Job Description: Natural Resource Development Officer (NRDO)

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia is a registered charity operating in the working areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resources Management, Support to Civil Society Organizations and Local Government, Skill Development and Education, and Emergency Responses. See also www.helvetas.org. 

HELVETAS Ethiopia is presently looking for motivated and competent professionals for the following position for a project entitled Wag-Himra-Climate Adaptation and Rural Development (WH-CARD-II) project.

Description:

Working Context and Core Responsibilities

This Terms of Reference (ToR) form is an integral part that incorporates the duties, responsibilities and the guiding principles for natural resource development officer position for Wag-Himra-Climate Adaptation and Rural Development (WH-CARD-II) project that going to be implemented from 2021-2025 in wag himra six drought prone woredas with the aim of achieving four interrelated objectives in Wag Hemra Zone: Improved food security and nutrition for rural households, Increased economic empowerment for rural women and youth, Improved government policy practices and services in line with rural communities’ needs rights and priorities, and Community organizations are gender transformative and socially inclusive. The natural resource development officer (NRDO) is expected to work in close collaboration with the project team consisting of the Project Manager, four officers and community facilitators.

 The NRDO will be responsible to guide and support Natural Resource Development initiatives in project communities with main focus on strengthening Community based participatory watershed development approach in close collaboration with Zone Department of Agriculture, Livestock Resource development Promotion and women and children affairs, etc. and the respective woreda offices.

Applicable Guiding Principles

The Natural Resource Development Officer will abide by the following guiding principles

• Demonstrate a high level of integrity and ethics with due regard to organizational policies and procedures, working guidelines. Comply with HELVETAS SWISS Intercooperation Ethiopia’s mission and values to foremost
• serve the poor and the disadvantaged as well as have a high regard for the organizations working culture
• Promulgate accountability, self-initiative and team work
• Adhere to the Country program Strategy 2019-2023(HELVETAS Gender and Social Equity Strategy and the Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to the #Gender and Social Equity Strategy; of HELVETAS and actively contribute to the promotion and practice of the strategy at both project and partners level.
• Proactively act in ensuring Gender Equity and Social Equity and promoting partnership with CSOs and the private sector
• Be committed and determined to improve the livelihoods of the target communities

Major Roles and Responsibilities

• The employee is responsible for facilitating sustainable natural resource management initiatives in order to maximize the production and productivity of crop and livestock resources in turn to improve the socio-economic changes of the peoples.
• The Natural Resource Development Officer will be mainly responsible for the promotion of sustainable natural resource management practices
• Play facilitation role and provide technical support to community based participatory watershed development
• Give due attention in changing the attitude of the community on protecting the environment through awareness creation and capacity building
• Establish and train watershed teams and work towards legally certified watershed association
• Promotion of and technical support for bench terrace and sustainable hillside farming and other soil and water conservation practices
• Promotion of drought tolerant forage and multi-purpose plants
• Promotion of improved forage resource development and management practices including Zero-grazing, rotational grazing and controlled rotational grazing
• Promote the agroforestry development practices
• Promote woodlot development practices in some selected watersheds, in a way of minimizing the spillover effect of promoting woodlot development practices
• High engagement in monitoring of results measurement
• Provide technical support for Production of quality tree and fodder seedlings
• Support and promote re- afforestation program
• Strengthen the watershed protection by- laws practices in WH-CARD 1 and innovate additional systems that can ensure the environmental protection in sustained way.
• Focus on replicating the watershed protection development practices
• Work in close collaboration with grass root level CWT and the government structures at all levels.
• Facilitate capacity development on sustainable natural resource development and innovative management practices to direct beneficiaries, government partners and community facilitators
• High engagement on monitoring of results measurement, documentation and knowledge management

Project Management

• Participate and contribute technical expertise in both WH-CARD II and SUCCESS-Tekeze projects as a member of the project management team.
• Carries out other reasonable duties as assigned to him by the Project Manager

Job Requirements

Requirements:

• BA/MA/MSC degree in natural resource development, soil and water conservation, rural development or agricultural economics
• The equivalent combination of education and the extensive relevant professional experience in the areas of climate change issues, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable alternative livelihoods creation
• Who have basic knowledge, skill and experience in areas of natural resource development, livestock development
• Knowledge and skills on GIS and watershed planning is advantageous
• For BA degree holders at least 7 years and above work experience in areas of natural resource development and for MA/MSC holders at least 5 years’ work experience in natural resource management is required.
• NGO experience is PREFERED
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for weeks, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel to woredas and project watersheds and kebeles

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time. 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their application & updated CV through HR-Ethiopia@helvetas.org    before/on 28^th of January, 2021

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.

Please make sure you write the position title you are applying for in the subject line. Failure to do so will lead to application disqualify.

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.