centre for Technology Studies
Contract Type
Fixed Term Contract - Full Time
Duration
8 Months
Location
Office-based
in Nairobi, Kenya
Application Deadline
7th August 2025
Start Date
Immediate
Language Level
English
Position Overview
As the Marketing and Agribusiness lead, you will lead in the design and support the implementation of a data-driven, sustainable marketing strategy within the SPOKE program for horticultural produce working with smallholder producers and their linked business units, to ensure improved market access related to enhancing structuring of consistent and reliable operations of the supply chain for quality and safe produce supported with deployment of sustainable cold-chain in smallholder farming stems.
Contact [email protected]g for general enquiries.
Duties & Responsibilities
A. Market Assessment & Strategy Development -
- Conduct a detailed market analysis to map opportunities, trends, and constraints in the horticultural sector, including the integration of cold chain and post-harvest management technologies.
- Identify primary market segments based on buyer preferences, pricing dynamics, product categories, and geographic distribution for cold chain and value-added products.
- Develop a comprehensive pricing model that considers production costs, buyer willingness to pay, competitor benchmarks, and desired margins for all marketing options (for different qualities and value-adding scenarios).
- Recommend diversification strategies targeting retail chains, aggregators, agro-processors, institutional buyers, and export markets.
- Design a practical pricing formula to support internal planning, negotiation processes, and diversification opportunities.
B. Market Linkages and Expansion
- Identify and secure access to new markets, targeting local retail, supermarkets, aggregators, export markets, and B2B clients such as hotels and restaurants.
- Facilitate initial buyer engagement, coordinate onboarding, and support contracting and delivery logistics.
- Conduct follow-ups and longer-term planning to keep them engaged.
- Ensure integration of cold chain opportunities to meet market standards.
C. Implementation Roadmap & Production Planning
- Develop a market-aligned production calendar informed by demand cycles and quality standards. - Identify relevant implementation partners, including those providing support in Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) and certification.
- Create a clear implementation plan with:
- Defined milestones and activities
- Resource and capacity requirements
- Roles and responsibilities across stakeholders
- Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework
- Support the structuring of farmer production schedules to ensure year-round availability of market-ready produce
Skills & Experience
- At least a Bachelor's in Marketing, Agribusiness, Business Development, or related disciplines.
- A minimum of 5 years of demonstrated relevant experience in agribusiness marketing, with a strong focus on horticulture markets.
- Demonstrated understanding of the various horticulture market segments and their supply chains and operations.
- Knowledge of cold chain operations in food supply chains is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated success in developing and executing marketing strategies, securing market linkages, and managing supply-demand alignment.
- Familiarity with farmer organizations, cooperative business models, and value chain development in agriculture.
- Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills
Extras
Annual leave allowance
25 days
How To Apply
To apply for this position, please send your CV and a covering letter to [email protected] before the deadline of midnight on 7th August 2025.