Background

I. Techno Serve Background:

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. 

II. Program Description:

Tikkun Olam Ventures (TOV) is a new philanthropic development fund and program established by the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Ethiopia is TOV’s pilot country of operations. TOV supports social businesses in emerging economies to access, invest in, and adopt Israeli technology and innovations to improve the lives of smallholder farmers. Additionally, the fund promotes sustainable business models by facilitating loans for small and medium enterprises (cooperatives, unions, and private agri-businesses) and by providing them with technical support services that increase their chances for success. TOV addresses all barriers to the introduction of new technologies – and facilitates access to finance, technology, learning, and market channels. The first year and a half of the program will serve as the program pilot and focus on supporting enterprises working with smallholder farmers in various horticulture market systems. There is a special focus on increased engagement/empowerment of women and youth.

III.  Position Description:

Support Program Coordinator in the set-up of program operations at assigned field sites. Implement and follow-up on program interventions to facilitate farmers and enterprises’/farmers cooperatives successful purchase of and support to their member smallholder farmers in investing in and adopting Israeli technologies and innovations that ultimately improve their incomes. Interventions include but are not limited to do agronomic practices, the site layout, plot design, system installation and maintenances, supporting farmers and enterprises/farmers cooperatives in access to finance, capacity building for improved agronomy, general business and governance skills, loan management, technology utilization, and marketing.

Mobilize and facilitate other key market system players (farmers, local government, research centres, traders, and input/equipment suppliers) to implement program interventions, which will require negotiating, partnering with, and providing follow-up support to these players.

Job Requirements

Required Skills and Experience:

Setting Up and Supporting Program Operations

• By the support of Business Advisor (BA), learn, operate and manage farmers’ fields with drip irrigation system where farmers and experts from woreda and zones can learn drip irrigation operation, management, maintenance, vegetable production, crop protection practically from the model demo plot;
• Record all necessary data including but not limited to, input supply, production cost, sales and other related information of the assigned working areas and report to program coordinator;
• Use tablet monitoring system to record performed activities and report timely to MEL, and program coordinator;
• Organize and do effective regular visit to the farmers’ fields under the working areas together with different woreda agricultural offices (Development Agents and woreda experts) and TOV BAs;
• Manage and use properly all the materials delivered to the operation of field activities and report when any problem happened;
• Support the farmers in agronomic practices, pest and disease protection of horticultural crops, drip system operation and maintenance;
• Report to the agronomy BA and crop protection BA whenever pest, disease and other related problems happen in the farmers’ fields; support the farmer to take the necessary action;
• Support in finalizing the selection of enterprises/farmers cooperatives participating in TOV;
• Participate actively in farmers’ selection, site plan, design drip kits installation, and install drip kits on farmers’ fields;
• Provide simple maintenance service for the drip kits at field level after getting the required practical training and report to Irrigation BA if the system damage is serious and needs high-level maintenance;
• Provide technical support and training to farmers on drip system operation, maintenance and lateral stretching, folding and storing kits at end of the season;
• Support the BA and/or program manager in planning meetings and workshops with selected enterprises and other key stakeholders;
• Develop and closely manage relationships with local government agencies (Kebele administration, cooperatives), and other key stakeholders;
• Plan, organize and coordinate field visits to the farmers he/she supports at the model FTC, and other model farmers’ plots to share knowledge and experience;

Enterprise Capacity Building

• Build capacity of farmers and enterprises through facilitating training, including but not limited to: train-the-trainer, business model generation, financial and loan management, good governance, horticulture agronomy, crop protection, TOV technology adoption, marketing, and nutrition
• Support and facilitate growth in enterprises/farmers cooperatives’ farmer membership and sustainable services offered to members
• Facilitate access to finance enterprises and/or farmers’ cooperatives

Teamwork and Reporting

• Collaborate with TOV and other project team members to plan administrative and M&E activities
• Provide strategic feedback to Program Manager, M&E Coordinator, and teammates based on successes, challenges, and other analysis of ongoing activities to improve the TOV program;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program coordinator;
• Ensure benefit to women and youth as well as men;
• Work together with and support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) coordinator, as required
• Prepare weekly activity plan and share the weekly schedule and weekly report to the program coordinator.

I.    Success Factors:

Competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) directly related to successful performance on the job.

core competencies:

• Integrity and honesty: Is widely trusted; seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent himself or herself for personal gain.
• Teamwork / Relationships: Works cooperatively and flexibly with other members of the team with a full understanding of the role to be played as a team member and/or leader, to achieve a common goal. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and networks.
• Learning attitude: Proactively takes advantage of opportunities to learn. Actively identifies new areas for learning; applies and shares new knowledge and skill appropriately.
• Diversity / Inclusiveness: Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity and supports diversity efforts. Interacts effectively with and inclusively with people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, ages, and genders.
• Communication: Expresses ideas effectively in individual and group situations. Listens effectively; shares information, ideas and arguments; adjusts terminology, language and communication modes to the needs of the audience; ensures accurate understanding; acts in a way that facilitates the open exchange of ideas and information; use appropriate non-verbal communication.
• Decision making / Problem solving: Is able to analyze situations, diagnose problems, identify the key issues, establish and evaluate alternative courses of action and produce a logical, practical and acceptable solution. Is able to make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary.
• Results-oriented / High-quality deliverables: Stays focused on the efforts necessary to achieve quality results consistent with programmatic or departmental goals. Demonstrates the ability to achieve effective results; works persistently to overcome obstacles to goal achievement. Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks.
•  Planning & time management Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Effectively plans, schedules, prioritizes and controls activities; identifies, integrates and orchestrates resources (people, material, information, budget, and/or time) to accomplish goals. Prioritizes work according to the program or department’s goals, not just own job responsibilities; manages own time effectively.
• Business acumen: The ability to use information, ask the right questions and make decisions that make an impact on the overall business performance.

Job Specific and Technical Competencies:

• Education Diploma or Bachelor degree in horticulture, crop production, irrigation, and other related fields 
• Required experience: (Optional)
• Practical experience in drip irrigation installation, maintenance for smallholder farmers;
• Knowledge and skill in demo plot operation and management.
• Knowledge in horticultural production and crop protection;
• Knowledge in preparation of site plan and layout for drip irrigation, 
• Attributes and skills:
• Excellent customer service skills;
• High level of organization and efficiency;
• Clear and concise communication skills;
• Computer skills (emails, scanning, word processing) and proficiency Google Drive, Skype, and familiarity with Excel and Word software;
• Perform basic Excel functions such as custom sort, filter, copy, paste, freeze rows/columns and can conduct search find and replace in Excel;
• Keen attention to detail;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks at once for different individuals in the office;
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion;
• Results-focused and aware of the different challenges faced by individuals;
• Culturally aware and able to speak English and Amharic fluently.

Preferred Qualifications and Capabilities:

• Computer skill;
• Knowledge in planning and coordination of events;
• Knowledge with computer programs related to data analysis in addition to Excel;
• Knowledge in agriculture, agriculture technologies and innovations, or other relevant areas;
• Interested to work with farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses at the field level

How to Apply

I. Application Instructions:

Qualified and interested applicants should Click here to apply for this position and submit a cover letter resume and salary history as a single document (either Word or PDF) by October 25, 2020. Applications will be reviewed and considered as received/on a rolling basis. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be contacted. Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated link.