Research, Learning & Communications (RLC) Adviser – Adam Smith International

Job Description

Terms of Reference

Programme background

Malawi Value Chains (MVC), implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), is one of three components of the Malawi Trade and Investment Programme (MTIP), a five-year FCDO-funded initiative which aims to break Malawi’s cycle of low growth through driving exports. The overall objective for MVC is to implement the value chain component of MTIP with the goal to increase the productivity, quality. production and export performance of the macadamia and mango value chains, as well as support increased mining investment and ultimately exports. Other complementary MTIP components are focused on increasing access to patient capital and cutting the time and costs of trade and logistics (the latter implemented by TradeMark Africa [TMA]).

MVC’s overall approach uses systemic thinking to address supply, demand and eco-system weakness and opportunities. It addresses rules set and implemented by government and its agencies that constrain production and export growth. MVC works with private sector partners towards achieving programme objectives, with a focus on estates and mid-sized farms (MSFs), which have the greatest potential to move the dial on Malawi’s volume and value of exports. MVC also works with some smallholder farm groupings. MVC’s approach is politically astute and adaptive to navigate through and around blockages to achieve its aims. MVC leverages the effective use of research, learning and communication (RLC) to support change.

MVC has developed initiatives for each value chain structured around production and export-related themes, broadly encompassing:

• Improving productivity and quality through access to inputs and agronomy (Good Agricultural Practices – GAP) for estates and MSFs;
• Integrating smallholder farmers (SHFs) with estates and anchor farms to increase supply and improve quality of crop available to exporters, along with improved returns to SHFs;
• Meeting export product standards and quality requirements in priority international and regional markets;
• Facilitating investment and access to finance for exporters, suppliers and service providers;
• Facilitating access to international markets,
• Improving the rules that constrain production and exports; and
• Facilitating dialogues in the mining sector to enable progress on licencing and investment.

MVC’s approach to RLC

The goal of MVC’s RLC efforts is to generate and share learning and insights from MTIP with wider stakeholders, as well as to improve the effectiveness of MTIP and its components by creating knowledge and insights to support informed decision-making related to high value export value chains, trade and investment by key stakeholders including FCDO, the Government of Malawi, national and international private sector actors and development partners. MVC’s RLC function includes both the value chains (ASI) and trade (TMA) components of MTIP, as well as the forthcoming investment function.

As suggested by its name, MVC’s RLC strategy includes three interconnected pillars:

• Research: MVC coordinates and commissions research to generate learning and insights that flow from the work of the MTIP teams. MVC chairs the MTIP Research Group, which, together with FCDO and TMA, identifies and prioritises key research topics which are then commissioned directly through the relevant MTIP component. MVC engages with other research entities, including the TRACTION project and in due course with other research bodies to build alignment and synergies with entities conducting research in similar areas.
• Learning: Learning plays a crucial role in creating a dynamic and iterative culture that harnesses the insights gained from research to share with wider stakeholders, while generating learning for the component teams. FCDO is seeking to deliver a programme that shifts the dial on exports and wider stakeholders will be interested in how this is being/has been achieved. MVC particularly takes a highly adaptive approach to programming, seeking to drive continuous improvement and effectiveness of MVC activities through learning and adaptation.
• Communications: Communications are essential to connect stakeholders with information and insight in support of sharing the learning and boosting exports in MTIP’s focal value chains. MVC’s communications efforts are twofold. The first part relates to communications for the wider MTIP programme, and the findings of the Research Group in particular. The second part focuses on communications specific to the MVC component. The overall goal of programme communications is to package and communicate learning to the key MTIP audiences in the most appropriate way, stimulating understanding and application of the learning.

