Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position  ICT Expert

Term of Employment: Fixed-term

Duty Station(s):  Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), Addis Ababa

Required Number: Two

Salary & Benefits: Competitive

Application Deadline: August 29, 2021

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sectors partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position is a secondment to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC).

Over the years, the EIC has pursued a series of policy, legal and institutional measures with the goal of effectively realizing national investment plans and targets proposed under Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plans. Clearer strategies have been put in place to attract foreign direct investment and to develop labor-intensive industries and an export-oriented manufacturing sector. Yet, the transformation of the economy is hampered by organizational and operational limitations; particular problems include an overstretched capacity of senior personnel, a limited active outreach system targeting potential investors, limited availability of pre-packaged information needed to attract quality investments, and the limited number of qualified human resources pool. To address these limitations, the EIC, together with the ATA, has developed the ‘Strengthening Investor Engagement, Advisory Roles and Regulatory Powers of the Ethiopian Investment Commission’ Program. The main objectives of the Program are to carry out strategic development of EIC’s institutional infrastructure and human resources portfolio and thereby augment its capacity to attract quality investment, to better support private sector stakeholders, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services rendered to investors.

The ICT Expert will sit under the Investment Information and Technology Directorate and is expected to support EIC on a broad range of issues, including but not limited to:

• Developing, managing, and maintaining information networks.
• Following up on network system and website functionality.
• Providing IT support to different divisions in EIC through consulting, training, and maintenance.
• Actively supporting projects that are managed by other divisions in EIC.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Develop and manage network systems.

• Evaluate existing information systems and consolidate information for analyzing network services’ requirements.
• Develop networks to ensure efficient communication and improved operation in EIC.
• Install and configure data networks.
• Perform information network management and maintenance tasks.
• Identify support requests and gaps and recommend necessary adjustments.
• Customize available software to fit the needs of other divisions.
• Follow-up on system functionality by conducting spot-checks and flag interruptions as appropriate.

Provide IT support to different divisions in EIC.

• Conduct needs assessment to identify the EIC’s information system needs.
• Conduct customer satisfaction surveys and compile information to further improve information systems with feedback.
• Engage with development partners during system design and implementation, from terms of reference preparation to support and follow-up of system development and implementation.
• Participate in training and consulting services regarding the needs of EIC’s information systems.
• Develop training and user manuals to conduct training on new network systems and software.

Work with other divisions of the EIC to facilitate the organizational flow of investment and institution-related information and services.

• Develop and manage the EIC website through content development and periodic upload of news and events, policy documents, promotional materials, announcements.
• Assist in preparing promotional materials such as brochures, pamphlets, and leaflets.    
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Job Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Statistics, and other related fields.
• At least 6 years experience working on ICT-related projects, preferably in Ethiopia.
• Experience in developing and maintaining data analysis tools.
• Experience training end-users and conducting small to medium-scale training sessions.
• Familiarity with website and network management systems
• Strong understanding of computer systems, mobile devices, and other tech products
• Ability to diagnose and resolve basic technical issues
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and data gathering skills
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders
• Professional command of written and spoken English and Amharic language

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Basic understanding of Ethiopia’s investment system.
• Experience/familiarity with digital data collection (i.e., web/mobile technology).
• Excellent ICT skills, analytical and data gathering skills.
• Knowledge and/or experience with managing and customizing software.
• Experience in managing and implementing projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• A strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty, and desire to be of service.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages) at the website

NB: Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application. Women are highly encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.