The Power for food Partnership project is a 5-year project that will work at the nexus of the regenerative agriculture (RA) and productive use of renewable energy (PURE) areas. The project aims to drive system transformation in the RA and PURE nexus by promoting regenerative agriculture (RA) practices that restore ecosystems, enhance productivity, and integrate with renewable energy solutions for sustainable market systems and inclusive growth. The project will apply an innovative hybrid implementation model where it leverages existing initiatives and expertise within the ecosystem and connects actors to facilitate processes and encourage synergies.

The project falls under the Strategic Partnership umbrella programme. The Strategic Partnership programme will provide strategic steering and support to the RA-PURE nexus portfolio (in and beyond SNV), with dedicated programs towards advancing the RA-PURE nexus in Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. The first phase of the project will be implemented in the six (6) districts of Bugesera, Rwamagana, Kayonza and Nyagatare, Rutsiro and Rubavu.

Job Description

The PURE Advisor plays a pivotal role in advancing the nexus of renewable energy solutions and regenerative agriculture practices in agri-food systems, focusing on the productive use of energy to enhance agricultural productivity, value addition, and rural livelihoods through providing strategic direction, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement support. The Advisor will adopt a systems transformation approach and acting as a convener to bring together diverse stakeholders.

Technical Leadership in PURE Adoption & Scaling

• Provide high-level advisory services on the deployment of PURE technologies and their productive applications in agriculture such as farm production including but limited to solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and energy-efficient agro-processing.
• Identify and address systemic barriers to PURE adoption in agrifood systems, recommending innovative, market-driven, and climate-smart solutions that align with regenerative agriculture practices and enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Work closely with relevant stakeholders and system actors including private sector actors, researchers, development and government agencies to ensure PURE and RA solutions are technically feasible, financially viable, and scalable
• Support the development of profitable business models and financing mechanisms to scale PURE adoption among smallholder farmers and agribusinesses

Market System Development for RA and PURE Nexus:

• Analyse market opportunities, barriers, and incentives for the adoption of PURE technologies in agricultural value chains.
• Facilitate partnerships/linkages between technology providers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and farmers to develop sustainable business models
• Work with financial institutions to co-design innovative financing mechanisms that RA PURE nexus uptake.
• Develop strategies to integrate PURE into existing agricultural markets, ensuring inclusivity and benefits for women, youth, and hardly reached groups.

Systems Transformation and Convening Role:

• Act as a convener to bring together stakeholders from the energy and agriculture sectors, fostering collaboration and collective action for the RA and PURE nexus.
• Design and implement interventions that address systemic barriers to PURE adoption, such as evidence use, policy gaps, financing challenges, and limited technical capacity.
• Advocate for enabling policies, regulations, and incentives that support the integration of PURE and agricultural systems at local, regional, and national levels.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer:

• Providing Business Development Services to SMEs as well as local institutions
• Share knowledge, skills and insights with ecosystem wide actors on emerging PURE technologies that can be adapted to RA.
• Provide TA assistance on customizing available PURE solutions to smallholder farmer needs and ensure their optimum utilization in agri-food systems practices.
• Ensure improved understanding, adaptability and usability of the available PURE and RA technology solutions to enhance improved agri-food systems transformation.
• Provide support on emerging challenges for effectiveness and efficiency of renewable energy solutions tailored for agriculture to all actors' segments in the ecosystem.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) for RA-PURE Integration

• Collaborate with the LEARNING team/MEL team to track progress, measure impact, and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Use data and evidence to refine PURE-related strategies and demonstrate the value of the RA and PURE nexus.
• Contribute to regular reporting and communication of project outcomes to donors and stakeholders.
• Undertake Additional related tasks as from time to time directed by Line Manager

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy, Energy Management, Engineering, Financing or Marketing for Renewable or other related disciplines is required
• Substantial experience (at least 5 years) in development work & project management including but not limited to design and implementation development projects, Agri-business ecosystem, agri-financing, in the context of international development co-operation in Rwanda.
• Relevant technical expertise and understanding of the energy and the agriculture sector and considerable (at least 5 years) practical experience of introduction of energy technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and farming efficiency.
• Strong leadership skills, experience in partnership development and deep understanding and experience in consortia management.
• Proven experience in working with agri-business development, project management, technology adoption & promotion, etc.

• Provide high-level advisory services on the deployment of PURE technologies and their productive applications in agriculture such as farm production including but limited to solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and energy-efficient agro-processing.
• Identify and address systemic barriers to PURE adoption in agrifood systems, recommending innovative, market-driven, and climate-smart solutions that align with regenerative agriculture practices and enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Work closely with relevant stakeholders and system actors including private sector actors, researchers, development and government agencies to ensure PURE and RA solutions are technically feasible, financially viable, and scalable
• Support the development of profitable business models and financing mechanisms to scale PURE adoption among smallholder farmers and agribusinesses
• Analyse market opportunities, barriers, and incentives for the adoption of PURE technologies in agricultural value chains.
• Facilitate partnerships/linkages between technology providers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and farmers to develop sustainable business models
• Work with financial institutions to co-design innovative financing mechanisms that RA PURE nexus uptake.
• Develop strategies to integrate PURE into existing agricultural markets, ensuring inclusivity and benefits for women, youth, and hardly reached groups.
• Act as a convener to bring together stakeholders from the energy and agriculture sectors, fostering collaboration and collective action for the RA and PURE nexus.
• Design and implement interventions that address systemic barriers to PURE adoption, such as evidence use, policy gaps, financing challenges, and limited technical capacity.
• Advocate for enabling policies, regulations, and incentives that support the integration of PURE and agricultural systems at local, regional, and national levels.
• Providing Business Development Services to SMEs as well as local institutions
• Share knowledge, skills and insights with ecosystem wide actors on emerging PURE technologies that can be adapted to RA.
• Provide TA assistance on customizing available PURE solutions to smallholder farmer needs and ensure their optimum utilization in agri-food systems practices.
• Ensure improved understanding, adaptability and usability of the available PURE and RA technology solutions to enhance improved agri-food systems transformation.
• Provide support on emerging challenges for effectiveness and efficiency of renewable energy solutions tailored for agriculture to all actors' segments in the ecosystem.
• Collaborate with the LEARNING team/MEL team to track progress, measure impact, and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Use data and evidence to refine PURE-related strategies and demonstrate the value of the RA and PURE nexus.
• Contribute to regular reporting and communication of project outcomes to donors and stakeholders.
• Undertake Additional related tasks as from time to time directed by Line Manager

• Strategic direction
• Technical expertise
• Stakeholder engagement
• Systems transformation approach
• Market analysis
• Partnership development
• Business model development
• Financing mechanisms
• Policy advocacy
• Capacity building
• Knowledge transfer
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy, Energy Management, Engineering, Financing or Marketing for Renewable or other related disciplines is required
• Substantial experience (at least 5 years) in development work & project management including but not limited to design and implementation development projects, Agri-business ecosystem, agri-financing, in the context of international development co-operation in Rwanda.
• Relevant technical expertise and understanding of the energy and the agriculture sector and considerable (at least 5 years) practical experience of introduction of energy technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and farming efficiency.
• Strong leadership skills, experience in partnership development and deep understanding and experience in consortia management.
• Proven experience in working with agri-business development, project management, technology adoption & promotion, etc.