Consultancy Needed – Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist

Consultancy Needed – Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist at Save the Children

Consultancy Needed – Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist at Save the Children

Project CORN (Creating Business Opportunities and Strengthening Income) is a flagship initiative funded and overseen by Cargill and implemented by Save the Children Indonesia (SCIDN). The project aims to enhance the productivity and income of smallholder farmers through the sustainable production of industrial food-grade maize, with interventions focused in two key areas:

Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara and Jember, East Java. In East Java, the project aims to increase maize farmers’ income through the cultivation of food grade maize and improved linkage to market access. In the current year, the project will focus on engaging private sector partners to implement pilot initiatives in East Java, based on findings from the Comprehensive Analysis (CA) of the food-grade maize supply chain.

OBJECTIVES

The External Collaborator – Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist Consultant will support the design, development, and implementation of strategic partnerships with selected private sector actors (selected seed companies & dryer manufacturer) to advance program objectives. The role focuses on mobilizing private sector expertise, investment, innovation, and market access to enhance sustainability, scale, and impact of development interventions.

KEY RESPONSIBLITIES

The PSE Specialist Consultant will be primarily based in East Java and will be responsible for supporting the implementation of Market Systems Development (MSD) interventions for food grade maize initiatives in East Java. The key responsibilities include:

1. Development of trial design with dryer manufacturer for food-grade maize

A. Trial Design & Planning

• Develop a comprehensive trial design for maize drying systems in collaboration with dryer manufacturers and end-users (corn wet milling industries).

• Define trial objectives, hypotheses, parameters, and success criteria aligned with food-grade maize standards (e.g., moisture content, aflatoxin risk, grain integrity).

• Assist dryer manufacturer to select appropriate trial locations, sample sizes, and experimental controls to ensure statistically and technically sound results.

B. Coordination with Dryer Manufacturer

• Assist MSD Specialist in managing partnership with dryer manufacturers.

• Provide advise on technical side for the trials and align trial protocols with dryer specifications, operating conditions, and manufacturer testing requirements.

C. Data Collection & Analysis

• Oversee data collection during trials and ensure data accuracy and completeness.

• Analyze trial results in collaboration with MSD Specialist, manufacturer, and end-user representatives.

D. Report & Documentation (Case Study)

• Prepare case study reports summarizing methodology, findings, lessons learned, and recommendations including:

  • Translate trial results into practical recommendations for farmers, processors, and supply-chain partners.

  • Support development of scale-up strategies and business models for food-grade maize drying solutions.

  • Share findings with internal teams and external stakeholders through presentations or technical briefs.

2. Advise on collaboration with selected seed companies on food-grade maize piloting cultivation.

A. Strategic Advisory on Collaboration with Seed Company

• Advise on partnership models and collaboration strategies with selected seed companies for food-grade maize piloting.

• Facilitate alignment of objectives, roles, and expectations between the project and seed company partners.

B. Monitoring, Learning, and Recommendation

• Support MSD Specialist on development of monitoring indicators for the pilot project.

• Review pilot results and provide recommendations on varietal suitability and scalability.

C. Reporting & Documentation (Case Study)

• Prepare document lessons learned (case study reports) and share with internal and external stakeholders.

• Contribute to technical notes, advisory briefs, and pilot summaries related to seed company collaboration.

• Provide inputs for program reports, investment cases, or partnership agreements related to food-grade maize.

SCOPE OF ROLE

• Location : Based in East Java

• Reports to : Program Manager / Market System Development (MSD) Specialist

• Duration : May – December 2026

DELIVERABLES

The PSE Specialist Consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Develop trial design with dryer manufacturer for food-grade maize.

• Case study report on trial with dryer manufacturer.

• Case study report on piloting food-grade maize with seed companies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, Agribusiness, Economics, Rural Development, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in:

• Market Systems Development (MSD) / Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approaches.

• Agribusiness development, particularly in maize sector or similar value chains.

• Private sector engagement and partnership facilitation.

Proven experience working with:

• Smallholder farmers and farmer organizations.

• Private sector actors (input suppliers, aggregators, off takers).

• Multi-stakeholder environments.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of:

  • Agricultural value chains and market systems (preferably maize or food crops).

  • Business model development and commercialization strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to:

  • Conduct market analysis and system diagnostics.

  • Facilitate partnerships and negotiations.

  • Develop high-quality analytical and technical reports.

Core Competencies

• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

• Problem-solving and adaptive management capabilities.

• Ability to work independently while coordinating with diverse teams.

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in East Java or similar contexts.

• Familiarity with food-grade maize standards and supply chains.