Project Background

Policy LINK will strengthen the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural transformation 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 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

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. A significant part of C4FS programming will be dedicated to supporting the coordination amongst actors working on resilience-building.

Ultimately, the activity seeks to build the capacities actors and institutions involved in general food systems policy and resilience building to work collaboratively; these actors include 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.

As part of its work, C4FS will build and strengthen the backbone system for the coordination of development programming among actors involved in Resilience-building in selected regions (Afar, Oromia, Somali and South Ethiopia). These efforts are intended to support the sequencing, layering and integration of activities amongst multiple actors to enhance their collective impact. C4FS will therefore not directly implement resilience programs but support the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands build collaboration and collective action amongst multiple stakeholders implementing Resilience building activities in selected lowland areas.

Policy LINK Capacity Development Activity

Policy LINK will implement targeted, demand-based training, coaching, and technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of individual leaders and organizations, both private and public. We will focus on non-state actors (and their leaders) that represent regions, communities, and groups that have traditionally been disadvantaged and less engaged in policymaking processes. These groups include farmers organizations, youth, and women’s groups, as well as associations formed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other marginalized actors. We will pay special attention to private sector organizations (and their leaders) that demonstrate the potential to play a constructive, important role in their respective policy areas of interest. While policy processes should be inclusive and offer opportunities in all regions, Policy LINK will explore the possibility of piloting more intense sub-national government engagement in USAID/Ethiopia priority regions, to encourage scale-out across the country.

Policy LINK intends to provide targeted, demand-based capacity strengthening support to both individuals and organizations within the Policy System. The work will target public and non-state actor organizations. We will pay special attention to private sector organizations (and their leaders) that demonstrate the potential to play a constructive, important role in their respective policy areas of interest. The capacity development will support the ability of historically marginalized groups (and their leaders) from regions and communities to engage more effectively in policymaking processes. These groups include farmer, youth, women, and small business groups. While policy processes should be inclusive and offer opportunities in all regions, Policy LINK will explore the possibility of piloting more intense sub-national government engagement in USAID/Ethiopia priority regions, to encourage scale-out across the country.

Position Objectives

The postholder will oversee the development and implementation of activities designed to build the capacity of policy system actors and institutions to engage more productively in policy development. This position will have technical leadership and activity management responsibilities for all the activities that are related to Capacity Strengthening.

The post holder will continually reinforce Policy LINK’s agreed-upon core purpose and principles, and ensure all decision-making is rooted in those purposes 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 Ethiopia Policy System Capacity Strengthening Lead will be responsible for the following activities and tasks, though others may be added as appropriate:

• Provide overall technical and managerial leadership for all capacity strengthening work in Ethiopia.

• Spearhead all capacity development need assessments & development of capacity development strategies to address the gaps by closely working with collaboration Policy LINK team, USAID/Ethiopia staff, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Lead the design and implementation of project wide capacity strengthening activities targeted at individuals & organizations within the policy system in Ethiopia.

• In close collaboration with Regional Program Managers and Consultants, support and facilitate short- and long-term leadership skills development trainings designed to address capacity needs including development of action projects, follow up and mentoring, coaching.

• Design and facilitate organizational capacity development interventions targeting key institutions within the food security policy system.

• In collaboration with the MEL and Communication team, and Regional Program Managers, facilitate development of periodic reports including routine activity briefs and lessons learnt.

• Develop online collaboration and learning platforms that provide knowledge to support policy actors.

• Ensure the capacity building strategy is aligned with the overall objectives of the program by closely working with the wider Policy LINK team.

• Work closely with Policy LINK Ethiopia senior management team to provide leadership for specific project management tasks as assigned. These may include work plan development, project cycle management and staff supervision.

• Represent and cover the Technical Programs Director roles in her/his absence.

• Liaise with and collaborate with Policy LINK global teams as necessary for purposes of leveraging technical support, learning and coordination.

• Carry out other activities as may be necessary upon request from the Policy LINK.

Reporting

• The Policy System Capacity Strengthening Lead will report to the Ethiopia Technical Programs Director.

Performance Criteria:

• C4FS is a performance-based project, highly dependent on individuals and team core competencies. Each staff member will participate in an annual evaluation and receive feedback.

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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

Status: Long Term Technical Assistance

Supervision: Technical Programs Director

Job Requirements

Qualifications

This position is open to Ethiopian citizens. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Education and Experience

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in agriculture, rural development,

• natural resources management and development or relevant field; Master preferred.

• Ten (10) years of progressive/leadership experience in program management, international economic development, agriculture and rural development, pastoral areas development, and emergency response.

• Experience in organizing and facilitating multi-stakeholder planning and learning events and conferences.

• Good communication and report writing skills including writing and speaking, and ability to produce quality reports.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of technical experience on complex international development projects working with diverse private and public sector stakeholders and counterparts

• Strong leadership, program management and coordination skills with ability to mentor and build strong cross-functional and cross-organization teams; and to design and roll out program activities.

• Demonstrated experience in any of these relevant technical fields: international economic development, agriculture and rural development, resilience-building, natural resource management, pastoral areas development, and emergency response among others.

• Experience in building partnerships and collaborative processes with multiple partners

• Previous experience or reasonable understanding of USAID or other donor projects and their compliance requirements

• Strong strategic thinking and organization skills with ability to work in complex, rapidly changing environments and respond to changing donor and partner demands.

• Deep familiarity with the Ethiopian context, including public sector institutions, civil society and private sector institutions, local NGOs, and relevant national, regional, and/or local government counterparts, and willingness to travel throughout the country.

How to Apply

Please submit applications electronically via this LINK

Application Deadline: December 5 ,2023

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.