Job Description

TechnoServe Fellow - BeniPoule Market Systems Analysis Fellow

Location: Cotonou, Benin

Timing: Approximately June to August 2006

Languages: French and English fluency (written and spoken)

Fellowship: This is a fellowship and is pro bono. Travel-related expenses will be covered such as flights, housing, and per diem.

Background and Project Purpose

The Benin Poultry Industry Transformation Program (BeniPoule) is a multi-year initiative funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and implemented by TechnoServe. The program aims to catalyze a competitive, inclusive, and resilient poultry market system by leveraging a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, positioning the private sector as the primary driver of growth.

As a foundational activity for the program's inception phase, TechnoServe is conducting a comprehensive Market Systems Analysis (MSA). This analysis is not a traditional academic study but an actionable, investment-oriented diagnostic designed to inform the BeniPoule program's core strategy. The MSA will identify the root causes of underperformance in the poultry value chain and develop a compelling "investment thesis" to de-risk and catalyze private sector investment in more inclusive and competitive business models.

TechnoServe Fellow’s Role

The Fellow will serve as a core member of the project team conducting the Benin Poultry MSA. The Fellow will provide critical analytical, research, and project management support across all phases of the study, from initial planning and fieldwork through to final analysis and reporting. The primary objective of this role is to apply rigorous analytical capabilities to help the team deliver a high-quality, data-driven, and actionable strategic assessment that will shape the future of the BeniPoule program.

The Fellow will report into a Manager in TechnoServe’s Strategic Initiatives group and work closely with a Director on the team. In addition, the Fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Benin country office on a regular basis.

Under the direction of the Team Lead and MSD Specialist, the Fellow will be responsible for the following key activities:

• Phase 1: Inception & Planning Support
• Conduct comprehensive desk research, analyzing existing sector studies, market data, and policy documents to inform the team’s foundational knowledge.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of the study's key research questions and hypotheses.
• Support the development of data collection tools, including quantitative survey instruments and qualitative interview and focus group discussion (FGD) guides.
• Phase 2: Fieldwork & Data Collection
• Actively participate in intensive in-country fieldwork in Benin.
• Conduct and document semi-structured stakeholder interviews and FGDs with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders, including producers, processors, input suppliers, and financial institutions.
• Support the execution of firm-level case studies, helping to analyze business models and investment incentives.
• Phase 3: Analysis & Synthesis
• Perform rigorous quantitative and qualitative data analysis to identify key trends, constraints, and opportunities within the market system. This may include market sizing, financial modeling, and value chain analysis.
• Take a lead role in "owning" the analysis and drafting of one or more of the thematic or cross-cutting deep-dive annexes.
• Contribute to the team’s internal sense-making and synthesis workshops to connect insights from across the study and develop a coherent theory of change for the market system.
• Phase 4: Reporting & Deliverable Preparation
• Support the drafting of the core MSA report, ensuring the narrative is clear, compelling, and well-supported by evidence.
• Contribute to the development of the final PowerPoint presentation for the stakeholder validation workshop.
• Ensure all assigned written outputs are of the highest quality, incorporating feedback from the project team and senior leadership.

Deliverables

The Fellow will contribute to three key deliverables over the duration of the study:

• Inception Report: Support for the development of the detailed work plan, refined methodology, and data collection tools.
• Final MSA Package: Lead authoring of two deep-dive annex and significant contributions to the Core MSA Report and other annexes.
• Validation Presentation: Support for the creation of the slide deck summarizing the study's key findings and strategic recommendations.

Skills & Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to effectively service clients/partners, particularly in the for-profit sector
• Proven analytical and modeling skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills, teamwork and relationship building
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to work independently, flexibly and responsively
• Able to adapt to changing working conditions
• Able to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Able to travel/live internationally for extended periods of time
• Fluency in English and French

Logistics

As this is a pro bono consulting position, TechnoServe will not provide fees for the services completed. However, TechnoServe will cover travel-related costs including international airfare, in-country accommodation, in-country transportation, a per diem for living expenses, visas and vaccinations, and emergency evacuation insurance.

About TechnoServe

Established in 1968, TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a U.S. based non-profit that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that hardworking people can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities, when they are empowered with the right knowledge and access to markets. We operate in 30 countries across Africa, Latin America, as well as in India, and have a global team of over 1,000 individuals, more than 90% of whom are host country nationals.

TechnoServe is highly focused on corporate partnerships, one of the central pillars of our strategy. The Strategic Initiatives Team at TechnoServe works with corporate partners to design inclusive supply chain and local economic development objectives and to quantify the practical business case for what it would take to deliver. We often then work with our partners as an implementing partner on the ground. The team currently manages TechnoServe’s global relationships with Partner, Anglo American, Walmart, ABInBev, Syngenta, The Coca Cola Company, Cargill, John Deere, Kellogg’s, Visa, Mastercard, Mars, and Unilever.

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To apply, you will complete the general TechnoServe Fellows Program application. If we determine that your experience and availability match this particular project, we will alert you of that. If not, you may be placed in the general pool of Fellow candidates and considered for other projects. Please see below for details on the general TechnoServe Fellows Program application.

TechnoServe Fellows Program

TechnoServe is seeking qualified candidates to join our Fellows Program. Fellows take part in field-based projects ranging from 3 to 12 months in which they engage with entrepreneurs, industry experts, TechnoServe field staff, and other stakeholders.

While no two projects are exactly alike, typical Fellow roles often involve:

• Assessing and identifying opportunities for markets, value chains, and industries
• Crafting business and funding strategies in partnership with TechnoServe clients
• Strengthening the operations and/or organizational capacity of TechnoServe clients
• Designing innovative TechnoServe projects and proposals
• Evaluating program impact

Other, less frequent projects include researching and writing communications materials, developing training curricula, and designing strategic research for our clients and partners.

Review our detailed sample project descriptions to understand the skills and capabilities most often required. View our Fellows FAQ page for more information.

This application is designed to give you the opportunity to tell us about your experience, skills, interests, and motivation to become a Fellow. We will use the information you provide to determine if a potential project match exists. Please complete the questions as accurately as possible to give yourself the best chance for consideration.

To be eligible for the Fellows Program, you must:

• Have successfully completed your undergraduate studies at an accredited four-year program.
• Have at least two to three years of professional, full-time work experience.
• Be available to volunteer for a minimum of ten weeks on the ground.

When completing the application, please keep in mind:

• You cannot change your responses once your application has been submitted. Please send an email to fellows@tns.org if your dates of availability or other required information changes.
• You must attach a PDF document containing the responses to two essay questions before submitting your application. The essay questions will be provided within the application.
• Your application will be reviewed within two weeks of submission. You will be contacted if your background is found to be a potential match with a Fellow role.

Please send questions about the Fellows Program or the application form to fellows@tns.org