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 has an exceptional team of highly competent and committed staff with proven track records 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 results as an individual and as a member of a team. 

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.

Term of Employment:  

One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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 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 Technical Expert – Food Systems will be a core member of the Food Systems programs, responsible to support the development of the implementation framework, setting up a detailed work plan for obtaining all the necessary stakeholder engagement and implementing the food system program; results framework for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the overall project activities as well as identification of areas that require studies/analyses and development of analytical plan and terms of reference.

The position works with ATI and MoA team to provide thought partnership and support for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the food system program including project implementation, strengthening sector M&E systems, and capacity building on mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues. The candidate will provide technical and strategic coordination to effectively align and ensure synergies among the various streams of work and engagements that support the development of enabling environment for Ag. Transformation and Project Management for the food systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The Senior Technical Expert of the food systems program is accountable for ensuring:

• The setting up of a detailed work plan, development of implementation framework, results framework for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the overall food system project activities as well as identification of areas that require studies/analyses and development of analytical plan and terms of reference.

             o Strategic thinking

• Proactively identify gaps in food system transformation

• Perform diagnostics of food system transformation projects, interventions' and propose solutions

• Strategize to ensure collaboration across VCs and VC segments

           o  Problem-solving                     

• Proactively identify project level challenges and solve accordingly

•  Effectively translate high-level strategy into project & intervention for entire food system program

• Develop Analytical plan and terms of reference for food system projects that require detail studies/analyses is prepared and submitted 

• Ensure integrated and coordinated implementation among all program components and between different stakeholders at the federal and regional level, to properly manage resources and implement the activities in accordance with the program objectives & procedures of the food system

• Provide technical support to Program Management and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for food system projects

• Build the capacity of project and government staff on different topics that are critical to food systems activities

• Implementation framework development for planning, implantation, monitoring and evaluation of food system program 

• Prepared and submit results framework for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the overall food systems is

• Develop Analytical plan and terms of reference for food system projects that require

• Ensure the quality and timeliness of project deliverables.

• Manage project implementation process developing execution strategies for cross-organizational efforts toward common goals of the Food System program

• Communicate with project partners to leverage best practices for successful implementation of the food system program

• Create, support, and mobilize partnerships to promote successful project outcomes based primarily on food system project deliverable

• With support from the relevant Director, coordinate the analytical works required to develop the policy instruments

• Develop regular and other reports on the implementation of food system project performance to ATI on time

• The position reports to the director for policy and food system program of the ATI.

• Take other assignments as appropriate and assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in food system, public health, nutrition, agriculture, project management and economics or closely related fields from a reputable University is required.

• At least 8 years of relevant and combined experience is required in the agriculture sector, project management and food systems within the government, international, research or think-tank organizations.

• Significant experience and proven success in the agriculture sector, food system, project management and delivering high-impact, challenging, stakeholder consultation, and engagement with food systems is required.

• A strong passion for transforming agriculture and improving the lives of smallholder farmers and pastoralists is highly desirable.

• Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of stakeholders in a cross-cultural environment (fluency in English is essential)

• Highly collaborative management style and demonstrated success in managing and developing high-performance policy staff and teams

• Strong understanding of the country’s broad economic reform program, the rationale and what it will mean for agriculture and rural development

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

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 THIS LINK

N.B: Mention the position title under the subject line of your application letter and please do not submit scans of certificates with your application

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.