The position holder will lead FUTURES project implementation on Innovation and Private Sector Engagement. He/She is responsible to provide technical leadership and capacity building on environmental friendly innovations to the FUTURES project partners and staff in the operational regions, zones and woredas. The incumbent is also expected to work closely with the Economic Strengthening and Gender Advisor and Natural Resources Management Advisor and provide innovative ideas/technologies and practices across the four outcomes of the project by working at the nexus of reproductive health, agriculture, forest and biodiversity.

Overall, the Innovation and Private Sector Engagement Advisor is expected to lead the effort of reversing deforestation, forest resources degradation and biodiversity loss in Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve by designing/adopting practical innovative ideas that (1) reduce the conversion of forest land to agriculture by improving socio-economic and environmental benefits of the forest land; (2) encouraging the engagement of private sector; (3) promote sustainable livelihood for forest dependent community; (4) empower women and youth.

Roles and Responsibilities

Provide technical support to partners and field offices (35%)

Provide quality technical support to ECFF, ODA and KYRHDO and government counter parts;

• Lead the design and implementation of innovative ideas/approaches that address the critical challenges affecting the coffee, honey, spices productivity and quality
• Ensure active engagement of the private sector in sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate smart agriculture and coffee, honey, species and fruit value chain
• Steer innovation and green entrepreneurship by working closely with other advisors, IPs and relevant government offices
• Participates in FUTURES project detailed implementation planning (DIP), and annual reviews, to ensure that proper practices, tools and guidelines are adopted throughout the life of the project.
• Ensure that activities are implemented according to a well-defined set of program protocols and tools, which balance the need for timely achievement of objectives with the importance of quality processes, and methodology at field level.
• Promote environmentally friendly livelihood activities (e.g. apiculture, sericulture, eco-tourism) as a means to tackle the deforestation and forest resources degradation in Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve.
• Participate or familiarize the implementation strategies, methods and guidelines that encourages innovation and adaptation of good practices
• Facilitates the adoption and implementation of innovative ideas and green entrepreneurship opportunities that economically empower women, youth and land less people.
• Improve stakeholders understanding for innovation and green entrepreneurship and make sure enabling environment is created for the implementation/adoption of innovative ideas and approaches.
• Work with public institutions and research institutions, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, business community to build sector-wide, mutual benefits on innovations pertinent to biodiversity and biosphere reserve
• Ensure FUTURES project incorporates innovative, empowering and cost effective practices and mechanisms that have potential for transformation, learning and scaling up.
• Monitor progress and provide on-going feedback and recommendations to project management.

 Capacity building and technical support (35%)

• Provides technical support for field staff, partners, and government offices on innovation, private sector engagement and green entrepreneurship
• Provide leadership, expert advice and build core capacities for staff in forest, agriculture, biodiversity and tourism related innovations that contribute for sustaining YCFBR and the livelihood of the surrounding community
• Provide guidance for the relevant government offices to improve the participation of private sectors in environmentally friendly business/investment opportunity around YCFBR.
• Support the establishment of strong business linkage between Forest Management Groups/Forest Management Cooperatives and the private sectors
• Capacitate the project field teams and partners staff to understand and mainstream innovative ideas in their interventions.
• Organize, lead or promote the implementation of identified capacity building activities
• Explore and adopt local and international innovations that ensures environmental sustainability while providing short and long term socio-economic benefits in biosphere reserve areas
• Facilitate or support different innovation and private engagement forums in the program areas
• Communicate with sub grants on implementation status of planned activities, and provides them the required technical supports accordingly
• Closely works with the FUTURES M & E focal point and collaborative learning partners and CARE program quality and Learning (PQL) unit to ensure that learning and monitoring evaluation systems are in-sync with global agendas and needs, as required.

Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation/Policy implementation (25%):

• Works with the DM&E advisor to develop a system that will enable CARE Ethiopia to assess the impact of innovation and private sector engagement in FUTURE project interventions
• Provides guidance and support to partner and government staff members with respect to innovation, green entrepreneurship and private sector engagement to enable them to administer the monitoring system.
• Keeps up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples within the country and internationally, and ensure on-going personal development and learning;
• Organize/facilitates visits, exchange visits, training, e-conferences to enhance shared learning or propose other forms/modalities.
• Develop quarterly report and submit to FUTURE project manager
• Organize and facilitate learning events at zone level, Woreda and Kebele.

 Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

• All the three levels of problem solving apply to the incumbent. Because, the incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable situations, which need analysis, problem definition and development of alternative solutions.  

GENDER EQUALITY

• The Project Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring that gender equality and diversity values are upheld in the recruitment, orientation, performance assessment and management of staff.
• Provide adequate time to staff to participate in gender sensitivity workshops and related events.

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Required:

• BSc degree in Agricultural Innovations or Agro-forestry, Plant Science, Animal Science, Biodiversity Innovations, Green Entrepreneurship, Agro-economics or other related fields

Desired:

• Master’s Degree in the above-mentioned fields. Having MA in Business administration, Business Management, Economics and related fields have added values.

EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with the first degree and 4 years of relevant experience plus post graduate degree in the design, development and management of innovations in agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and economic strengthening activities.
• Proven track record in incubating/nurturing innovative ideas.
• Practical experience in private sector engagement and green entrepreneurship. Having additional experience in supporting agriculture/forestry/biodiversity related small and medium enterprises and in empowering women, youth and landless people very much considered.

Desired:

• Experience in conservation/environment/biodiversity based innovation and business is highly desired

TECHNICAL

Required:

• Solid understanding of innovation, private sector engagement and green entrepreneurship
• Ability to analyze technical issues, to write clear and concise reports and make effective oral presentations
• Proficiency in computer (Word, Excel & other collaborative platforms)
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Project design, monitoring and evaluation skill;
• Effective interpersonal skills, maturity, initiative, tact and a high sense of responsibility, 
• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different educational, cultural and technical backgrounds
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of gender, equity, diversity, inclusion and PSHEA (safeguarding) through previous positions or programming experience

COMPETENCIES

Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, building partnership, communicating with impact, contributing to team success, innovation, leading through vision and values, developing teams, planning and organizing.

CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS 

The incumbent is expected to collaborate with GOs, NGOs and partners in order to promote innovation and private sector engagement in the program operational area. She/he is also expected to collaborate with Program Coordination Group, Area Coordinators, Program Managers and other concerned staff of CARE. 

How to Apply

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners.

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer.

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. 

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through Ethio Jobs 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women! CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.