Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer II – RuSACCO Capacity Building Jobs

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer II – RuSACCO Capacity Building Jobs

Job Id: 221772

Category: Agriculture

Location: Addis Ababa

Career Level: Managerial Level (Manager, Supervisor, Director)

Employment Type: Full time

Salary: Competitive

Job Description

Vacancy Announcement

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency

Position: Senior Project Officer II – RuSACCO Capacity Building

Term of Employment: Full Time

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa

Required Number: One year with possibility of extension

Salary & Benefits: Competitive

Application Deadline: September 13, 2019

Background

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector.

The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoALR), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects.

Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

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 ATA, 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 for RuSACCO capacity building in the RFS Team will assist in the development, implementation, and support of a portfolio of initiatives to improve rural financing in Ethiopia mainly linked with RUSACCOs.

The senior project officer will help improve smallholder farmers’, cooperatives’, and agri-businesses’ access to finance.

This will involve conducting problem-solving activities to identify the highest priority agricultural finance issues affecting farmers; devising innovative strategies for availing finance to smallholder farmers’ and other agricultural actors.

The ideal senior project officer would possess a passion for improving the lives of smallholder farmers, a deep familiarity with Ethiopia’s agricultural system, and extensive knowledge of Ethiopia’s financial structure and related policies with a focus on agricultural finance.

Also possess a strong interest in pursuing a career in the public sector and in continuing to share the analytical, content and leadership/management knowledge gained through the position with future colleagues within the public sector.

Help shape the growth and development of the team while working to transform rural financial systems in Ethiopia with special focus to transform RUSACCOs to viable & competent financial institutions.

The senior project officer will work with FCA, MoA; and regional BoAs and CPAs, various development partners, and other stakeholders to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the RuSACCO Capacity Building Project.

Essential Duties:

Supports the Project Team Lead for RuSACCO capacity building, who is responsible for the overall direction, values, culture, and management of the Project

Assists in the engagement of stakeholders across the financial sector (government, business, civil society, universities, cooperatives, farmers’ organizations, farmers, donors, etc.) to identify and prioritize actions to access to finance for smallholder farmers and the rural finance system more broadly

Works with stakeholders to design and implement high-priority interventions to improve smallholder farmers’ access to finance with emphasis to support RUSACCOs to operate as financial institutions

Helps support stakeholders to mobilize needed financial, human, or organizational resources for project execution

Aid in managing the performance of agricultural finance in setting key performance indicators, milestones, and targets; engaging stakeholders to creatively solve problems and overcome obstacles in order to achieve desired results, hence capacitate RUSACCOs to meet the standards required by similar financial institutions in the micro finance industry.

Ensure alignment of different stakeholders and complementarity of project activities between each region so that RuSACCO road map is implemented uniformly

Manage project resources and support technical experts who are currently overseeing the implementation of RuSACCO road map in each region

Identify resource needs and develop concept notes/ proposals for mobilizing resources that are critical for implementing RUSACCO road map

Identify capacity gaps at different levels and design support programs in collaboration with technical experts e.g. training programs, organization of workshops, etc.

Track project results and outputs in accordance with ATA’s overall MLE framework
Document and report project progress and associated risks to ATA’s leadership and external partners (FCA, MoA, BoAs, CPA and development partners)

Liaise with external development partners and ensure effective integration of RUSACCO project with other related programs e.g. IVS, CBSP, AOSS, etc.

Provide ad hoc support to program teams and senior management team as required on issues relating to core organizational development, prioritization of interventions, problem solving, planning.


Job Requirements

BA/BSc or MA/MSc degree in fields such as Project Management, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Management, Development Economics or other closely related fields.

At least 8 years (MA/MSc) or 10 years (BA/BSc) of work experience in areas related to cooperative development, agricultural input and output marketing, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, value-chain development, and other related disciplines.

Understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural system with a broad perspective on interactions between public, private and informal actors in the seed system.

Deep knowledge of agricultural cooperative system across the country.

Experience in project management, program design, performance management, stakeholder management, contract management, and MLE systems.

Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork and accountability.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service.

Fluency in Amharic and proficiency in English are essential. Knowledge of other Ethiopian languages desired.


How to Apply

Application Instructions

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to send (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 3 pages) at http://apply.ata.gov.et

Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer II – RuSACCO Capacity Building Jobs