VIS has been operating in Ethiopia for more than 20 years. In 2005 it was recognized by the Ethiopian Ministry on 10th October 2019 it also obtained the registration certificate from Authority of Civil Society in accordance with Proclamation No 1113/2019.VIS and its partners have been engaged in humanitarian and development interventions in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Gmabella, South Ethiopia and Tigray.

VIS Ethiopia is seeking 2 (two) candidates for the post of IGA expert (1 in Dilla town and 1 in Chiro town). The IGA experts will be working in the project “Promote the registration and strengthen the protection and empowerment of children and youth in Ethiopia (PROTECT)”, which is funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior, and it is going to be implemented in Dilla town (Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia Region) and Chiro town (West Hararge Zone, Oromia Region).

Improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable in urban and peri-urban areas along irregular migration routes from the east to the south of Ethiopia. 

Strengthening the protection system for unaccompanied minors, including civil registration, fostering and economic empowerment of foster families in the West Hararge and Gedeo zones of Ethiopia.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the VIS Project Manager (based in Dilla) and the Program Coordinator (based in Addis Ababa), the two IGA Experts are responsible for the effective implementation of project activities aimed at creating economic empowerment (through IGAs) for families, with the ultimate goal of combating irregular migration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Training and Capacity Development

• Assist and support project partners in planning, organizing, and conducting technical and entrepreneurial training courses for project beneficiaries;

• Assist and support project partners in assessing beneficiaries' motivation and capacity, promoting the formation of group-based IGAs but also evaluating individual proposals when appropriate;

• Assist and support project partners in delivering training on basic business management, accounting, and market analysis;

• Design and facilitate workshops to strengthen beneficiaries’ skills in income-generating activities (IGAs);

2. Support to IGA Business Planning and Start-up

• Facilitate participatory forums with beneficiaries after training to identify IGA proposals and organize groups;

• Guide beneficiaries in developing concrete and realistic business plans, including investments, inputs, costs, timelines, expected returns, and profit-sharing mechanisms;

• Assist in determining the required start-up capital and preparing beneficiaries for contractual commitments;

• Manage and monitor the disbursement of start-up capital;

• Provide technical support for the procurement of inputs and for launching the activities;

3. Coaching, Monitoring, and Follow-up

• Organize and facilitate quarterly discussion forums to promote peer learning, the sharing of challenges, and collective problem-solving among IGA groups;

• Conduct monthly follow-up visits for each IGA group to provide targeted coaching and address specific issues;

• Maintain and update monitoring tools and records to track the performance and sustainability of IGAs;

• Regularly report to project management on progress, bottlenecks, and achieved results;

4. Stakeholder Coordination and Community Engagement

• Work closely with consortium partners, local authorities, community leaders, and other stakeholders to maximize project impact and ensure alignment;

• Facilitate market linkages and access to resources (microfinance, grants) to strengthen IGA sustainability;

• Promote community participation, solidarity, and cooperative approaches among beneficiary groups;

5. Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive documentation of training activities, business plans, start-up capital use, coaching sessions, and discussion forums;

• Produce timely and accurate progress reports, success stories, and lessons learned to be shared with project stakeholders;

• Contribute to evaluation activities and support external audits when required

Job Requirements

Educational Background:

• Master’s degree (MA/MSc) in Business Administration, Rural Development, Cooperative and Business Management, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or related fields;

• Any other specialized qualifications: Possession of certificates attesting to participation in courses related to international cooperation (particularly Project Cycle Management) will be considered a preferential requirement;

Professional Experience:

• Minimum 4+ years’ experience implementing IGAs in a development or humanitarian context, preferably with NGOs;

• Prior experience working in the Gedeo and West Hararge zones, will be considered an added value;

• Proven experience in working with the TVET system;

• Solid understanding of rural and semi-urban livelihoods in Gedeo and West Hararge zones;

• Demonstrated ability in facilitating group dynamics, business planning, financial literacy, and monitoring;

• Experience in supporting vulnerable groups (IDPs, youth, returnees) is highly desirable;

• Familiarity with financial management of start-up capital and related donor compliance preferred;

• INGO experience is an asset;

Technical Skills and Competencies:

• Strong facilitation, coaching, and mentoring skills;

• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to engage stakeholders at different levels;

• Proficiency in English and relevant local languages;

• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation tools and approaches;

• Ability to work under pressure, adapt to challenging environments, and travel regularly to field sites;

• Commitment to ethical standards, gender sensitivity, and inclusion principles;

• Terms of Employment: 1-year contract with the possibility of extension; full-time, including a 60-day probation period

• Salary range:  Basic Salary Euro 393-437 based on qualification and experience of the candidate

How To Apply

ONLY candidates who meet all the above requirements will be contacted for written exam and/or an interview. 

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Interested applicants who meet the requirements are kindly invited to submit a one-page application letter (specifying whether they are applying for the Dilla or Chiro position) and an updated CV (maximum 3 pages) with three references via THIS LINK