The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. 

The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating.  platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions. The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

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 teamwork 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 Senior Project Officer II will manage and provide technical oversight of the provision, development and implementation of livestock production technologies and practices, and Livestock advisory services components of the HDP nexus project through the ACC approaches ensuring effective systems and processes are in place that support high-quality ACC programming work in serving pastoralists/agro-pastoralists.  The Senior Project Officer II will be involved in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of HDP project interventions in the livestock program. He/she will provide day to day management and technical support for the effective implementation the project and other duties. The HDP Nexus project, is a framework that integrates humanitarian, developmental, and peacebuilding efforts to address crises efficiently and effectively. It aims to support development and ensure self-sufficiency by combining market-driven approaches with a holistic perspective. The project focuses on addressing the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees by creating a working relationship with the host community The main aim of the HDP is to achieve self-sufficiency by supporting production, improving agricultural practices, increasing yields, and accessing better markets. By combining the market-driven approach of ACC with the holistic approach of HDP, the recovery and self-reliance rate of crisis-affected populations can be expedited. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Outcome 1:  Technical leadership and project management (55%)

• Support project management in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets and ensure that work is consistent with the project implementation document.

• Actively involve in annual planning, budgeting, tracking & target setting activities for the HDP project 

• Ensure all prioritized interventions are successfully implemented and project outputs are achieved.

• Identify and analyse critical technical issues directly related to design and implementation of the project.

• Provide capacity building and advisory service on technical matters to project execution team and stakeholders

• Monitor, evaluate and report performance of the project periodically

• Develop ToR, organize logistics and liaise with operation team for organizing successful workshops

• Undertake any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

• Facilitate the strengthening of livestock value chains by introducing and promoting new technologies, productivity improvement training, value addition and engagement of the private sector.

•  Ensure strong communication of value chain and agricultural marketing concepts and procedures with partners and other stakeholders with a focus on livestock.

•  Identify potential risks that could impact the implementation of regional livestock-related interventions, report these issues to the project lead, and propose potential solutions

Outcome 2:  Ensure effective teamwork and coordination (20%)

• Effectively manage programmatic as well operational component of the project

• Represent livestock director/team lead in various internal and external forums

• Organize and facilitate workshops and ToT trainings on prioritized activities to stakeholders

Outcome 3: Stakeholder engagement (10%)   

• Proactively engage with other team members of the ATI and external partners to develop solutions and recommendations to address identified technical issues

• Liaise with team lead and Director of the program and provide advisory service and capacity building to partners based on the identified gap

• Proven record in smoothly working with multiple community leaders, IDPs/Refugees, stakeholders, Humanitarian Organizations and Donor Partners

Outcome 4:   Ensure effective communication and Representation (15%)    

• Provide effective timely and regular upward reporting to the program director on programmatic and operational issues.

• Ensure effective regular communication and reporting with the various stakeholders (government and non-government institutions and the private sector).  

• Ensure effective communication (oral, written, digital etc.) among program and institutional team

• Experience in emergence support and rehabilitation, reinstating affected agro- pastoralists would be a strong asset

Job Requirements

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, training, and experience:

• Minimum Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Animal Production/reproduction, livestock value chain or other related discipline  

• At least 8 years of professional experience in the areas of livestock development, livestock value chain, private sector engagement initiatives along the livestock value chains. livestock related project management and others directly relevant to the position Previous experience in humanitarian and development peace nexus activities is advantageous.

Behavioral competencies required: 

• Result oriented - Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities

• Collaborative and team building - Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style; Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people

• Energetic and passionate in transforming agro-pastoralists - Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results

• Problem-solving - Practical experience in testing and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level; Excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging work environment

• Act with Integrity - Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

• Passion for rural development - Have a great passion working with and for IDPs/Refugees and host community development

• Networking - Creating a network in his /her functions with all actors in humanitarian, peace & development 

Technical competencies:

• Planning, implementing, and monitoring - Planning, implementation and monitoring of HDP and ACC Programs 

• Livestock Value chain - Knowledge of current agricultural marketing systems, value chains and livestock development issues in Ethiopia

• Agricultural system - Understanding of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system

• Agribusiness development & Management - Practical experience in business planning, developing business linkages between producers and markets and working across livestock value chains in Ethiopia; Practical experience in developing linkages between producers and markets and working across livestock value chains in Ethiopia; Experience in livestock and agribusiness value chains, with strong skills in supporting pastoralists

• Project Management Cycle - Experience with project design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation

• Data management and analyses - Good data management and analytical skills

• Computers and office application software skills - Excellent skills and experience in use of computers and common office applications

• Delivery of impactful interventions - Practical experience in implementing high level livestock interventions to address systemic bottlenecks of livestock development

• Time management - Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities

  OTHER REQUIREMENTS (LANGUAGES, LICENSING OR CERTIFICATIONS)

• Competent in utilizing essential computer applications. 

• Proficiency in oral and written English, Somali and Amharic languages 

• Having a certificate in project management is an added advantage    

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 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.