The Cluster Coordinator is responsible for implementing their respective Cluster MaYEA program in selected Woredas of each zone in each region. He / She will work within the wider MaYEA program team and other SOSSE staff. He / She is accountable to the Program Manager and coordinates with the other SOSSE cluster offices. Moreover, he/she is responsible for the follow-up of the overall MaYEA resource management and communications of the Cluster's MaYEA program to adhere to all universal and MasterCard Foundation, SOSSE, Federal and Regional Governments, and program-specific standards and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program and Partnership Management

• Coordinate, support, and follow up cluster officers (Apiculture Development; Enterprise Development; Gender, Youth and Safeguarding; and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officers) and also the cluster Finance & Admin Officer to support and follow up the Woreda program officers as well as other stakeholders in their effort to properly implement the MaYEA program with the required quality and magnitude in their jurisdiction.

• Ensures quality of program delivery and efficacy of program resources and establishes and maintains closer working relationships with relevant program stakeholders at the regional, zonal, cluster and woreda level.

• Ensures all program resources at cluster level (human, financial, material, time, and other resources) are effectively and properly utilized for better impact and fulfillment of the program objectives.

• Manage the program team, nurture team spirit, and create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect that motivates program staff to deliver more.

• Ensures the program respects the law of the land and comply with MasterCard Foundation's principles, SOSSE rules, regulations, and procedures.

Programming, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Based on the program document & with the support of the organization Head Office team, coordinate and follow up the preparation of detailed annual implementation plans of the cluster for every fiscal year specified on the contract agreement between SOSSE and IIRR (the lead agent) and get the plan approved by the concerned.

• Ensure records are well kept, consolidated cluster-level ad-hoc, quarterly, and annual reports (both financial and program implementation) are timely produced and communicated to all concerned.

• Ensure stakeholder, partners, and program participants’ reflection mechanisms are in place, and all programmatic and operational learning and results of the cluster are fully documented, shared, and used to facilitate learning, knowledge management, and informed and adaptive management systems across all project components and stakeholders.

Program Implementation

• Build the capacity of the cluster team including the Woreda program officers and ensure that they have a proper understanding of the program's objectives and approaches as well as SOSSE's and MasterCard Foundation's core values and standards.

• Provide technical support for key stakeholders of MaYEA in the cluster and collaborate and coordinate with cluster officers and government counterparts to technically support Woredas in program implementation.

• Together with the cluster Enterprise Development Officer, coordinate with government offices and heads of financial institutions to secure loan access to program participants.

• Support and follow up the establishment of youth advisory groups at regional, zonal, and other levels as required.

• Facilitate and support the value chain development interventions of the program.

• Collaborate and work with the national program hub on improving the enabling environment for youth and apiculture sector development and improvement of honey quality to meet international and national standards.

Youth Engagement, Gender Equity, and Inclusiveness

• Ensures an enabling environment is created and mechanisms are in place in the cluster for real and effective engagement of young people in the program, especially those of young women and other vulnerable groups.

• Ensures a youth-focused targeting strategy and prioritizes young women (at least 80%) and other vulnerable groups (at least 10%) as program participants of the cluster.

Networking and  Communication

• Ensure that at the cluster level, the program is well networked with all critical actors and networks to better contribute to and benefit from networking.

• Support and follow up the establishment and functioning of project steering committees, Participatory Review and Reflection Sessions (PRRS), Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSP), Value Chain Actors Platforms (VCAP), and other arrangements as necessary.

• Ensure the program's objectives and approaches, as well as core values and standards, are well communicated to all stakeholders and program participants in the cluster.

• Ensure that all periodical and ad hoc communications of the cluster are accurate and timely.

• Ensure that feedback is collected and project gains and progress are documented and publicized to concerned stakeholders and the wider audience.

Safeguarding and Accountability

• Ensure all new staff hired at cluster level receives safeguarding induction and training.

• Hold regular staff meetings where safeguarding is part of the agenda and safeguarding issues are discussed.

• Follow up and address safeguarding issues promptly.

• Ensure that direct reports have development objectives linked to safeguarding in any appraisal.

• Monitor the progress of direct reports in achieving the objectives and provide regular feedback.

• Include safeguarding in meetings with community stakeholders and address concerns,

• Ensures SOSSE’s and Partners' staffs, volunteers, other stakeholders of the program, and participants in the cluster are aware of and adhere to MaYEA’s safeguarding policies and procedures; violations are reported timely and correctly; investigations are adequately made; proportional action is taken; abuse survivors are well treated; and every safeguarding case management is well monitored, documented and stored with the required confidentiality.

• Ensure stakeholder, partners, and program participant reflection mechanisms are in place to ensure that program interventions in the cluster are effective and ensure downward, horizontal, and upward accountability among the program stakeholders.

Number of Position: Three (One in each town)

Job Requirements

Qualification and Competence

Educational Background

• BA/MA/BSC/MSC and above in Agriculture, Animal Production, Apiculture, Business Management, Economics, Agricultural economics, Business Administration, Development studies and closely related fields .

Work Experience

• A minimum of 12 years’ experience for BA/BSc and eight years for MA/MSc, with a minimum of 6 years in managerial position of development programs and projects

• Experience in executing and managing complex programs related to livelihood development, rural finance, agribusiness development, marketing and value chain, youth employment, and inclusive development at higher capacity (such as chief of party, program director/manager)

Skills and Competencies Required

• Proven skill and track record in team building, leadership, partnership management, multi-stakeholder engagement, networking, effective communication and facilitation, problem-solving, and decision-making.

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work independently

• Ability to think and lead strategically while managing details

• Advanced computer skills.

• Integrity and honesty, hard work, firm belief in equality, transparency, and respect for others are core values needed.

• Prior experience in apiary and honey and allied value chain development is desirable.

*Preference

Women and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Interested applicants to send a single page cover letter and maximum of 3 pages CV and the applications shall be addressed to sos.sahel@ethionet.et 

N.B. write the job title on the subject line of your email

Application deadline is on 20, December 2023.