Agrologistics, Cold Chain and Market Activitation Advisor- FRESHWAY Project

Agrologistics, Cold Chain and Market Activation Advisor- FRESHWAY Project

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. Driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably, SNV strengthens capacities and catalyses partnerships that transform agri-food, energy, and water systems. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we support our partners in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia, tailoring our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create more equitable lives for all.

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Background of the Project

FRESHWAY is a four-year project that aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s fruit and vegetable agrologists system along the Arba Minch–Hawassa–Addis Ababa–Mojo corridor. It focuses on reducing postharvest losses, improving food safety, and attracting private investment in cold chain infrastructure, aggregation, and market linkages, in line with the national Postharvest Management Strategy and growing market demand.

The project combines policy reform, private sector support, aggregation hubs, and skills development to create a sustainable horticulture logistics ecosystem.

Key components include:

• Regulatory strengthening: Supporting the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority to improve food safety systems, including pesticide residue monitoring and the implementation of Ethio GAP standards.
• Market integration: Establishing private sector-led aggregation hubs to link farmers with markets, improve product quality, and increase incomes.
• Export promotion: Supporting selected farms and companies to access regional and international markets, including through the Mojo cool port.
• Capacity building: Enhancing agrologists training and workforce development through A-TVETs, focusing on cold chains, certification, and postharvest management. The Agrologistics, Cold Chain and Market Activation Advisor provides technical leadership and practical support to improve the efficiency, quality, and market responsiveness of horticultural supply chains. The position has two closely linked areas of responsibility:

(i) Agrologistics, cold-chain and aggregation solutions; and

(ii) Market activation and consumer demand creation for safe, certified fruit and vegetables, including products meeting Ethio GAP requirements.

The Advisor works closely with the Project Manager, other FRESHWAY advisors, public institutions, producer organisations, private companies, buyers, and service providers.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Agro logistics and cold chain management

• Conduct or coordinate feasibility and scoping studies in priority locations, including Arba Minch, Wolaita Sodo, Butajira, Hawassa, Batu, and Adama.

• Analyse production volumes, seasonality, market access, logistics connectivity, investment risks, and bottlenecks; develop practical recommendations to improve efficiency and transparency in domestic and export horticulture supply chains.

• Review and compare existing aggregation models and centres, including those supported by AGP and ATI, as well as other studies and private-sector initiatives; identify lessons and approaches that can be adapted or scaled.

• Support the establishment of regional aggregation hubs and develop effective logistics linkages between hubs, the Modjo Cool Port, and high-end retail and institutional buyers in Addis Ababa.

• Provide technical inputs to FRESHWAY short courses under Component 3, particularly on horticultural logistics, cold-chain management, and postharvest handling.

• Identify high-potential Dutch companies offering logistics innovations that could be adapted by participating Ethiopian companies and facilitate relevant connections.

• Market activitation

• Organise targeted learning and exposure visits for producer groups to major wholesale markets and large buyers in Addis Ababa, strengthening understanding of postharvest handling, grading, quality, and logistics requirements.

• Facilitate structured buyer–seller meetings to clarify requirements for volumes, quality, pricing, and delivery schedules, and promote a shared understanding of market actors’ roles in supplying high-quality produce.

• Support joint production and delivery planning between farmers and buyers, including aggregation and bulking through producer organisations, to strengthen consistency and reliability of supply.

• Facilitate practical demonstrations on grading, packaging, and postharvest handling in line with buyer specifications; explore digital solutions to improve coordination and delivery planning.

• Identify and engage marketing companies, media houses, and other service providers to support consumer awareness and demand-creation interventions.

• Oversee consumer awareness studies to assess perceptions of fruit and vegetable food safety and identify appropriate promotional and behaviour-change interventions.

• Coordinate and monitor promotional activities, including radio, television and social media campaigns; point-of-sale labelling, posters and information displays; public awareness events; market demonstrations; and school-based programmes.

• Ensure promotional messages communicate the meaning and benefits of certified fruit and vegetables, particularly in relation to food safety and health.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as supply chain or logistics management, agribusiness, agriculture, horticulture, or value-chain development.

• At least five years of relevant professional experience with a master’s degree, or at least seven years with a bachelor’s degree.

• Demonstrated experience supporting projects with a value-chain development or market-systems development component.

• Additional skills required:

• Knowledge of supply-chain planning and optimisation, including transport, storage, cold-chain management, inventory control, aggregation centres, grading, packaging, and quality standards, with a focus on maintaining product quality, improving delivery efficiency, and reducing losses.

• Strong knowledge of horticultural value chains, including fruit and vegetable production systems, postharvest handling, market standards, and value-chain bottlenecks and upgrading opportunities.

• Strong stakeholder coordination, communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work in field-based, multi-actor environments.

• Understanding of market-demand activation through promotional and consumer-awareness interventions.

• Good spoken and written English, with strong reporting, facilitation, and presentation skills.

• Excellent analytical skills.

• Competencies:

• Problem analysis

• Coaching

• Focus on quality

• Result orientation

• Persuasiveness

• Additional Information

• Contract Type: National

• Expected start date: January 1,2027

• Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Contract Duration: The contract is for one year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.