The DESERT FOOD Foundation is looking for a new
Director (f/m)
with in-depth development and agriculture experience to manage- and to set new trajectories for DESERT FOOD.
The DESERT FOOD Foundation’s objective is to mitigate the severe consequences of desertification, through the smart, entrepreneurial and culturally appropriate implementation of cutting-edge solar, desalination and agricultural drip irrigation technologies in the world’s deserts: Solar capitalises the enormous energy potential of the sun, desalination technologies make the vast salt water resources accessible to human consumption, while agricultural drip irrigation technologies prevent water loss and evaporation. Equipped with these technologies, DESERT FOOD establishes decentralised, community led farms and fresh water fountains in the world’s arid and semi-arid regions and thereby fosters sustainable livelihood systems in areas where traditional ways of life are significantly threatened by increasing resource scarcity, famine and poverty.
Innovative technologies alone, however, are not in themselves sufficient to assure sustainable development in arid desert regions. DESERT FOOD is firmly convinced that its farms need to achieve financial autonomy to become truly sustainable. To assure such financial autonomy the thus far high maintenance and repair costs of desalination technologies must be compensated for with highly efficient and profitable agricultural production systems. And this is not as straight forward as in the western world: The establishment of such systems is often complicated by high poverty levels and bad infrastructure, as well as distinct cultural patterns that require close consideration.
Therefore, DESERT FOOD upholds a multidisciplinary agenda in order to truly advance sustainable, climate resilient development in desert regions: The foundation mobilises the high potential of new innovations, integrates these technologies in optimised agribusiness models, which in turn are strongly oriented according to the socio-cultural and economic context.
So far, DFF is still at the very beginning. A little more than a year ago a first pilot project has been set up in Turkana Kenya. The pilot includes a communal fresh water fountain and a one-hectare large farm, which currently employs ten families. In the last year, most efforts have been dedicated to assuring the technological functioning of the pilot and to conduct thorough market studies of the region. A lot has been learned. The next steps will now be to assure the pilot’s financial sustainability, in order to then capitalise the many lessons learned in the establishment of further DESERT FOOD projects. (E.g. promising new trajectories might arise from innovative cooperation approaches with refugee camps in North African countries).
This is where you come in:
As DESERT FOOD Director you will have the responsibility to carry on the Foundation’s current developments, to expand the Foundation’s impact and to set new trajectories for the Foundation’s future. Amongst others, your tasks will include:
- Establishing a long-term fundraising and finance strategy for DESERT FOOD;
- Assembling and coordinating a dedicated team;
- Networking with high-profile partners, stakeholders, board members and investors;
- Devising a new systematic expansion strategy (including the exploration of new DESERT FOOD locations, as well as possibilities to transform the foundation into-, or merge it with a social enterprise).
Your Profile:
- You are an excellent networker with extensive fundraising experience;
- You contribute long-term management experience;
- You have prior experience in international development (and ideally and agricultural projects);
- You are an assertive problem solver with a strong entrepreneurial spirit;
- You are passionate about the DESERT FOOD cause.
We offer:
Competitive pay depending on your experience.
If We Have Raised Your Interest...
... we look forward to your application. Please send your CV and cover letter to info@desertfood.org.
DevelopmentFoodPeacebuilding Desert Food Seeks Director (f/m) DESERT FOOD is looking for a new director with in-depth development experience to manage- and to help mitigate - the consequences of desertification. EnglishGerman DESERT FOOD Foundation http://www.desertfood.org/
Foundation Job (Full-Time) CampaigningEntrepreneurshipFundraisingProject Management 1493589600 1493244000 82049 Pullach, Germany Zugspitzstraße 15, 82049, Pullach entrepreneurfoodjobseekerSocial BusinessDevelopment & PeacebuildingEconomicsEnvironment & SustainabilityFundraisingManagementProject Management info@desertfood.org 1493217596 Default Image 2 Premium Theresa Reisch theresa.reisch@schoeller.org 089 55277 125