INTERNAL/EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Specialist: Value Chain and IGA

CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in more than 90 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis. These solutions have a broad range, from clean water to access to education; from microfinance to ensuring that everyone has nutritious food; from agriculture and climate change to disaster response. CARE puts women and girls at the center of everything we do because they have proven to be the best hope for creating lasting change in the world. Our staff live where they work, which makes us effective at understanding the challenges they face. We’ve been doing this for over 70 years, since World War II. It started with the world’s first CARE Package® of food for the post-war hungry in Europe. Our work today is as important as ever, we believe that poverty and inequality are historic injustices that we can end within a generation, for good. If you share our core beliefs: poverty is an injustice; poverty is solvable; and together, we have the power to end it, join us.

Date: December 29, 2020

Vacancy No.085/20

Position: Specialist: Value Chain and IGA      

Grade: 7C

Salary: USD992                                                                 

No of positions: 1 (one)

Type of Employment- Definite

Unit/program: Livelihood for Resilience Activity

Duty base: SNNPR , Dilla

Dead Line: 10 days from the date of advertisement

JOB SUMMARY:

The purpose of the Value Chain and IGA Specialist for the Livelihood for Resilience project is to lead the value chain development and marketing component of the project including provision of technical assistance and quality control to the CARE Operational Area in Sidama region and Gedeo Zones of SNNPR. The VCS will lead the design, planning and implementation of technical interventions under the on- farm livelihood path way (agricultural and livestock) and off-farm livelihoods components of the Livelihood for Resilience project in project operational areas of the targeted woredas, and provide guidance to the work of Facilitators for Empowerment (FFE) in the field. The VC and IGA specialist will coordinate activities of the project closely with Livelihood for Resilience Technical Partner SNV in targeted agricultural value chains to ensure PSNP households have increased income from crop and livestock production. The position is responsible to develop and create linkage with private sector actors. The VC and IGA specialist will ensure that the Livelihood for Resilience project interventions are performed as planned and to bring about the desired impact through monitoring, evaluation, research and documenting lessons learnt.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Job Responsibility #1: Capacity Building:

• Develops capacity of CARE staff on agricultural marketing and value chain application.
• Organizes training courses and delivers or arranges for the delivery of training programs aimed at Livelihood for Resilience project target beneficiaries, government stakeholders and private sector. 
• Organize and facilitates presentations, reports and other documentation on marketing and value-chain training events and field program operations.
• Strengthened existing /established new BDS providers to provide inclusive BDS services
• Work to improve Extension services (technical, business and motivational skills) to recognize and support resilient livelihoods for women, men and youth.
• support to improve output market system for PSNP men, women & youth
• Work to achieve sustainable input sourcing and delivery market system such as agro dealers and other community based groups to increase input accessibly and affordability for PSNP Women, men and Youth.
• provide regular support and capacity building activities to cooperatives, FEMAs or other private sector actors provided with support to aggregate production

% of Time: 30%

Strengthen capacity of FFE, stakeholders and partners of L4RA project through training and close follow up on the area of agricultural marketing and value chain application

Job Responsibility #2: Program Planning and Implementation:

• Participates in Livelihood for Resilience detailed implementation planning (DIP), and annual reviews, to ensure that proper practices, tools and guidelines are adopted throughout the life of the project.
• Designs and develops work plans for field office operations in the agricultural sector in association with field office staff.
• Participate in value chain analysis and development strategy for the project.
• Ensures that implementation of field programs proceeds according to approved plans and that immediate corrective actions are taken when required for both Sidama and Gedio zones;
• Provides oversight and guidance to CARE woreda team leader on the application of recommendations and practices in the targeted value chains. 
• Facilitate linkage with public and private sectors
• Support external and internal project reviews for higher-level reflective practices;
• Assist project baseline studies, annual reviews, midterm assessments and final evaluations as required. Leads or participate in diagnostic studies (livelihood assessments) for project design;
• Reviews project evaluation reports, compile and share lessons for future project design considerations;
• Prepare proposal for private sector development and ensure their proper implementation

% of Time: 30%

Participate in implementation, review and assessments of value chain related Livelihood for Resilience Activity to ensure proper tool application and draw lessons          

