Ag-Tech Analyst (MINAGRI)

Focus of the Role

Are you excited by the prospect of being involved in initiatives that leverage the application of technology and innovation for sustainable development? Do you have experience consulting or working in ag-tech as part of a team driving systemic and transformative change in an emerging economy?  Do you thrive on driving the end-to-end delivery of transformative projects by the public sector?  If yes, we want to hear from you!

Scaling up support to governments in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, the Tony Blair Institute’s Tomorrow Partnership works with political leaders and governments to bring tech and digital solutions to their biggest challenges, because we believe tomorrow will belong to those who responsibly harness the power of technology for the good of all people, and to leave no one behind.

Through The Tomorrow Partnership, we broker strategic partnerships between governments and leading tech organisations and innovators to help foster environments that enable tech to deliver practical change in people’s lives.

Job Introduction

As part of the Tomorrow Partnership programme in Rwanda we are looking for an experienced Ag-tech Analyst to join a fast-growing team working in the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) to help deliver on Rwanda’s ambitions in this space.   Reporting to the TBI Ag-tech Advisor in Rwanda, this role will interface with senior ministry and implementing agency leadership to support MINAGRI’s efforts in advisory, scoping, developing, implementing and monitoring interventions that reposition Rwanda’s agricultural sector to deliver the full potential it holds.

The successful post-holder will support the Ag-tech Advisor in developing strong relationships with key private and public stakeholders, undertaking landscape and feasibility assessments, and support the development and implementation of TBI-supported ag-tech interventions in Rwanda.

The role will also assist the Ag-tech Advisor to contribute to the structuring and designing of TBI’s ag-tech offering and partnerships, and to engage with TBI’s teams in Africa to ensure a regionally coherent approach.

This role will be a one year assignment, with the possibility for extension.

Key outcomes of the assignment

Working under the guidance of the Ag-Tech Advisor:

• Help drive forward ministry-led legislative and policy initiatives related to meeting Rwanda’s ambitions for the Farmer Management Information System and Ag-tech Policy

• Support the Ag-tech Advisor to coordinate, identify and develop partnerships with key international, regional and national sector stakeholders across East Africa, including tech providers, innovators, funders and governments, for the benefit of ag-tech initiatives

Key Responsibilities

Specifically, the post-holder will assist the Ag-tech Advisor with technical documentation and report writing, evaluation and planning for integration of innovative technologies, including delivery of data analysis. The Analyst also support the delivery of scoping meetings, including providing logistical and implementation support, as well as the delivery of stakeholder mappings and engagements as well as supporting technical systems development processes and develop technical implementation workflows.

The post holder will assist the Ag-tech Advisor to engage with and coordinate with other TBI Advisors on other TBI support to the government of Rwanda in ag-tech to ensure complementarity of efforts and alignment of goals.

Responsibilities covering the above will include:

• Scoping: Assisting the Ag-tech Advisor to identify transformative opportunities in line with government and presidential priorities and Rwanda’s ag-tech transformation agenda, and in line with TBI’s Tomorrow Partnership Strategic Framework. Where relevant, conduct scoping exercises of initiatives, as well as current players in the sector and areas of implementation to help in aligning the same to meet government objectives.

• Feasibility Assessments: Assisting the Ag-tech Advisor to assess short- and long-term feasibility of identified ag-tech opportunities, taking into account Rwanda’s infrastructure, skills, policy and regulatory frameworks, funding and other enabling factors for the successful rollout of each opportunity.

• Partnership Identification: Assisting the Ag-tech Advisor to identify and pursue partnership opportunities with stakeholders having the capacity to support product/solution development, infrastructure establishment or enabling factors around scoped opportunities, with a specific focus on national and regional actors. 

• Initiative Proposal and Delivery Plan: Based on the identified opportunities, assist with the development of initiative delivery plans, including timelines for implementation, milestones, as well as risks and challenges to implementation.

• Implementation: Assisting the Ag-tech Advisor to provide technical expertise to MINAGRI and other relevant stakeholders on ag-tech initiatives, including relevant assessments of legislative and policy frameworks, evaluation of hard and soft infrastructure, and human capital development.

• One TBI: Working with TBI teams across East Africa, including the East Africa Regional ag-tech capacity, the post holder will support efforts for ensuring synergies between regional level and country level work, ensuring a joined-up approach is taken, maximising the benefits that can be leveraged through greater alignment of ag-tech initiatives across the region.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in informatics, Information Science, , Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Information Systems and must have at least 3 years experience.

Additional skills and competencies required include:

• Experience working with governments or the private sector on ag-tech

• Experience of comprehensive engagement with public and private sector stakeholders to support programme design and delivery
• Ability to present information in a concise, insightful and structured manner, in written and oral form, and having problem-solving and analytical skills, including sound knowledge of strategic planning, risk management, and project management practices, and fluency in English (oral and written)
• Ability to coordinate with team members across multiple locations, and to develop relationships with multi-disciplinary advisors, including the ability to navigate complex political environments

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people  

We do this within two connected divisions: 

 Government Advisory 

Our Government Advisory teams work directly with political leaders and governments around the world to implement reforms that improve the lives of their citizens. It works with a variety of partners and its outputs cover a range of disciplines and projects across countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South Asia.

 Policy Futures 

Our Policy Futures work encompasses three broad areas: 

• Renewing the Centre: developing a bold and innovative domestic policy programme to help renew the centre ground of British politics; 
• Tech and Public Policy: exploring the policy challenges and opportunities presented by the technological revolution; and 
• Extremism Policy Unit: creating solutions designed to tackle the threat of extremist ideologies in the UK and around the world. 

As an organisation, the core beliefs we all embrace are: 

• Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork 
• Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity 
• Optimistic Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results 

TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work.  It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\'re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.