Agrologistics, Cold Chain and Market Activation Advisor

About the role

FRESHWAY is a four-year project strengthening Ethiopia's fruit and vegetable agrologistics system along the Arba Minch–Hawassa–Addis Ababa–Mojo corridor, aiming to reduce postharvest losses, improve food safety and attract private investment in cold chain infrastructure, aggregation and market linkages. The Agrologistics, Cold Chain and Market Activation Advisor provides technical leadership and practical support to improve the efficiency, quality and market responsiveness of horticultural supply chains, working closely with the Project Manager, other advisors, public institutions, producer organisations, private companies, buyers and service providers.

Key responsibilities

• Agrologistics and cold chain: conduct or coordinate feasibility and scoping studies in priority locations, analyse production volumes, seasonality, market access, logistics connectivity, investment risks and bottlenecks, and make practical recommendations.
• Review existing aggregation models and centres, identify lessons that can be adapted or scaled, and support the establishment of regional aggregation hubs with logistics linkages to the Modjo Cool Port and high-end retail and institutional buyers in Addis Ababa.
• Provide technical inputs to FRESHWAY short courses on horticultural logistics, cold-chain management and postharvest handling, and connect Ethiopian companies with potential Dutch logistics innovators.
• Market activation: organise learning and exposure visits for producer groups to wholesale markets and large buyers in Addis Ababa, and facilitate buyer-seller meetings on volumes, quality, pricing and delivery schedules.
• Support joint production and delivery planning, including aggregation and bulking through producer organisations, and run practical demonstrations on grading, packaging and postharvest handling.
• Engage marketing companies, media houses and other service providers, oversee consumer awareness studies, and coordinate and monitor promotional activities such as radio, TV and social media campaigns, point-of-sale labelling, posters, public awareness events, market demonstrations and school-based programmes.

Required profile

• Master's degree in a relevant field such as supply chain or logistics management, agribusiness, agriculture, horticulture or value-chain development.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience with a master's degree, or at least seven years with a bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrated experience supporting projects with a value-chain development or market-systems development component.
• Good spoken and written English, with strong reporting, facilitation and presentation skills.

Required skills

• Supply-chain planning and optimisation, including transport, storage, cold-chain management, inventory control, aggregation centres, grading, packaging and quality standards.
• Strong knowledge of horticultural value chains, including fruit and vegetable production systems, postharvest handling and market standards.
• Stakeholder coordination, communication, facilitation and problem-solving in field-based, multi-actor environments.
• Understanding of market-demand activation through promotional and consumer-awareness interventions.

The contract is for one year, with possible extension depending on performance and budget availability, starting on 1 January 2027. Applications are submitted only through the employer's online recruitment portal.