Project Information

Semen Gondar Resilience Project (phase 2), led by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and Concern Worldwide is under implementation in North Gondar Zone, three woredas i.e. Debark, Janamora and Beyeda since November 2023. This initiative aims to empower communities in Ethiopia's Semien Gondar Zone to become more resilient against climate change. Over the next three years, SEGORP will invest €4.2 million in a multifaceted approach, including strengthening land management practices for over 7,600 households, improving crop storage for over 1,000 households, promoting better livestock management, introducing climate-smart agriculture, enabling women in poultry production, fostering financial resilience through savings programs, providing nutrition education, and strengthening a cooperative union to benefit tens of thousands of households. 

Job Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for providing leadership for  the SEGORP project at Debark and represents HELVETAS Ethiopia in the implementation of the project at zonal, regional, and national level; and providing coordination and technical support to the consortium partners; namely, Concern Worldwide and North Gonder Zonal Administration. S/he contributes as member of HELVETAS Ethiopia to the organisation’s evidence building and learning especially in the thematic area of Food Systems focusing on Resilience Building, Natural resource management and Seed system development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management

• Provides leadership with regard to the operational implementation of the  SEGORP project in line with the Annual Plan of Operation and along the principles of project cycle management.

• Prepares consolidated Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for the activities at zonal    level, Woreda & watershed level.

• Supports the HELVETAS Finance and Administration Officer and ensures timely provision of the respective financial information to Program Director.

• Assumes responsibility for all HR related matters of the project team, including recruitment, work planning and performance management and review in collaboration with the finance and administration officer.

• Ensure that regular projects planning, and review sessions are conducted involving project partners.

Financial Management

• In cooperation with the Finance team, responsible for financial management of the project direct costs.

• Reviews and approves key project documentation in a timely manner to facilitate financial payments to vendors, beneficiaries, cash transfer agents, etc.

• Leads the development and monthly updating of budget vs. actual (drawing) forecasts for project activities and staffing to ensure accurate and timely financial management, flagging potential over/under spending to program director.

• In cooperation with Finance and Administration Officer, ensures that project procurement planning is integrated into the project work plan and tracked regularly, all procurement-related documentation is properly processed by the project team and adequately coordinated with the procurement and finance team; all procurement processes are carried out in compliance with Helvetas procurement guidelines and project donor-specific procurement requirements; project logistical needs are communicated and planned.

Technical Assistance

• Supports the Strategic Steering Committee, consisting of the project agreement signatories, in their biannual meetings.

• Facilitates and coordinates with CWW and North Gonder Zonal Administration and other stakeholders on the implementation of the SEGORP along the steps in the Project implementation arrangement and the project annual plan of operation.

• Interacts closely with relevant stakeholders in the zone and the region,

• As representative of the lead agency, ensures that the collaboration among the consortium members functions well and project implementation is in line with the agreed annual plan of action.

• Ensures that the consortium partners strongly collaborate in the designated technical fields.

• Contributes to solid collaboration and partnership of efforts with strategic partners through smooth communication and high credibility.

• Facilitates and coordinates with various governmental offices, but in particular with the Zonal  Agricultural Department as well as with Zonal Women, Children, and Social Affairs Department and the Zonal Cooperatives Development Agency, the implementation of the SEGORP  Project along the principles of project cycle management and the elaborated APO.

• Facilitate timely zonal and strategic steering committees to address issues which could negatively affect the implementation of the project.

• Interacts closely with the Helvetas DRR and Marketing & Livelihood Officers as well as Gender and MEAL focal points. 

• Coordinate with other INGOs and UN agencies for collaboration of efforts

Coordination and Support

• Facilitates and coordinates with various governmental offices, specifically to the selected woreda rural development and agriculture offices and relevant research centers, in the implementation of the SEGORP along the steps of the PIM and the current APO.

• Provides TA to various governmental offices, specifically to the Zonal Office as the strategic partner, within the framework of the approved APO and in the technical fields of strengthening capacities of ecosystems improvement and institutional development.

• Interacts closely with the project partners in respective technical fields.

• Provides support to key partners, facilitate the process of planning, implementation, and monitoring of Project activities.

• Develops and carries out results-based project management to ensure high Project quality, effectiveness, and efficiency.

• Produces timely and accurate (both regular and exception) reports and communicate to the relevant regional government offices and HELVETAS Country Office,

• Works out monthly and quarterly rolling activity plan, follow through the implementation of the activities.

• Participates in regular project reviews and experience exchange meetings, share lessons learnt, and represent HELVETAS views and communicate its roles and responsibilities.

Monitoring, Evaluation , Accountability, and learning

• Ensures that the project-specific Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) is functioning & accessible to all project stakeholders.

• Ensures that a robust project monitoring and evaluation system is implemented to monitor the logical framework outcome and output indicators.

• In cooperation with the MEAL team, oversees the development and monthly updating of MEAL plans in the APO, including Results Frameworks (RF), Indicator Tracking Tables (ITT), M&E workplan, CFRM database, etc.)

• Ensures project team collects, analyses and documents relevant project and other development information for knowledge management and share with project staff for organizational learning.

• Regularly reviews MEAL Reports & recommendations and integrates all feedback and recommendations during the project implementation.

• Ensures that experiences and lessons learnt out of the project are well documented.

• Plans mid-term and final evaluations collaboration with the assigned MEAL officers.

• Ensures that technical information is up-to-date and internally as well as externally disseminated.

• Carries out other reasonable duties as assigned to him/her by immediate supervisor.

Job Requirements

Academic Qualification

• BA/BSC Degree in Social Studies, Economics, Development Studies, and/or related fields.

• Post-graduate certificate in development studies, education or related fields is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least 7 years’ experience in development cooperation; of which 5 years project management

• Track record in DRM, Climate change, NRM, Resilience building and market system development projects.

• Sound knowledge and experience in PCM including outcome-based M&E systems.

• Proven track record in conceptualizing, piloting, and implementing projects/programs in a multi stakeholder and community-based systemic development approach.

• Proven record in knowledge management and documentation.

• Sound knowledge and understanding of environmental, social, and economic aspects of social and water conservation.

Competencies and Other Requirements

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skill

• Strong comprehension and writing skills, and ability to persuade with diplomacy and tact.

• Coordination and organizational skills, even under difficult conditions

• Cooperation and teamwork with different Helvetas development projects.

• Proficiency in Microsoft 360 Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint) and other appropriate information technologies

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their application and updated CV through  HumanResources.ETH@helvetas.org  or through THIS LINK

Qualified Female are highly encouraged to apply. 

Please make sure you write the position title and the duty station you are applying for in the subject line. 

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.