Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) was founded in 1946 by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) as the aid agency of the Swiss Protestant Churches. HEKS/EPER became a non-profit foundation in 2004. In November 2021, HEKS/EPER and Bread for All merged to form Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER). For HEKS/EPER, the dignity of every human being is at the center its commitment. All human beings should be able to lead a life that is socially, economically, and politically secure.

As part of the global team, HEKS/EPER in Ethiopia has a goal to ensure communities become more resilient to shocks and can sustainably build their livelihoods. In this sense, HEKS/EPER will continue focusing its intervention on pastoralist and rural communities. As part of the strategy, HEKS/EPER intends also to be more active in addressing the needs of the population affected by natural or man-made disasters.

Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) is recruiting an Agricultural Officer for humanitarian response Project in Gobu Sayo Woreda, East Wellega Zone, Oromia region.

The Agricultural Officer will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality Agricultural interventions, engaging actively with the Agricultural Cluster, local governments, and all other agricultural actors. The Agricultural Officer will be responsible for the overall planning, implementation and monitoring of the Agricultural program in Gobu Sayo woreda, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region. The Agricultural Officer will be responsible for leading/supervising the field-based team for the successful implementation of the Emergency Agricultural project activities, including distribution of Agricultural inputs, facilitating veterinary vaccination campaign and supporting veterinary health facilities in coordination with the local government and sectoral offices. The Agricultural officer will be responsible in all aspects of oversight, technical supervision, and management and providing input for the development of project technical proposals and reporting. He or she will represent the HEKS/EPER in coordination platforms in the implementation area. The Agricultural officer is expected to spend 100% of his/her time supporting the field-based teams for a smooth implementation of program deliverables.

Base: Gobu Sayo Woreda     

Duration: 12 Months

Salary: As per organization scale and Benefir Packages

Key areas of responsibility:

ü Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, review, and evaluation of agriculture activities

ü Supervise and guide the daily activities of community facilitators assigned to target

ü Develop monthly action plans, guide activities implementation, and monitor project progress to ensure the overall agricultural activities of the project are implemented according to the signed donor & government agreements.

ü Initiate and support the beneficiary’s selection, and verification process, and oversee the agriculture inputs support and animal vaccination interventions that targeted IDPs, returnee and the hosting communities.  

ü Facilitate regular review and reflection meetings with partners and assess achievements, challenges, and lessons learned concerning agricultural interventions.

ü Identify, document, and share best practices with the HEKS/EPER country office team promptly.

ü Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and programmatic obligations are met.

ü Develop and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders and represent HEKS/EPER at field level in consultation with the country office HEKS/EPER team.

ü Ensure compliance with reporting requirements, with a focus on quality analysis and timely submission.

ü Ensure adequate consultation and participation of district and kebele level stakeholders throughout the project cycle.

ü Prepare and submit regular reports timely and as deemed necessary by the project management team.

ü Prepare and review quarter and annual activity plans and budget for agriculture-related activities.

ü Closely work with the HEKS/EPER team based in Shambu and the M&E focal person at the HEKS/EPER country office during the development of monitoring tools/measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcome in his/her area assigned.

ü Ensure that all HEKS/EPER accountability procedures and tools are applied correctly at all stages of the implementation of the project.

ü Carry out any additional duty as requested by the line manager.

Job Requirements

Education, Qualifications & other knowledge

ü DVM or MSc Degree in the areas: General Agriculture, plant science, rural development, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Natural Resource Management and related fields.

ü Minimum of 4 years of professional work experience in managing projects in agriculture, livestock production and food security.

ü Agricultural Experience in emergency setting is essential, ideally with an NGO on EHF projects, with a proven application at the field level.

ü Proven experience in livelihoods, NRM and emergency livestock interventions.

ü Evidence of project cycle management experience, including design, planning, budgeting, monitoring & evaluation, and reporting.

ü Experience in working with IDPs, returnees and/or communities affected by conflict

ü Demonstrable experience of working in East Wollega Zone desirable.

KEY BEHAVIORS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required.

• Very good at computer software- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, and e-mail)

• Fluency in English, Amharic  and Afaan Oromo (Oral and Written) is required

• Supervisory/basic managerial skills.

• Technical and report writing skills.

• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of HEKS/EPER.

• Willingness to work in remote areas, ability to work with minimum supervision.

PLUS

• Gender-sensitive

• Good understanding and commitment to the “Humanitarian principles”

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply online using THIS LINK