Community Development Advisor 

Capacity Development to Strengthen Drought Resilience (CDSDR III) Project

­­Contract duration: 01.10.2024

Application deadline: 31.12.2026

Duty station: Addis Ababa

Brief Description of the Project 

GIZ supports the Ethiopian Government in various areas, increasingly also in the Ethiopian lowlands, which account for nearly 60% of Ethiopia's land area. They are inhabited by more than 18 million (agro) pastoralists, and people who create their livelihood from related professions. Due to population growth and the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather events, this livelihood system is increasingly put at risk and the people, their livestock and the harvests have become increasingly vulnerable. Extensive resource use like overgrazing and deforestation causes food insecurity, soil degradation, and erosion. The results are dry valleys, in which rainwater flows quickly out of the area before being able to infiltrate into the soil. This further exacerbates desertification and food insecurity. To address this issue, the Dry Valley Rehabilitation and Productive Use (DVRPU) approach was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Bureaus of Agriculture (BoA) in Afar and Somali regions. 

The Capacity Development for Strengthening Drought Resilience (CDSDR) Project has started its third phase. It promotes the DVRPU approach with a series of technical, biological, economic, social, institutional, and managerial measures applied to rehabilitate entire dry valleys for the benefit of the inhabitants and their animals while ensuring environmental stability. Besides upscaling of the approach in other weredas of Somali and Afar regions, it has further expanded its application to selected lowland areas of Oromia and South Ethiopia regions.

As part of the core aspects, CDSDR III adopted a DVRPU approach in which it follows seven steps of planning and implementation. One of these steps is Community Development and facilitation of Watershed/Dry Valley User Cooperatives to further anchor the benefits and responsibilities of Communities in dry valleys.

Responsibilities and Duties

Community Development Advisor is required and will have the following responsibilities and duties

• Advise and facilitate technical and institutional capacity development for community-based organizations (CBOs) to enhance the DVRPU approach.

• Identifies and finds ways of improvement of promising community development activities for rural producers in the context of Dry Valley Rehabilitation and their Productive Use (DVRPU) approach with possibility of transiting community organization to Watershed/Dry Valleys User’s Cooperatives.

• Identifies, improvement and/or introduction of appropriate and sustainable Community Development methods for target groups in the context of DVRPU approach.

• Ensure the mainstreaming and formulation of inclusive and gender-sensitive development approaches for local institutions involved in Dry Valleys Rehabilitation and Productive Use.

• Provide professional, organizational, and institutional guidance to regional and national level partners, stakeholders, and organizations on participatory models and inclusive Community Development efforts.

• Support the competencies and capacities of community leaders and cooperative managers through management and leadership training, partly through external training services 'providers.

• Support the adoption of Community Development principles and practices within government programs, including advising and training professionals from relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture.

• Facilitate interface and knowledge exchange among CDSDR III stakeholders, both public and private, through digital learning platforms.

• Empower community-based institutions and enhance community representation in DVRPU-related decisions.
  Ensure effective scaling up of Community-Based Dry valleys Rehabilitation and Productive Use

• Empower women within pastoral and agropastoral communities to assume leadership and management roles in the development, management, and utilization of Dry Valleys in the lowlands.

• Establish platforms for knowledge and experience sharing among communities, extension advisors, policymakers, and development partners to foster collaboration and learning.

• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Central Component Manager or Project Manager.

Job Requirements

Required qualifications, competences, and experience

• Educational Background:

  • Advanced Degree: A Master's (MSc/MA) in Agriculture, Rural Development, Institutional Development, Cooperative or a related field. A focus on interdisciplinary approaches and sustainable development is highly desirable.

• Professional Experience:

  • Extensive Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in Community development advisory services, economic development, or related fields. Experience should span various sectors, including government, international agencies, and the private sector.

  • Advisory Roles: At least 5 years in a senior advisory role within a multicultural environment. Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and collaborate with partner staff and key stakeholders.

• Technical Competency:

  • Software Proficiency: Comprehensive expertise in standard computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, etc.).

  • ICT Skills: Advanced knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) relevant to program management and rural development.

• Specific Expertise:

  • GIZ Projects Experience: Proven track record of working on projects funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with a thorough understanding of GIZ’s operational rules, regulations, and project management frameworks.

  • Proven experience with GIZ community development approaches

• Language Proficiency:

  • English Proficiency: Exceptional command of English, both written and spoken.

  • Multilingual Skills: Proficiency in additional local and international languages, facilitating effective communication across diverse cultural contexts.

     Special Skills

• Communication and Presentation Skills

  • Proficient in delivering clear, concise, and compelling presentations to diverse audiences, including stakeholders, clients, and team members.

  • Strong ability to articulate complex concepts understandably, both verbally and in writing.

  • Adept at fostering open communication channels within teams and with external partners to ensure transparency and alignment.

• Analytical and Strategic Thinking Abilities

  • Skilled in conducting comprehensive data analysis to inform decision-making and strategic planning.

  • Capable of identifying key trends, opportunities, and potential risks to develop actionable insights and long-term plans.

• Interpersonal, Facilitation and Coaching Skills

  • Expertise in building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders, clients, and team members.

  • Proficient in facilitating group discussions, workshops, and meetings to drive collaboration and consensus.

  • Strong emotional intelligence to manage conflicts, mediate differences, and foster a positive and productive work environment.

  • Expertise in coaching individuals and teams to achieve their full potential, improve performance, and foster continuous learning.

  • Skilled in creating supportive environments that encourage professional development and career growth.

• IT and Computer Proficiency

  • Experienced in leveraging technology to improve project efficiency, collaboration, and data management.

  • Adept at staying current with emerging technologies and trends to ensure the organization remains competitive and innovative.

Note: Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

How to Apply

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their non-returnable recent CV via hreth@giz.de 

Note: 

Please make sure you mention the vacancy number and position title ‘Applicant full name_ Community Development Advisor #111_2024’ in the subject line of your email application. 

Due to large number of applications, we categorise applications with the vacancy numbers.

Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We encourage persons with disabilities to apply for the position. In case of equal qualification, persons with disabilities will be given preference.

Applications from qualified women are encouraged.

“Please refer to our brochure to learn more about GIZ’s attractive benefit package.”