Job Description

Position: Senior Technical Expert  I – Institutional Support for Seed Systems in  Ethiopia (ISSSE) 

Term of Employment: One year with the possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: November 12, 2022

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Institute does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. 

ATI provides a unique 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 teams with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

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 seed system within the inputs program of the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, is setup to strengthen the seed industry so that it can deliver sufficient quantities of high-quality seeds of improved varieties in a timely manner so that farmers are enable to increase their yield and household income. The program works in close partnership with relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of strategic interventions that will address systemic bottlenecks of the seed system across the value chain.

Among these deliverables is the Institutional Support for Seed Systems in Ethiopia (ISSSE) Project supporting partners in the production and delivery of quality EGS with sufficient volume, enhancing the capacity of seed quality assurance and create enabling environments through drafting and enacting of policy documents. The role of the seed expert is to support the implementation of these major component of the project and contribute on the liberalization of the seed system.

Essential Duties:

The expert is responsible to popularize the project, build the capacity of partners and enable them to reach more SHFs with quality seed, support establishment of institutions responsible to assure ensure seed quality assurance system and create enabling policy environment to seed actors. 

The Senior Technical Expert  is accountable to provide input on project design, technical support on project implementation, coordinate the annual project performance evaluations to identify key strengths, lessons and challenges and plan for the next year and report to the project manager. The expert is accountable for effective delivery of the following KPIs:

1. Support to the Project Lead: Oversight the Ethiopian seed system with emphasis to the EGS production and supply, improve access by SHF to quality assured seed and provide improvement areas to enhance operation of the project.

2. Support to the project leader:-Oversight institutional capacity building to undertake quality assurance, support in drafting, validation and endorsement of enabling policy documents to enhance the function of a healthy seed system.

3. Annual project planning: support the analysis, validation, prioritization and planning of the National Agriculture Research (NARS) and the effectiveness of Public EGS.

• Support the enhancement of EGS production and marketing by NARI partners.

•  Support and strengthen seed technology research in the NARIs strengthened.

• Assist to develop and maintain overall work plan for project and corresponding budget on an annual and quarterly basis; monitor project and update/adjust accordingly.

4.  Capacity development: conduct critical assessments to identify capacity gaps hindering effective transition and implementation of the project and provide capacity building training accordingly.

5. Linkage and stakeholder management: - Participate on project related meetings, providing technical input to the project delivery and ensure updates on project progress, risks, and risk mitigation plans.

Job Requirements

• A minimum Master’s degree in fields such as plant science (breeding, agronomy, protection), Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business Management and related fields. 

• At least 6 years’ experience on the Ethiopian seeds system EGS and certified as seed production marketing distribution

• Strong capabilities in problem solving, project and stakeholder management.

• Strong experience of project team management as well as liaising with senior decision-makers.

• Exceptional ability to communicate consistently, clearly, and effectively with a range of stakeholders in a cross-cultural environment.

How to Apply

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et  

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.