Internship - Marketing at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Background: 2SCALE

The 2SCALE program[1] is designed to incubate and accelerate inclusive business development in African agri-food systems. 2SCALE works together with companies (African, Dutch and other small and medium-sized enterprises - SMEs) and producer organizations (POs) to develop business models and partnership models that promote inclusiveness, develop competitive edge, and have potential for scaling. These partnerships, also referred to as public-private partnerships (PPPs), are the core implementation modality to achieve the objectives of the program.

Specifically, 2SCALE supports partnerships in target agri-food industries with significant potential to:

• Improve food and nutrition security, both at grassroots level and at the consumer end of the value chain by serving local and regional markets (including Base-of-the-Pyramid - BoP - markets) with nutritious food products.
• Improve the terms of inclusion of smallholder farmers and other micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the value chains, including women economic empowerment and youth employment.

To strengthen PPPs, 2SCALE also collaborates with companies and organizations that provide a specific expertise to support the target agri-food value chains or act as a major off-taker in the chain.

2SCALE is co-funded by the private sector and by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). Building on a first phase (2012-18), the current phase of 2SCALE runs from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023. It is awarded to a consortium led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and comprising the Base-of-the-Pyramid Innovation Center (Bopinc) and SNV Netherlands Development Organization (SNV).

In the Kenya portfolio, there are 10 partnerships developed with different business champions. The partnerships in in animal production, staple crops, vegetables, and oil crops. The activities are implemented in the field in collaboration with different partners and actors including farmers, service providers, and county governments, among others. Partnership facilitators support implementation of activities in each partnership.

To support the work of the partnership facilitators and businesses champions, we intend to engage three interns for implementation of the BoP activities in the assigned BoP markets.

Objectives of the internship

The Specific Objectives And Tasks Are

The main objective of the internship is to provide extra resources for on-ground execution for marketing and distribution activities planned for each partnership with a BoP component. The interns will work directly with the mid-level marketing consultants and the 2SCALE senior BoP marketing specialist to ensure that the BoP activity calendar is achieved in a timely manner.

• To assist with on-ground execution of marketing and distribution activities.
• Assist in preparation (e.g., obtaining council permits, tent set ups) and carrying out market activations.
• Co-lead the champion’s sales team to build and monitor retailer network.
• Prepare concise sales and distribution reports on weekly, monthly, and quarterly bases.

Location

Based in IFDC Nairobi office with frequent field visits to the respective partnership field offices.

Reporting

The marketing interns will report to the respective marketing consultant and the 2SCALE BoP marketing specialist. They will also benefit from coaching from other team members of 2SCALE.

The intern will be expected to make daily, weekly, and monthly reports from specific activities such as field travels, trainings, workshops, among others.

Required Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business related course with a major in marketing.
• The intern should have completed university course in the last one year
• Experience in FMCG marketing activities as brand ambassadors or sales representatives
• Should have successfully executed outdoor activations.
• Personal laptops.

Skills

• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Good report writing skills.
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to speak local language is an added advantage (if required)

General Terms and Conditions

• IFDC Africa Internship Policy applies for interns working at IFDC offices in Africa.
• The Internship Program operates on a monthly flat-rate stipend of $200 paid in the local currency equivalent. Costs and arrangements for approved in-country travel, and accommodation is provided by IFDC.
• The purpose of the Internship Program is not to lead to further employment with IFDC but to complement an intern’s studies or expose them to the real world of marketing. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.