JOB TITLE: Community Development Officer (SIDA-CSA)

REPORTS TO: Project Coordinator

REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: Community Development Facilitator

LOCATION: 3 locations, Hadaro Tuntu Woreda ,Halaba woreda and Damot Gale woreda

DURATION & HOURS: up to 31 December 2022 with 60 working days of probation period 

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

 The Community Development Officer will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the overall implementation of the Project , that is, climate-smart focused agricultural value chains and agribusinesses to empower small holder famers in SNNPR.

The Community Development Officer (CDO) will work under the direction and guidance of the Project Coordinator. The CDO will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the overall project implementation and community/institutional capacity building ,community mobilization ,community facilitation activities at field level, that is, s/he will coordinate all the project activities at Woreda level.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key areas of responsibilities are: 

Facilitate and coordinate overall project implementation at Woreda level

• Work with the project team and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes at his/her specific cluster
• Provide technical support to Woreda level government technical staff
• Ensure adequate consultation and participation of Woreda and village/community level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women
• Facilitate identification of training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver training, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions
• Provide expertise and advice for community institutions on gender mainstreaming in project scheme
• Provide direct community support in partnership with government stakeholders in the Woredas as the project does not have CDFs in woreda level.
• Submit regular monthly and quarterly activity reports and submit training reports as needed
• Conduct other duties as may be assigned by the Project Coordinator

Facilitate and coordinate community/institutional capacity building activities

• Facilitate development of Organizational and Managerial Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT2) in the project context
• Organize periodical assessment of CBO’s organizational and managerial capacities using the developed OCAT tool
• Analyse the results of the assessment and prepare tailor made capacity building plans
• Ensure implementation of these capacity building plans in close collaboration with the project coordinator 
• Work closely with Cooperative Promotion Office and other stakeholders to build ground for sustainability of the project
• Contribute to familiarization of the OCAT application within and out of the region.
• Ensure conducive working environment and enabling team spirit in the field

Play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Project team

• Identify and explore opportunities to improve project implementation and guarantee it’s sustainability
• Identify and explore opportunities to grow and expand the country project pipeline, both in relation to the current project (e.g., potential scale-up opportunities, replication in other geographies/regions) or related to new project opportunities
• Contribute to the implementation of Farm Africa’s strategy
• Participate in broader Farm Africa meetings with other project staff members, as requested by line manager.

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Job Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Desirable

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

• Bsc/MSc qualification or equivalent in either of the following fields: Agri-Economics, Agriculture, Agricultural Business, International Development, Rural Development, or any other relevant discipline.
• Knowledge of climate smart agri-value chain development
• Good understanding and firm belief in gender equality and issues in rural communities

Experience

• Five years’ work experience in similar organizations
• Previous NGO work experience in rural development, in SNNPR
• Experience in the area of organizational capacity building of community-based institutions
• Experience in working with the OCAT
• Experience with grassroots NGOs and/or communities in Ethiopia
• Experience in facilitating planning, monitoring and evaluation processes
• Demonstrable experience of participatory development approach 

Skills & abilities

• Very good English language skills (written and spoken)
• Knowledge of local language (Halaba,Kembata and Wolayita) is an asset
• Computer literacy, excellent record keeping and report writing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach
• Budget and financial management, training need assessment and training facilitation
• Willingness to reside in rural/marginal areas, ability to work with minimum supervision
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa 
• Good community level facilitation and coordination skills

Our Values

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT: Expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does. 

GROUNDED: Our teams and partners work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making. 

IMPACTFUL: We deliver long lasting change for farmers, their families, and the environments they live in. 

BOLD: We model innovative approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

How to Apply

Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 4 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing ethrecruitment@farmafrica.org with the subject Community Development Officer (SIDA-CSA) by 9 April 2022.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Farm Africa is an equal opportunity employer and promotes gender equity. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Farm Africa does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. (E.g. Application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees).