Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity

Position location: Jimma/Hawassa

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is a subcontractor on the RTI-led consortium implementing the USAID-funded Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture (TA) project. The purpose of the USAID/Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system.  This program is the core component of a suite of food and agriculture activities funded by USAID. As such, TA must collaborate intensively with other USAID-funded projects working in the food and agriculture secto

TA will build on previous USG-funded activities to sustainably improve access to healthy diets for all in the targeted communities using a food systems lens. Acknowledging that economic transformation tends to bring new malnutrition challenges, TA will support transformation of the food systems so that a healthy diet is increasingly easy to access. TA will also support the food and agriculture systems to become more sustainable, resilient, and responsive, increasing its long-term capacity to adapt to change, shocks, and stressors. Finally, TA will facilitate increased public-private partnership and collaboration to spur a more favorable policy environment for private sector investment, sustainable and resilient food systems, and innovation that serves the population’s economic and dietary needs.

Position Summary:

The Food Environment Officer will work directly with the Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Regional Manager to provide technical assistance to beneficiaries including the private sector, associations in the agriculture and food processing sectors, and other stakeholders. The Food Environment Officer will assess needs and build capacity of the public and private sector for adoption and effective execution of food safety and quality protocols, along with business development support needs relevant to the agriculture and food processing sector. The Food Environment Officer will also be responsible for contributing to the planning and implementation of activities focused on improving the productivity and competitiveness of agriculture and food system actors. The scope of these activities will include a range of nutritious food commodities; (such as eggs, milk, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans, pulses), and income food commodities; (such as grains, flour, edible oil, enset, coffee, avocado).

Primary Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following

• Engage market actors with a focus on micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) and food processors based at the regional level to develop, adapt, and/or promote the adoption of good agri-business, food safety and quality practices.

• Support, arrange, and facilitate regional business to business engagement and business to customer events and workshops.

• Support workforce development efforts to improve curriculum development and/or delivery that best supports market actors’ food safety and quality needs.

• Collaborate with the gender, youth, and social inclusion team to facilitate inclusion of women and youth in agri-business and food processing.

• Manage relationships with assigned clients (e.g., food processors, associations, cooperative unions, grantees, and other stakeholders) through regular communication and technical assistance.

• Assist the Food Environment Manager and team to coordinate activities with market actors (e.g., processors, distributors, retailers, government) to build capacity, promote awareness, and develop reform actions to optimize implementation of improved food safety and quality practices (e.g, HAACP, ISO, GAP, traceability systems), that can be extended through various implementation platforms. This may include improving policies, regulations (e.g., testing, enforcement) and harmonization of standards at both the enterprise and national level. 

• Participate in different event and meetings in collaboration with technical teams based at the regional field office and with the Food Environment Team and external partners to develop guidance on food safety and quality improvements.

• Write reports and project related documents, support data collection and reporting.

• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as required (assigned by supervisor)

Reporting & Supervision:

The position holder reports directly to the Regional Manager for day-to-day work plan tasks and activities. The position will also liaise with the national Food Environment Manager and senior colleagues on technical and strategic issues as needed.

Project Implementation Partners:

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multi-sectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya. 

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.

Our team is made up of nearly 350 employees who are committed to market-led approaches, and passionate about collaborating locally to create lasting inclusive economic growth. By unlocking the potential of agriculture for the last 36 years, the lives of more than 3 million people have been transformed through nearly 300 programs in more than 80 countries.

Job Requirements

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Food Technology, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or related fields

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience working with public and/or private entities on food processing and food safety and quality

• An understanding of Ethiopian and international food safety regulations and requirements

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work with a government agency, private enterprises (farms) in animal-source and plant-based food sectors.

• Ability to work as a team member.

• Ability to prioritize tasks and work at times without direct supervision.

• Fluency or professional proficiency in English and Amharic, including strong writing and oral presentation skills.

• Relevant computer software skills, including at a minimum, the Microsoft Office Suite of applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Local language requirements for specific regions are as follows:

  • For Oromia (Jimma): Professional proficiency in Oromiffa.

  • For Sidama (Hawassa): Professional language proficiency in Sidama.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Work experience in with private or public agri and food processing companies.

• Experience developing partnerships with private sector, government, local and international private actors.

• Experience working on a foreign donor funded development program.

• Experience working on food safety and quality issues

• Ability to travel extensively in rural Ethiopia.

How to Apply

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted

Land O'Lakes Venture37 will never ask you for personable identifiable information, and we will never request money or payment during the recruitment or employment process. 

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So, bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.

Ethiopia TA Food Environment Officer - Careers (avature.net)