Overview of Helvetas and TRAIL Project 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an independent development organization based in Switzerland and it has been operating for the last 65 years worldwide. HELVETAS is registered in Ethiopia as foreign organization with the Agency for Civil Society Organization to operate in the areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resource Management, Support to CSO and Local Governments, Skill Development & Education and Emergency Response. See also. www.helvetas.org.

Under its Rural Infrastructure thematic area ‘Transformative Rural Access for improved Livelihoods in Ethiopia’ project (hereinafter called “the project”) aims to start building the enabling environment to meet the full need for rural transport connectivity and in that process, provide transformative access to critical services in the coming three years in Amhara, Oromia, Sidma, SNNPR, Somali and south west Ethiopia regions. The purpose of the TRAIL project in Ethiopia is to create an enabling environment to scale up trail bridge construction, connecting approximately 1,350,000 rural people and strengthening the actors, institutions, and policies to serve millions more. 

Job Purpose 

The purpose of the Partnership and Capacity Development Officer (PCD) is to enhance partnership, provide technical assistance and capacity building for Project Participants, Government partners and Private actors in the assigned regions. The incumbent will bring thematic competence in social and institutional development skills to ensure that all deliverables pertaining to building capacity and partnership development component are accomplished on time and according to approved scope of work.

The incumbent will coordinate Trail bridge need assessment, promote inclusion of trail bridges in government strategic plans & budget allocations, establish/strength regional road technical teams, establish and strength trail bridge operation and maintenance committees, support local production of trail bridge construction materials, develop capacity of trail bridge construction and consulting firms and conduct study, and generate lessons.

HELVETAS long term strategy is gradually handing over direct implementation and up-scaling responsibilities to appropriate capacitated partners and assuming advocacy and technical backstopping services. Hence the incumbent is expected to contribute and work in line with the long term organizational strategy. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

Partnership and Capacity Strengthening

• Conduct intuitional capacity assessment in terms of scaling up rural transport infrastructure and identify existing strength, needs, and gaps in individual skills and organizational systems.

• Coordinate trailbridge need assessment to provide government partners and other stakeholders with the information they need to priorize rural access in plans and budgets in collaboration with Infrastructure development officer.

• Closely work and collaborate with partners and organizations and promotes effective linkages among multiple government, civil society and private sector actors.

• Identifying government partners and private sector training and capacity development needs, and facilitate planning, organizing and overseeing appropriate training.

• Support and conduct capacity development of target community, government, private actors and community organization based on identified need, gaps and project plan.

• Promote internal learning and synergy as well as joint resources mobilization among actors towards the attainment of shared development results.

• Work closely with TVET and universities in developing appropriate human resource development training for the RTI sector.

• Undertake analytical work and provide technical guidance in the area of community mobilization and capacity building in the area of rural transport infrastructure focusing on and advice on how to ensure sustainability of benefits of trail bridges and foot trail networks.

• Conduct continues follow up to ensure trail bridge and trail network improvement skills, tools and resources are adapted and become normal operating procedures.

Project Implementation

• Contribute to development of standards, guidelines and processes which support the ongoing quality of capacity development approaches across the project outcomes and outputs.

• Support and advise the project and government partners to facilitate the implementation of Woreda development plans and design of sustainable strategies for operation and maintenance of resulting road infrastructures (trail brides and foot trail networks).

• Support establishment/strengthening of regional, zonal and Woreda level networks in the development and implementation of trail bridges and foot trail infrastructures.

• Provide technical inputs to the RTI planning process to ensure that plans are realistic and take due account of the social development constraints and criteria to delivery of infrastructure.

• Prepare annual operation plan, report and update for partnership and capacity development component of the project.

• Ensure implementation of the project proceed according to approved work plan and correction are taken timely. 

Quality Assurance, Documentation, and Reporting

• Contribute to organizational and sector-wide learning through good quality input for lessons learned, best practices, and evaluations etc. for all the components of the program for training, mobilization and IEC materials.

• Identify and anticipate potential risks and problems in a timely manner and advise the project on the implementation of mitigation measures and solutions.

• Work harmoniously with local government partners and other project team members to ensure projects are being delivered timely and effectively.

• Ensure that all projects regularly update and submit progress to intermediate milestones and set targets throughout the project cycle. 

Job Requirements

Qualifications include:

Education: BA in Social Work, Sociology, Social Work, community development, Development Studies, management, or related social science field to rural access.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years work experience and of which 2 years NGO related work experience in partnership and capacity development, facilitation of community mobilization and institutional capacity development.

• Solid knowledge about capacity building approaches and working modalities.

• Demonstrated experience facilitating trainings and workshops.

• Relevant experience working within a partnership agreement and/or a network including regional institutions.

• Understanding and knowledge of the Ethiopian Road Sector Development Program, working guidelines, standards, and specifications.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Flexible, capable of working independently, high integrity, and hard-working.

• Fluent in spoken and written English is required.

• Fluency in spoken and written Somali Language is mandatory. 

How to Apply

Submit your application and updated CV via email: HumanResources.ETH@helvetas.org

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer.

Please make sure you write the position title you are applying for in the subject line. Failure to do so will lead to application disqualify.

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.