Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute

Position:        Project Officer II -Crop And Livestock  ( AOSS)

Term of Employment : Until  July 7, 2025

Duty Station(s):        Bahir Dar

Required Number:    One

Salary & Benefits:    Competitive

Application Deadline:    December 16, 2024

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and agricultural development programs. The Institute is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions that, to be the leading centre of innovative solutions to catalyse and contribute to the transformation of the Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.
ATI provides a unique platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated, and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.
At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Regional AOSS Crop and Livestock Officer is responsible for the successful implementation of the AOSS project, specifically focusing on the crop and livestock component. This includes building the capacity of AOSS staff and owners on technical and business skill development issues, conducting demand assessments for crop and Livestock inputs and services, promoting new products, and fostering collaboration between AOSS and various stakeholders to ensure the program reaches and benefits smallholder farmers. He/she is also responsible for selection and establishment of new centres in collaboration with project team lead and support previously established AOSSs in the region in different technical and managerial issues.  He/she is also responsible in creating market linkage among agricultural input importers with AOSS centres and support the establishment of AOSS share companies to import agricultural input and export agricultural products. Regional AOSS Crop and Livestock Officer directly report to Agribusiness and Systems Team Lead and works in collaboration with Head Office AOSS team.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Selection and establishment of new   centres and strengthening existing AOSS Centres

•    Conduct mobilization and awareness creation in areas where new centres will be established following the selection standard and provide technical support for the existing AOSS centres
•    Engage all relevant stakeholders at woreda, zonal, and regional levels in the selection, reward and certification process
•    Conduct due diligence and follow a standard and competitive selection process. Conduct due diligence and follow a standard and competitive selection process.
•    Closely follow up and ensure established AOSS receive technical support, necessary legal and licensing certificates, and construct and furnish centres according to the standard AOSS design.
•    Closely follow up and ensure the construction and furnishing of AOSS centre as per the standard and design of ATI
•    Support in the inauguration process of AOSS centres after fulfilling the requirement of ATI as per the standards of AOSS centres
•    Provide technical support to recruit technical staff of the new established centers which are responsible for strategic planning and implementation of the AOSS centre based on the potential of the area

Training and Capacity Building

•    Organize and conduct training programs and seminars for AOSS staff and clients, in cooperation with other program technical staff such as ADEY Program, FARM, Digital Agriculture  and  other teams.
•    Provide training, mentoring and coaching services on crop and livestock production related inputs to OSSs owners and staff.
•    Organize and conduct training of smallholder farmers and extension agents on the value and use of improved inputs related to crops and livestock.
•    Support AOSS share companies to link with the international market which imports agricultural inputs and exports outputs (Livestock and Crop).
•    Organize and conduct experience sharing workshops and visits on new technologies and best practices Among AOSS centres
•    Provide content based technical support to AOSS centres to develop/enhance their business Provide content based technical support to AOSS centres to develop/enhance their business

Demand Assessment and Market Development 

•    Support AOSSs in inputs demand assessment so that AOSSCs inventory will be stocked in demand-based inputs.
•    Support AOSSs in demand creation and promotion of new products and services; by conducting series of demonstration, experience sharing platform, organizing field days, and B2B regional and national events and expos.
•    Support AOSSs in demand creation and promotion of new products and services; by conducting series of demonstration, experience sharing platform, organizing field days, and B2B regional and national events and expos.
•    support AOSSs to have access to improved agricultural technologies and facilitate technology demonstrations on AOSS own land or on the land of AOSS customer farmers.
•    Support AOSSs to have financial access and creating linkage with banks and financial institutions
•    Facilitate the participation of AOSS centres to involve in fertilizer and improved seed marketing and delivery of Livestock inputs.
•    Assess the perception of smallholder farmers on the services and inputs delivered by the centre and provide the feedback.

Coordination and Collaboration with Stakeholders

•    Facilitate connections between crop and livestock input suppliers, output markets (buyers), and AOSS. Facilitate connections between crop and livestock input suppliers, output markets (buyers), and AOSS.
•    Work with AOSS staff to access and demonstrate improved crop and livestock technologies on their land or farmers’ fields.
•    Foster collaboration between AOSS, local extension offices, Primary cooperatives, Cooperative unions, seed suppliers, veterinary inputs suppliers (Livestock drugs, feeds, farm tools) and other relevant stakeholders.
•    Ensure CCIs are mainstreamed into project works /Ensure CCIs (Gender, nutrition and Climate Smart Agriculture) are mainstreamed into the project
•    Support the strengthening of regional agricultural input export share company and support AOSS join the company
•    Support and facilitate contract farming for export

Languages

Proficiency in verbal and written English and Amharic

Job Requirements

Educational  Requirement 

Master’ degree in Agriculture/Agricultural economics/Agribusiness management/Agricultural Marketing, Cooperatives marketing, with specialization in crop production, Livestock production irrigation, horticulture, crop protection, agronomy, plant science, or another relevant field

At least 4 years’ experience in agriculture or Agricultural Economics , Agricultural Marketing, Cooperatives Marketing, Cooperatives business management, or Crop production and/or protection capacity building, seed marketing, extension and outreach services in agronomy, horticulture, irrigation, and input supply value chains.

Behavioural competencies   Communication and Training Delivery, Mentorship and Coaching, Mentorship and Coaching, Collaboration and Relationship Building, Problem-solving and Adaptability

Technical competencies Crop/livestock Production, Crop and livestock Sub Sector Strategies and Policies

Required Skills

• Business Development

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to using THIS LINK
It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.
Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.
Women are highly encouraged to apply.
NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.