Private Sector Engagement Advisor (CLAP Project)

About the role

The CLAP project, implemented by GIZ and funded by BMZ and co-financed by the European Union, strengthens community resilience to climate change and improves livelihoods in Turkana, Marsabit and Baringo counties. The Private Sector Engagement Advisor, based in Baringo County, leads engagement with private sector actors to mobilise investment, strengthen market linkages and create economic opportunities for smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, while collaborating with the teams in Turkana and Marsabit.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, engage and build relationships with private sector actors (traders, aggregators, processors, input suppliers, financial service providers) in ASAL value chains such as aloe vera, gum and resin, honey and sisal, focusing on Baringo and coordinating with Turkana and Marsabit teams.
• Develop and implement a private sector engagement strategy for Baringo that incentivises businesses to invest in and work with smallholder and pastoral communities, and identify cross-county collaboration opportunities.
• Facilitate dialogue and partnership between private sector actors, producer organisations and community groups.
• Identify market constraints, investment bottlenecks and business model innovations for more inclusive, climate-resilient value chains.
• Advise the project team and partners on private sector dynamics so that market logic informs project planning and adaptive management.
• Support subnational policy and planning processes by providing market intelligence and private sector perspectives to county governments and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to knowledge management by documenting engagement approaches, partnership models and market insights, and share lessons across the project, agriculture cluster and GIZ.
• Support project management in operational planning, coordination and document preparation.

Required profile

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development or a related field; exceptional candidates with an undergraduate degree and significant relevant experience may be considered.
• At least 8 years' professional experience in private sector development, business development, market systems development or agribusiness, preferably in ASAL or rural contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in private sector partnerships, investment mobilisation, deal structuring and inclusive business models.
• Proven experience applying Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches, including market/actor mapping, constraint analysis and intervention design.
• Experience working with county governments and development programmes, and with international development organisations; experience in Northern Kenya is an added advantage.

Required skills

• Fluency in English and Swahili; knowledge of local languages is an advantage.
• Strong ICT skills, including MS Office and MS Teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills.

Assignment details: duty station Kabarnet, Baringo, up to 31.12.2027. Candidates from the target counties and women with a fully matching profile are particularly encouraged.