Project Background

The C4FS is designed to strengthen the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural & food policy systems process and contribute effectively and collectively to improved, broad- based food security policy outcomes.

Specifically, the program aims to strengthen food security policy systems by investing in and reinforcing productive human and social capital and developing strategic partnerships that help bring these innovations and capacity investments to scale in order to achieve a critical mass of local actors with the ability and opportunity to effect positive policy change through collective action.

Policy LINK’s general approach is grounded in facilitative leadership and collaborative governance, which emphasize engaging stakeholders from civil society and public and private sectors in consensus-oriented decision making, collaborative problem solving, and adaptive learning. 

Policy LINK in Ethiopia

USAID/FtF Ethiopia C4FS is a five-year activity with the overall objective of supporting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and other policy system actors in their aspiration to develop an inclusive policy development process. Specifically, the activity will facilitate the transition towards a policy development paradigm driven by multiple stakeholders.

This approach to policymaking will strengthen the capacities of Ethiopia’s main agricultural policy system actors and institutions and support them to engage stakeholders traditionally excluded from decision- making, including academia, financial institutions, the judiciary, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector representatives from the national, regional, and local levels.

This approach is underpinned by Policy LINK’s overarching theory of change focused on increasing human and social capital, engaging policy system actors in collaborative processes, and developing mechanisms for collaborative governance and dynamic learning systems and platforms to sustain collective action.

Position Objectives

The Policy Dialogue & Stakeholder Engagement Lead will support the strengthening of collaborative governance processes in order to drive better and more sustainable food security policies in Ethiopia. The role will support the design, implementation, and monitoring of technical activities that facilitate enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration amongst policy system actors as part of the process of strengthening policy systems.

The Policy Dialogue & Stakeholder Engagement Lead will facilitate and coordinate the provision of support

for policy stakeholders to work better together by applying techniques of facilitative leadership, collaborative governance, inclusive decision-making, joint planning, and joint implementation. The position will be expected to provide design and facilitation expertise to multiple policy support processes intended to help multi-stakeholder teams within the policy system work better together. Specifically, s/he will help strengthen the effective engagement of private sector and civil society in policy processes at both national and subnational levels.

The successful candidate will continually reinforce Policy LINK’s agreed-upon core purpose and principles, and ensure all decision-making is rooted in those purpose and principles. S/he will contribute to foster a learning environment in which personal and team growth is supported, with a shared understanding that the “team” always comes before the “individual.”

Responsibilities

The Policy Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement Lead will be responsible for the following anticipated tasks:

• Lead the process of policy stakeholder consultations to align project activities to the collective vision of stakeholders, and to ensure ongoing engagement and inclusivity in project activities.

• Design and support policy related joint planning and joint implementation activities among sets of stakeholders.

• Support the process of design and implementation of comprehensive studies, assessments or mapping of the institutional landscape for policymaking. Such analyses and processes may include network analyses, Institutional Architecture Assessments, or other approaches as necessary to deepen collective understanding of policy system dynamics and to draw important adaptive lessons.

• Coordinate design, facilitation, and participation in relevant policy dialogue processes and events at national and regional levels.

• Design, contribute to or lead activities to support effective private sector engagement in policy processes in Ethiopia including research, public-private dialogues, network development among others.

• Design, contribute to, or lead activities to support effective and ongoing engagement of civil society actors in policy processes in Ethiopia.

• Support a culture of co-creation both in how C4FS implements its work, but also in how partners in the policy space engage.

• Build and support relevant multi-stakeholder platforms that anchor engagement amongst key players including policy support groups, multi-stakeholder think-tanks, special interest policy groupings among others.

• Lead activity teams, be part of activity teams, and contribute to overall technical implementation across the Activity.

• Supervise consultants and/or staff as necessary.

• Support project management, including team meetings, internal learning processes, and reporting.

• Other duties as may arise in the course of project implementation.

Reporting

The Policy Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement Lead will report to the Technical Program Director. The position will not have any direct reports but will supervise consultants.

Contract Name: USAID/Feed the Future Ethiopia Champions for Food Security (C4FS)

Status: Long Term Technical Assistance

Start Date: On/around December 1, 2023

Reporting: Technical Program Directo

Job Requirements

This position is open to Ethiopian citizens. Qualifications include:

Education

• At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in development, sociology, economics, agricultural economics,

• public policy, or similarly relevant subjects; MA or MSc degree preferred. 

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience (with Master degree) in a policy development, implementation, or facilitation context; a minimum of 12 years of experience is required with a bachelor’s degree.

• Demonstrated familiarity and working knowledge of policy context, processes, and systems typical in a country like Ethiopia.

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with and work with multiple stakeholders in collaborative modes (including private sector and civil society organizations).

• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder assessments, analyses, or similar activities.

• Experience with multi-stakeholder dialogue, joint planning, and joint implementation activities.

• Demonstrated experience in the areas of policy development, facilitation or coordination in agriculture, market systems, private sector engagement and related areas is preferred.

• Experience building capacity of staff and partner organizations is preferred.

Skills

• Good facilitation and coordination skills.

• Excellent writing and verbal communications skills.

• Ability to work in teams and communicate effectively across different cultures, age groups, and disciplinary backgrounds.

• Critical thinker, self-starter, and able to work with minimal supervision and within established deadlines.

• Flexibility and willingness to perform assigned and additional duties and work under unpredictable conditions.

How to Apply

Please submit applications electronically via this website: CLICK HERE

Candidates will be required to answer certain qualifying questions before uploading their CVs and cover letters to the application form for consideration. 

Only candidates who are shortlisted for interviews will be contacted. No email enquiries please.