Technoserve Business Advisors - Honey Contract Farming Project Jobs in Ethiopia

Technoserve Business Advisors - Honey Contract Farming Project Jobs in Ethiopia

Job Id: 221787

Category: Agriculture

Location: Southwest area (in rural areas of Jimma /Ilubabor/Sheka/Bonga Zones- exact locations tbd), Oromia

Career Level: Mid Level ( 2+ - 5 years experience)

Employment Type: Full time

Salary: Based on the organization salary scale

Job Description

I. About TechnoServe

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries.

Founded in 1968, we are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities.

In East Africa, we operate in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Across the region, we implement a range of large-scale market systems interventions, agribusiness programs and entrepreneurship/economic empowerment projects. With more than fifty years of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

II. About the Project

This honey project is an innovative, nationwide smallholder honey contract-farming scheme started in December 2019 and currently operating in seven weredas of Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regions.

The project is supporting Ethiopian honey enterprises to sustainably source from thousands of smallholder men and women beekeepers.

We are working to develop a sustainable system for smallholder honey contract-farming and implementing Honey Farm College—a smallholder training program focused on sustainable backyard beekeeping practices to increase their quality and yields.

In cohort 1, we are supporting 7,000+ beekeepers and through cohort 2, we will support an additional 4,000+ beekeepers.

This project aims to increase the volume of export-quality honey that commercial honey buyers purchase directly from smallholder beekeepers, while sustainably increasing smallholder incomes, effectively engaging women in household decision-making, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their families.

III. Position Description

Honey Farm College Business Advisors (BAs) are responsible for setting up, implementing and improving upon Honey Farm College.

BAs will facilitate a contract farming model that enables the direct supply of high quality honey from smallholder keepers to Ethiopian honey enterprises, working in close partnership with the honey enterprises.

Honey Farm College BAs are responsible recruiting and supervising up to 5-8 Farmer Trainers, developing and managing work plans and observing and evaluating their delivery of trainings to beekeepers.

They will manage day-to-day communications and overall relationships with honey enterprise staff sourcing from their respective geographic areas and also manage relationships with local government stakeholders.

BAs will also be responsible for delivering training and coaching to cooperatives from in their areas participating in the Project and prioritize advancing gender equity through their day-to-day work.

IV. Duties and Responsibilities

BAs will lead Farm College activities in his/her assigned areas. S/he may also be required to support cooperative capacity building efforts as well as data collection and analysis related to market systems, upon request.

Establish Honey Farm College and Contract Farming Scheme

Recruit youth Farmer Trainers; train Farmer Trainers, prioritizing gender balance and gender awareness

Support the updating/adaptation of training materials

Form Farmer Groups, demonstration sites and establish training schedule, reporting

Engage with beekeepers

Pick farmers at random and provide on farm advice in order to reinforce the adoption of Backyard beekeeping best practices to make the backyard honey production a sustainable business.

Support survey implementation, as required by M&E team

Gather feedback and ideas for improvement from farmers

Train, Supervise and Support Farmer Trainers (FTs)

Provide modeling training for FT’s on beekeeping modules on the demonstration sites

Observe trainings when FTs deliver the training to farmers, provide guidance, and feedback as needed.

Collect official voucher

receipts for transport and accommodation; submit these documents to the SBA/Project Manager in a timely fashion

Receive and review FT weekly work plan with dates; Collect weekly on farm visit plans and data from FT’s

With team of FTs, hold debriefing on the success & challenges of on farm visit survey

Supervise teach-backs and give feedback

Ensure all FT’s are on the right track regarding their target and quality of the job they do

Provide feedback, coaching and development activities related to performance management, following HR guidelines

Strengthen participating cooperatives

Support the strengthening of cooperatives’ capacity around governance, operations, planning and financial management, including business plans, operational planning, honey quality management, post-harvest handling and staff training, with a particular focus on advancing gender equity

Manage Stakeholder Relationships

Create and maintain a good working relationship with stakeholders in assigned areas

Convene meetings with Agricultural Development/Livestock and administration offices of the appropriate Wereda once every quarter, together with project colleagues

Meet with Kebele leaders and Cooperative to give progress report every quarter

Report, Communicate and Share Learnings

Submit BA weekly work plan, detailing when BA will attend trainings

Submit weekly field reports via tablet system to the SBA/PM; support impact monitoring and evaluation activities;

Participate in regular team training activities to build own training skills, including monthly team meetings and quarterly regional meetings in person;

Perform other duties as assigned by the SBA/PM

Job Requirements

I. Required Qualifications and Capabilities

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field –Agriculture, Animal Sciences, Agro-economics, etc.

At minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience — ideally including some private sector experience— in one or more of the following areas: agriculture, preferably on apiculture, cooperative management a plus, SME development, training or extension,;

A true passion for and commitment to fighting poverty and economically empowering poor smallholder beekeepers/farmers, especially women; Committed to quality and achieving impact; motivated; high level of integrity and honesty

Experience working in rural areas of Ethiopia; Willingness to be based in assigned remote locations and willingness to spend significant time in rural areas;

Demonstrated strong stakeholder relationship management skills; Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills as well as negotiation and problem solving skills;

Strong planning skills and experience working to strict time-guidelines yet flexible, with an ability to adjust to rapidly changing circumstances

In addition to Oromiffa and Amharic, demonstrated English oral & written presentation capabilities

Computer literacy, including Word and Excel

Commitment to advancing gender equity

Innovative mindset; learning attitude

II. Preferred Qualifications and Capabilities

Fluency in Oromiffa language besides Amharic

Practical experience implementing smallholder contract farming projects in Ethiopia

Knowledge of, familiarity and experience working with private sector companies in Ethiopia

Have motorcycle driving license and willingness to drive a motorcycle;

Practical experience working with bees and handling bee colonies, such as colony inspection and working with different beehive types; Practical experience in colony management following the seasonal dynamics of the colony

Experience managing and leading others

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is September 13, 2019. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the below link:

Click here to apply for this position Technoserve Business Advisors - Honey Contract Farming Project Jobs in Ethiopia

This position is only open to Ethiopia Nationals, who must be eligible to invite and work in Ethiopia.

The duration of this position will be until September 30th, 2020

Please note that:

Application and CVs written in English will be accepted

Please note that we are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated link

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

No Phone call please

TechnoServe is an equal opportunity employer. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

TNS has the right to cancel this advertisement