Farm Africa, founded in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Ethiopia since 1988. We drive agricultural and environmental change to improve lives. Our strategy has three pillars: agricultural expertise, management and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity. We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private sector to innovate, learn and share best practices for the maximum impact of our projects.

JOB TITLE: Natural Resources Management Officer (Woreda level)

REPORTS TO: Field Co-ordinator for SHARE II Bale Eco-Region

REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None

LOCATION: In one of Berebere, Goro, Delo Mena, Meda Walabu or Guradhamole woredas.

DURATION & HOURS: until December 2023 with probation period of 60 days

 BACKGROUND

Farm Africa is implementing a large number of projects/programmes in the areas of agriculture (crop and livestock), natural resources management and market engagement across Ethiopia. We are increasingly designing and implementing complex and integrated multi-sector projects, some by ourselves and some others in partnership with like-minded organisations in the form of consortium

Farm Africa, in partnership with SoS Sahel-Ethiopia, FZS, PHE-EC and IWMI, has secured funding from the EU to implement an integrated multi-sector landscape management programme in Bale Eco-Region in Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia. The programme is a follow up of an earlier project called SHARE Bale Eco-Region that employed an ecoregional approach to integrate and coordinator activities across sectors and actors so as to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies across sectors and ecosystems at various altitudinal gradients, while ensuring a sustainable use and management of environmental resources for socio-economic development in the project intervention areas as a pilot in seven woredas in the Bale Eco Region. The project will work across 16 woredas located in two zones, namely Bale and West Arsi. Farm Africa is seeking to recruit a dynamic and experienced person as a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Expert.

This NRM Expert will be based inside a woreda office working side by side with government experts to implement the BER framework across identified woredas.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The overall responsibility of the position holder is to coordinate planning and execution of natural resource management through participatory forest and participatory rangeland management options. The position holder will also work closely with other experts in crop, livestock and markets to ensure coordination and synergies of activities are correctly implemented. He/she will be specifically responsible in planning, execution of capacity building trainings, work with community members, organize forest and rangeland cooperatives, and provide technical support to government counterparts. 

He/she will ensure that communities are actively engaged in improved natural resource management options. In coordination with the project coordinator, he/she will ensure good partnership with government stakeholders, community members, CBOs, consortium partners, CSOs, private sectors and other relevant partners in the operational areas of the SHARE II project.

 KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key areas of responsibilities are:

1.        Ensure timely project implementation at Woreda level

• Work with the project team and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes at his/her specific cluster

• Ensure adequate consultation and participation of Woreda and kebele level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women in particular.

• Facilitate identification of training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver training, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions

•  Conduct other duties as may be assigned by the Project Field Coordinator

2.        Bring technical expertise to ensure high quality project delivery

• Take part in the assessments and surveys of natural resources within the respective woredas for project planning and management

• Support kebele level participatory land use planning, and support community water management platforms

• Promote Participatory Forest Management (PFM) and Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) by working with existing and/or new forest and rangeland cooperatives

• Facilitate the planning, implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation of natural resource management related project activities.

• Gender development for enhanced Natural Resource Management

• Provide expertise and advice for community institutions on gender mainstreaming in project scheme

• Identify and promote innovative livelihood programming approaches and interventions to achieve project objectives, and suited to the particular conditions and needs of diverse client groups in the operational areas;

3.        Facilitate and coordinate community/institutional capacity building activities

• Provide technical support to Woreda level technical staff and government staff in the implementation of watershed management, land registration and land use planning, including GIS work in focal areas

• Organise and coordinate capacity building trainings and workshop for beneficiaries, consortium partners, CBOs, private sectors on the improved agronomic and livestock practices and support.

• Support participatory community monitoring in PFM Kebeles, pilot Participatory Wildlife Management in Community Hunting Areas

4.        Contribute to project management and reporting

• Participate in assessment, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of the project activities with other woreda experts and project staff.

• Prepare and develop status reports as required by management.

• Ensure proper recording and documentation of best practices and success stories

• Ensure that the project implemented according to work-plan and BER framework.

• Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact with rural communities.

5.        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

• Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples in-country and internationally, to ensure ongoing organizational and personal development and learning;

• 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

• Pro-actively share information with other project and BER consortium partner staff members to support Farm Africa’s aims

• Participate in broader Farm Africa meetings with other project staff members, as requested by line manager.

6.        Additional roles and responsibilities

• Participate in monthly activity and budget plan session which is commonly facilitated by the field project coordination unit

• Provide a strong support to internal digital monitoring system of Farm Africa

• Support an implementation of other Farm Afrika’s project in the area which might be funded by different donors

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 in, Forestry, Natural Resources management, and related fields. Knowledge of PFM and rangeland management Knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness 

Experience

Three years work experience in sectors of forestry or natural resources managementPrevious NGO work experience in rural developmentExperience in the area of natural resources management, small business group development, agro-forestry and good knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness and organizational capacity building of community-based institutions Experience of project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation Experience working in the area of value chain and economic strengthening of rural community Skills & Abilities Very good English language skills (written and spoken) 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 Language Afaan Oromo and English 

 OUR VALUESPURPOSE OF THE ROLE

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. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

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

Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 3 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing ethrecruitment@farmafrica.org with the subject Natural Resources Management Officer by 17 April , 2023.

Documents cannot be returned and due to large number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applications are especially welcomed from female applicants.

How to Apply

Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 3 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing ethrecruitment@farmafrica.org with the subject Natural Resources Management Officer by 17 April , 2023.

Documents cannot be returned and due to large number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applications are especially welcomed from female applicants.