Position:                                   Advisor - Research

Term of Employment:            One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station:                          Addis Ababa   

Required Number:                  One

Application Deadline:             January 7, 2023

 BACKGROUND: 

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government Institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions to be the leading center of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.

The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the 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, Sidama, South-West, 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 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.

Purpose of the Position

A Delivery Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MoANR) and jointly overseen by the Ethiopian Agriculture Transformation Institute (ATI) is being introduced to:

• Strengthen the effectiveness of the Ministry and affiliated institutions (Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and Federal Cooperatives Agency) in implementing GTP II Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) Deliverables, Sub-Deliverables and Activities has now focused on homegrown economic reform agenda and systemic interventions Programs (SIP)  

• Clarify and enhance ATA’s model for providing implementation support to MoANR and affiliated institutions.

The Delivery Unit will focus on four areas under the homegrown economic reform agenda and implementations of systemic interventions programs (SIP)

1)      Planning and execution effectiveness systemic interventions Programs (SIP)

2)      Tracking, reporting and escalation

3)      Problem solving and light analytical support

4)      Technical support  and capacity building .

 Within the Delivery Unit, Systemic Intervention Program SIP) for research will report directly to EIAR Director General who is the owner for the following SIP deliverables and Sub-Deliverables on which the SIP Advisor will focus:

. Expand utilization of biotechnology for accelerated and sustainable agricultural production and productivity

-Enhance institutional environment for biotechnology research (institutional biosafety committee, institutional biosafety guidelines, standardize operational procedures (SOP), accelerated special international procurement policy, Product development & stewardship guideline, IPR/royalty))

- Apply biotechnology research for improving productivity & quality of plants, animals and microbial products for climate change adaptation and mitigation

- Strengthen human and institutional capacity for development of non-GMO and GMO biotechnology tools and their promotion

· Strengthen mechanism by which research generates and adapts/adopts client-oriented outputs

     - Establish/Strengthen enabling policies/guidelines/strategies (IPR, technology import/export, staff career structure & incentives, procurement, gender)

    - Strengthen agricultural information and knowledge systems to enhance reporting & information sharing systems

    - Strengthen the human and physical capacity and modernize research to produce accelerated, sustainable, and inclusive agricultural technologies

    - Strengthen public private partnership (national and international organizations) and linkages to enhance agricultural research outputs

    - Enhance accelerated early generation technology (crop, livestock, microbes, mechanization) multiplication and transfer

 She/he will also have a second, functional reporting line to the Delivery Unit Head at MoANR and will work closely with other staff engaged in the implementation of the TA Sub-Deliverables listed above as well as other staff in the Delivery Unit to support effective implementation of these Sub-Deliverables. The SIP Advisor will therefore bring the requisite technical skills and expertise, as well as implementation experience, to effectively support in all four focus areas of the Delivery Unit described above. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of the SIP Advisor in each focus area of the Delivery Unit and with respect to the specific TA Sub-Deliverables noted above, are as follows.

Planning and execution effectiveness

• Provide input and overall support to ensure effective annual planning, budgeting and target setting activities for all research Deliverables and Sub-Deliverables focusing on SIP

• Provide close support to implementation coordinators, of the sub-deliverables in research, in prioritization of interventions

• Provide advice on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and the Regional Agricultural Research Institutes

•  Provide support in linking federal and regional agricultural research institutes for effective implementation of SIP Provide additional support as may be demanded by the deliverable owner and the DU head pertinent to the SIP

Tracking, reporting and escalation

• Undertake regular follow-up and monitoring of all activities of the Sub-Deliverables, engaging with relevant Activity and Task Owners to ensure activities are on track and reporting through OTS and other tools is timely and accurate

• Support data collection for timely and accurate reporting

• Identify and escalate challenges around implementation and reporting, as well as solutions, options and recommendations, to Sub-Deliverable Implementing Coordinator and/or Owner, as appropriate

Problem solving and light analytical support

• Identify critical technical issues directly related to Sub-Deliverable design and/or implementation

• Analyze and develop solution options and recommendations for these critical issues, and engage with relevant staff within the Institute and external partners to align on adjustments required

• Proactively engage other DU staff and/or external partners for heavier or more analytical problem-solving support where needed

Technical support

• Contribute to ToRs, concept notes, studies, workshops, and training materials, directly related to Sub-Deliverable and areas of technical expertise

• Provide other technical advisory , capacity  building and input needed for effective Sub-Deliverable implementation

Job Requirements

Required qualifications and competencies

Qualifications and experience

• Master or PhD Degree in agricultural science and related field of Studies.

•  Minimum 12 years of experience for master’s and 6 years for PhD in regional, national, or international research organizations, in areas relevant to agricultural research management out of which 6 years’ experience in leadership and managerial role.

• Specific experience in planning, prioritizing, sequencing, managing, problem-solving and reporting on implementation of both programmatic and operational activities

• Fluency in English and Amharic

Technical competencies

• Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural sector in general and the agricultural research system in particular, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and non-government organization operate in the system

• Promotes data-driven and evidence-based problem-solving, and timely, effective decision-making

• Fluency in major computer applications and the internet

Behavioral competencies

• Self-starter with strong motivation, ownership, and commitment to deliver results and drive agricultural transformation

• Exhibits an innovative and high-performance mindset and culture, and can perform at a high level under pressure and in challenging environments

• Demonstrates leadership, vision, and ability to motivate and strengthen accountability of others

• Can act as a champion for change and can effectively support change management efforts

• Strong team player with excellent relationship building and management skill, ability to promote dialogue and communicate clearly and confidently, and a network of professional contacts

• Proactively seeks and acts on feedback to drive own development and contributes to others’ development through active coaching  and sharing knowledge and best practices

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

How to Apply

Register using this link CLICK HERE

It is mandatory to mention the position title in the subject line of your cover letter.

Please DO NOT submit scans of educational and experience certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.