MVC team structure

MVC Is Composed Of Seven Teams

The RLC Adviser works closely with the RLC Lead (based in Lilongwe) and reports to the Team Leader. MVC’s team structure is as below:

• The Agribusiness & Competitiveness (AC) team works on improving productivity, quality, production and export. The AC team focuses on the private sector with capacity to export mainly estates and SFs), with ongoing analysis of participation of SHFs in the export value chains. Initiatives include agronomic, farm planning and financial management training, supporting individual estates to improve quality and productivity, research into managing pests, orchard management and varietal selection, improving contracting arrangements within the value chain and facilitating investment and access to finance.
• The Rules & Enabling Environment (REE) team focuses on improving the ‘rules’ that underpin how value-chains function, with a focus on regulations, processes and procedures, that constrain and could promote exports, and limited attention to the more traditional focus on GOM policies, strategies and legislation. This is delivered mainly through dialogue processes involving relevant stakeholders to determine what rules need to change, what the rules need to change to and how to bring about that change.
• The RLC team works with other MTIP components, FCDO and relevant research bodies to undertake research to generate wider learning around trade, investment, productivity/quality and export markets.
• A work programme on mining is currently developing, with a team formed to take this forward.
• The above teams are supported by a Results Management (RM) team that gathers results and supports the other teams to improve their initiatives based on the results.
• There is also a Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) function which ensures that GESI is mainstreamed across all MVC initiatives.
• Lastly, the Finance & Operations Team supports the operation of the project.

Scope of work

Role

MVC is seeking a highly experienced consultant for the RLC Adviser role to support the implementation of MVC’s RLC Strategy. The key tasks for the RLC Adviser, working closely with the RLC Lead, are:

Research

• Identify and commission research: Working collaboratively with the RLC Lead, identify research topics and assist with commissioning and carrying out research projects. The RLC team should conduct at least two significant research projects per year as well as a set of smaller research initiatives.
• Support the Research Group: Support the RLC Lead in engaging with the Research Group and participate in regular meetings.

Learning

• Develop learning products: Pitch and develop analytical briefs and position papers that translate research findings and expert insights into actionable knowledge. The RLC team must work closely with technical team members to integrate their insights and expertise into learning materials, ensuring that products reflect practical applications of research findings. At a minimum, at least one learning product should be developed for each piece of major research. An additional minimum of six other related learning products should also be developed per year.

Communications

• Support facilitation of learning opportunities: Design and conduct knowledge dissemination activities to publicise new knowledge/insight and foster continuous learning among stakeholders.
• Strategic communication planning: Support the RLC Lead in developing and implementing communications strategies that effectively convey research findings, learning materials and relevant programme information to target audiences.
• Website design and management support: Support the RLC Lead to ensure that MVC content is available and accessible on the project’s website. MVC has engaged a Web Designer to carry out the technical aspects of updating the website at the request of the RLC team.
• Monitor and evaluate communication impact: Support the RLC Lead to assess the effectiveness of communications strategies and learning products through feedback and metrics, adjusting approaches as necessary to improve outreach, engagement and influence.

Other

• Team meetings: Participate in weekly MVC team meetings to maintain awareness of ongoing activities and identify research and/or learning opportunities.
• Reporting: Contribute to quarterly and annual reports and support the RLC Lead to provide monthly financial forecasts. There may be ad hoc requests to support on presentations to key stakeholders.
• Knowledge management: Support the RLC Lead to ensure that copies of all RLC working documents, drafts, collaterals, etc are saved to MVC’s Teams channel in an editable format.

Qualifications

This is a challenging role requiring a deep understanding of research, leaning and communication with a diverse range of technical and higher-level audiences. The successful candidate must possess the following:

• Substantial professional experience in guiding or leading strategic communications in a development programme or similar context in a senior level position.
• Excellent research and/or communication skills and demonstrable ability to understand complex technical information – particularly in agronomy, finance and and trade– identify and develop important insights and communicate these to a wide range of audiences.
• Strong writing skills for a range of media including internal and public-facing reports, briefs, web and social media.
• Demonstrable high-level competency in teamwork and team collaboration, including with internal teams, senior staff, external experts, private sector, governmental, academic and development stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of modalities to monitor and evaluate communication impact, including demonstrable ability to make adaptations and deepen programme impact as a result of monitoring and evaluation efforts.
• A high professional standard of spoken and written English.

ASI operates an inclusive approach to employment, with all candidates fairly considered. Malawi-based candidates are strongly preferred and women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Timing and Duration

The RLC Adviser will be engaged on a part time, consultancy basis, which is expected to start as soon as possible and run for the life of the programme until April 2028. If based internationally, some limited travel to Malawi will be required. The successful candidate will be engaged for an initial term of one year, with the possibility of extension dependent on performance.

Ready to apply?

Submit a CV and brief cover letter detailing your fit for the RLC Adviser position by Friday, 15th November 2024. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the right candidate is identified