Job Responsibility #3: Learning and Networking:

• Liaison with national programs in agricultural marketing including SNV for value chain development.
• Keeps up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples within the country and internationally, and ensures ongoing personal development and learning;
• Ensure the communication of Agricultural Marketing concepts and procedures within the organization, with the local partners and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate periodic multi stakeholder forums for each value chain (4-5 VCs)
• Links the Livelihood for Resilience Project and CARE Country Office with Government and NGO partners on issues related to value chain.
• Facilitate field visit for farmers in order to help the scale up and scale out of good practices
• Ensure the participation of farmers and private sectors on VC Expo
• Facilitate linkage for community based input system with research centers & other stakeholder to source new varieties.

% of Time: 20%          

Facilitate learning and networking 

Job Responsibility #4: Information Management:

• Works closely with SNV to understand, analyze and present information on targeted value chains to GRAD Stakeholders and partners.
• Reviews and keeps current Government of Ethiopia practices in the agricultural marketing sector, and ensures an active information flow regarding best practices and ensures application of program/project standards in the Livelihood for Resilience Project implementation
• Ensures the collection of accurate information on field activities under the assigned sector from CARE Livelihood for Resilience Project.
• Regularly maintains project information on value chain activities using appropriate database management system and make accessible to the staff and other stakeholders at CO level;
• Prepare directory of suppliers, wholesalers and Agro processing industries related to value chains implemented
• Promote joint planning, sharing and learning within and outside the project 
• Develop strategy to address systemic issues (access, gender sensitive, demand driven extension).

% of Time: 15%          

Information documentation and sharing

Job Responsibility #5: Gender Equity and Diversity related:

• Promote gender equality within teams, communities and households;
• Ensure that proposals and reports make explicit reference to approaches used to address unequal gender relations;

·        Facilitate different capacity building activities for staff on gender and diversity issues.

 % of time:5%

Job Responsibility #6: Perform other duties as assigned.

% of Time: 5%

§ PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

All the three levels of problem solving apply to the incumbent. But category numbers two and three are most applicable to this position because, the incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable situations, which need analysis, problem definition and development of alternative solutions.  

Job Requirements

Required:

B.A. Degree in Agricultural Development, agricultural economics, business administration, Economics and Marketing or other closely related field. 

Desired:

M.A. Degree in Agricultural Development, agricultural economics, business administration, Economics and Marketing or other closely related field. 

Academic work and published reports on the Agricultural Marketing sector in Ethiopia

EXPERIENCE:

   Required:

 4 – 6 years of work experience in the Agricultural Marketing, value-chain, local economic development business development and entrepreneurship and familiarity with food security, rural development

  Desired:

  Experience in development programs

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Required:

• Highly developed computer skills (Word processing, database management);
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English Language;
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, and participatory approach and sustainable development.

Desired:

• Knowledge of Agricultural Marketing practices and operations
• Training on value chain analysis
• Experience in value chain development projects
• Training planning and delivery skills.
• Experience in proposal development

COMPETENCIES

Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, building partnership, building commitment, contributing to team success, innovation, pro-active problem solving, analytical ability.

CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS 

The VC and IGA specialist is expected to establish and maintain good relations with partners, counterpart GOs and NGOs. S/He will also closely work with the CCU and SNV staff, PQL Coordinator, LDM Team Leader, Department heads, Area Coordinators, Program/Project Managers and other related staff.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND LEVEL OF TRAVEL REQUIRED

This position is located in Dilla Town, SNNPR and requires up to 70% of his/her time travel to Woredas of implementation, Sidama region and Gedeo Zone.

How to Apply

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 page) and cover letter (not more than one page) using one of the following options:

• Directly apply through Ethiojobs: www.ethiojobs.net
• Send your application by e-mail to: ETH.JobsHR@care.org

Please clearly write the position you are applying on “Specialist: Value Chain and IGA” the subject line of your email or envelope. Your application will be automatically disqualified if you failed to do so.

Please DO NOT SUBMIT copies of transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.

Due to the large volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the job requirements are strongly encouraged to apply especially women.