Reference number: Rec/020/22

CORDAID is a Dutch, international non-governmental organization which combines 100 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. CORDAID believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion tear up societies, we connect people and communities. We also stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders, to make a difference where it is most needed. Together with more than 600 partner organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America we structurally improve the living conditions of the poorest and most excluded populations - the bottom billion.

Purpose of the position/Job’s aim

Agricultural finance project officer is responsible for the agricultural finance component of the SAFE project implementation in collaboration with other project team members and relevant stakeholders including different government line departments at district, zonal and regional levels and private sector actors.

She/he is the responsible person for supporting the project clients to get the required financial services. She/he will work in close collaboration with project clients, RuSACCO Unions, partner MFIs, field officers and other project stakeholders. Facilitating access to finance with a gender balance along all the intervention to the targeted communities will be primarily the responsibility of the position holder. 

Duties and responsibilities

• Facilitate financial access to all value chain actors of the project selected commodities,
• Support financial service providers in the development of specific financial products for the targeted communities
• Ensure equitable participation of women/men and youth in accessing financial access at all levels of the project,
• Assist in creating linkages among financial institutions (RuSACCOs and MFIs) with value chain actors including project clients 
• Participate in the actual demonstration of the latest technologies and work on promotion of appropriate technologies,
• Effectively collaborate with project team and other stakeholders for efficient implementation of the project,
• Participate in monitoring and learning of SAFE project.
• Ensure all projects outputs, as listed in the project documents, are effectively achieved,
• Lead and coordinate access to finance in the project implementation and support the development of business management competency and market orientation of smallholder farmers,
• Work on the periodic work plan of the project in alignment with his/her weekly/monthly work plans within the project budgets,
• Collect sex-disaggregated data for project interventions that have accessed to finance from different sources,
• Build strategic linkages, networking and collaborations with local stakeholders in implementation as well as ensure project activities are aligned with ongoing government and/or NGO interventions so as to ensure sustainability and avoid duplication,
• Effectively document all information related to project successes and best practices, create a time series of good quality photos, videos, and most significant change stories of the project partners (beneficiaries) in all project areas, 
• Contribute to the quarterly and annual project activity and financial reports and work plans including government reports,
• Ensure the financial and material utilization of the project is in line with the project plan and annual budgets and adhere to all donor contractual obligations and Cordaid internal policies.
• Attend relevant foras at district, zonal and regional level, represent Cordaid as required, 
• Conduct any other duties as may be assigned by the management. 

Key result areas

• Facilitate access to finance to the targeted communities,
• Ensure financial inclusion (give equal attention to women and youth)
• Creating effective linkages among different project stakeholders

Deliverables

• Work plan for agricultural finance activities of the project (annual, quarterly),
• Periodic report (annual/quarter/monthly) for agricultural finance related activities,
• Contribute to the periodic (annual/quarter/monthly) progress update reports of the project including government report,
• Produce success stories, learning report on quarterly basis,
• Ensure gender/sex disaggregated reports on access to financial services by the targeted communities 

Job Requirements

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum of Masters’ level education or equivalent in agricultural/rural finance, agribusiness, agricultural economics, economics, cooperatives development, agriculture trade and marketing, social science or related fields is required,
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the NGO and/or public sector,
• Proven track record with over 3 years of demonstrated experience in agricultural credit, agribusiness, value chain financing, agriculture production and process financing, agriculture association and cooperative development and agriculture trade/marketing in rural Ethiopia,
• Given the strong training focus of the project, experience in training, but also in development of training and/or communications material is an asset,
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Amharic language is mandatory,
• Experience in working in teams with diverse cultural backgrounds,
• Strong communication and reporting skills and ability in facilitating dialogues among diverse stakeholders,
• Proactive in providing mentorship, guidance and assistance to project clients,
• Knowledge and experience in financial product development specific to agribusinesses
• Self-motivated and ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks in an organized and structured manner,
• Knowledge of financial services issues in the Ethiopian agriculture and cooperatives sector,
• Exposure to the project sites and experiences in project management are added value,
• Valid motorcycle driving license

Competences

• Coordination skill,
• External awareness,
• Results oriented,
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking,
• Ability to work independently while being a good team player,
• Self-motivated, proactive and result driven,
• Being an open and reliable person with high standard of integrity,
• Ability to connect with people of different backgrounds and culture,
• Ability to transfer skills and mentor others,
• Gender and environment sensitive

How to Apply

Interested and qualifying applicants can submit their application letter and CV in English, with both phone and email contact details of at least 3 professional references, to the following email hr.ethiopia@cordaid.org. The vacancy reference number along with the title of the post needs to be written in the subject of the email. 

CORDAID is an equal opportunity employer and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

All applications submitted cannot be returned. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as interviews are done on a rolling basis and the advert can be closed when a matching candidate is identified

An integrity screening will be part of the application procedure.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.