ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Terms of referenceJob Title:Senior Technical Expert I - Crop ProtectionTerm of Employment:  One year with the possibility of extensionDuty Station(s):Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Required number:One

Application deadline: October 23, 2022

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Institute does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. 

ATI has an exceptional team of highly competent and committed staff with proven track records 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 results as an individual and as a member of a team. 

ATI provides a unique 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 teams with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

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 team work to achieve excellent results. 

At ATI, 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:

The STE I – Crop Protection is specifically expected to have strong skills and experience in crop protection, surveillance and diagnosis of crop pests, well experienced in the identification of crop diseases and recommend appropriate management options, desire for improving the lives of smallholder farmers, and a deep familiarity to Ethiopia’s agricultural research system with particular emphasis to increase the production, productivity, post-harvest management and marketing of the prioritized ATI commodities.

She/he should have extensive knowledge of potential and existing economically important pests and diseases that limits crop production and the agricultural pesticides marketing system. The expert will provide technical support that contributes to increasing the level of farmers' aggregation, adoption of improved crop production and management practices, reducing pre and post-harvest losses that comes due to biotic factors and provide effective technical support to development agents, experts and farmers which ultimately contribute to the evolution of the Farmers Production Clusters from (pre) basic to a production company. The STE will work closely with agricultural inputs marketing STE and relevant teams. The STE I – Crop Protection will report to Grain Crops Value Chain Team Lead but works for both grain and horticulture FPC.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

• Support the value chain alliance and will work for hand in hand with the ATI federal and regional FPC project teams of both grain and horticulture.

• Provides technical support and capacity building for implementing key interventions.

• Actively engage in the development Strategy for field crop management and post-harvest loss

• Develop a detailed annual work plans and budget and implement accordingly

• Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual report

• Provide technical support or capacity building to zonal & woreda experts and DAs

• Closely work with research institutes and federal/regional BoA crop protection expert in undertaking pest assessment, surveillance, and managements

• Prepare crop protection users guide for major pests of ACC priority commodities including soybean

• Ensure the project activity implementation and budget utilization are according to the plan.

• Ensure creation of responsive and multi-modal plant quarantine system to effectively safeguard producers and consumers from emerging or new plant pests and diseases

• Actively participate in liaising the federal, regional authorities and relevant stakeholders to reform crop protection organizational structures for quality service and to enforce/implement all legislative provisions.

• Assist in liaising the federal, regional authorities and relevant stakeholders to capacitate crop quarantine posts and strengthen/build national diagnostic laboratory and plant health clinics. 

• Assist in liaising with federal, regional authorities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen pesticide inspection and testing capacity for safe use and disposal and enhance farmers & experts awareness on crop protection and plant health

• Actively participate in the diagnosis, design and implementation of strategies and systems for development of the plant health interventions in key or priority commodities identified by ATA

• Facilitate and support the RD in coordinating and harmonizing the design, formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of input and crop protection programs and projects in key priority areas of ATI

• Assist in building the capacity, as necessary, of key government, private and development actors in the production, importation and marketing and distribution continuum of pesticides associated to management of the plant health in identified key commodities

• Participate in project proposal development

• Undertake any additional assignments given from his supervisions or senior management staffs as it may become necessary for the fulfilment of ATI’s objectives.

• Work closely with 8028 digital agriculture project IVR recommendations on occurrence, controlling, and reporting mechanisms of Desert Locust & Yellow Rust and other pests

• Follow up pest occurrence predictions/outlooks and early warning circulated for rusts and other pests from International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and other Organizations and provide advisories services for local implementers.

Job Requirements

• Minimum of Master’s Degree in Pathology, Crop Protection

• At least six (6) years of professional experience

• Experience in pest and disease identification, pest management, surveillance, provide weather based early warning, and integrated pest management practices.

• Reputable record on pathology and other crop pest management practices with at least 10 published articles on reputable journal as first author    

• Good experience in planning and implementation of activities crop protection activities

• Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional level and federal level institutions; extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders

• Fluency in English & Amharic required; fluency in regional language(s) is advantageous.

• Excellent oral & written communication skills with highly collaborative working style.

• Experience in working with multi-cultural teams preferred.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills.

• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty, and desire to be of service.

• Passion and skill in networking, partnership, collaboration and alliance building

• Creative thinker, self-starter, and a self-motivated person.

• Ability and willingness to shoulder responsibilities under hectic conditions (in terms of overlapping assignments that may happen occasionally).

• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability, and results.     

• Demonstrable track record in program and systems design and implementation      

How to Apply

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et

Note: It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.