About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs, and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies, and communities. 

Program / Department Summary

The Position

The immediate objective of the Agronomy Specialist is to lead

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Provided technical facilitation support in the area of responsibilities for Livestock Market Development to ensure the planned activists are implemented timely and with required deliverable quality.

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders including other implementing partners, livestock breeding, management and health service providers, livestock product processing businesses, livestock marketing entities, government agencies and research institutions.

• Help develop and disseminate pictorial extension materials on livestock production, health, feeding, forage production/conservation, value addition, market orientation and marketing to livestock producers and traders.

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders including other implementing partners of the concerned projects, livestock breeding, management and health service providers, livestock product processing businesses, livestock marketing entities, government agencies and research institutions

• Provide capacity-building trainings to smallholder farmers, local farmer groups, related CBOs, local cooperatives, collection centres and private sector to ensure increased livestock production, productivity, quality and prices benefiting smallholder farmers.

• Develop Community-Based Participatory Action Plans (CBPP) at the kebele level to enable better use of community resources and prioritize community needs

• Conduct community sensitization on the project (objectives, activities, targets) and conduct capacity-strengthening sessions for community members and relevant stakeholders.

• Attend and organize on-site trainings and information sharing for livestock farmers mainly in market places and demonstration areas.

• Contribute to baseline and end line assessment surveys and analyses of the overall status of the livestock sector for the areas targeted by the project.

• Provide specialized technical assistance in the implementation of the project activities and supervision/monitoring of livestock health management, breeding and production methods for improving commercial gain.

• Provide technical guidance in the broader areas of the livestock management program and its impact on food security.

• Provide cross-sectoral technical support to other Mercy Corps programs/teams and projects in Dollo Ado & Dollo Bay

• In collaboration with other sectors, work to build and maintain close relationships with key government partners and local implementers;

• Represent Mercy Corps professionally in cluster areas as to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission;

• Compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly); and

• Other duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING  

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field programs.

 GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Coordinate with GEDSI Technical Team Improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

·        Minimum BSC in veterinary science, Livestock Management/animal science or a related discipline.

·        Three years of relevant experience in animal production and health, transboundary animal or zoonotic diseases, One Health, pastoralism, livestock value chains, marketing & trade.

·        Sound experience in livestock production/husbandry practices in rural or Agro pastoral communities.

·        Ability to interact effectively with a wide range of partners, the private sector, government and civil society.

·        Proven quantitative skills, including familiarity with livestock extension activities in Dollo Ado & Dollo Bay

·        Good understanding on the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovation.

·        Knowledge of participatory analyses including community-based participatory action planning and results processing.

Success Factors

The successful Community Accountability officer will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated attention to detail, will be committed to working long hours, and with Mercy Corps stakeholders regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, abilities or gender. S/he will be highly motivated, and capable to work without direct supervision.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to Apply

Register using the following LINK