Job Description

Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest, privately held, non-denominational, and politically independent German non-governmental organizations in development co-operation and emergency relief. Primarily in co-operation with local partner organizations, its task is to contribute to improved income and nutrition for the poorest rural populations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Welthungerhilfe has been implementing projects in Zimbabwe almost continuously since 1980. Currently, the organization together with its partners has projects in 5 Provinces. Sector focus is on Food and Nutrition security including WASH, and when necessary, Emergency response.

This EU-funded multi-partner consortium project, Hubs for Agricultural climate Resilience, Value Chains, and Sustainable Transformation in Zimbabwe (HARVEST)- aims to strengthen climate-resilient livelihoods through the transformation of smallholder farming systems into commercially viable, inclusive, and climate-smart value chains. The initiative builds on the premise that mobilized and capacitated farmer groups, when linked to sustainable agribusiness hubs and community-based MSMEs, can drive systemic change towards improved and resilient household incomes. The project is committed to agroecological farming principles. The project operates in a dynamic environment where economic volatility, climate shocks, and policy shifts can challenge implementation. Its strategy includes strong private sector partnerships to navigate these risks commercially, and continuous dialogue with local governance structures to ensure alignment, ownership, and political sensitivity.

Job description
Welthungerhilfe is seeking a dynamic Economic Development Officer to support the establishment of three commercially viable agribusiness hubs and facilitate linkages between farmer associations, private sector partners, and emerging MSMEs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Economic Development Coordinator will be responsible for: Supporting value chain development facilitation for horticulture, climate-smart crops, and non-timber forest products; facilitating engagement between farmer commodity associations and private sector investors, supporting development of business plans and registration processes for three agribusiness hub companies. The roles and responsibilities will also include coordinating market linkage activities connecting farmers to commercial markets, providing technical support for establishment of youth-led MSMEs through competitive selection processes, monitoring and support the financial viability and sustainability of the agribusiness hubs, facilitating capacity building in business management, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship as well as ensuring cross-cutting integration of gender equality, youth inclusion, and disability mainstreaming

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness or related field
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in economic development, value chain development, or agribusiness
• Proven experience working with farmer organizations and private sector partnerships
• Strong understanding of climate-smart agriculture and sustainable business models
• Excellent financial analysis and business planning skills
• Experience with MSMEs development and entrepreneurship support programs
• Knowledge of agricultural markets and commodity trading in Zimbabwe
• Experience with cooperative/association governance structures
• Familiarity with green technology and sustainable agricultural practices
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation frameworks

How to Apply

During the application process, WHH will not charge any fee nor will it require any payment for an application to be considered. WHH is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to race, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, language, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and or physical handicap. Persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of motivation and their CVs to [email protected]. Please state the position applied for in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.