POSITION SUMMARY:

The ACC/FPC Horticulture project within ATI has been established to improve the income of smallholder farmers (SHFs) by helping them to increase agricultural yield and achieve greater commercialization. The project is expected to develop farmer production clusters (FPCs) which is an approach of grouping farmers with adjacent farm plots to consolidate their farm activity, develop them like a business entity and access targeted support across the value chain.

The Horticulture Value Chain Expert reports to the Regional ACC Program Director. The ACC/FPC Horticulture Project team is working to deliver three major project components, which include: farmer clustering, assessment and transition support/capacity building ultimately contributing to the evolution of the FPCs from (pre) basic to the production company. The Regional Horticulture Value Chain Expert is responsible for implementing key interventions and providing technical support and capacity building across implementing partners. Achieving successful implementation of the project will require a strong understanding of best agricultural practices in horticulture, and ability to undertake and oversee problem-solving activities and policy analysis, and the willingness to innovate, design and plan catalytic and implementable interventions from the expert.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The Regional Horticulture Value Chain Expert is accountable for providing horticulture related analytical and technical support to ensure the ACC/FPC Horticulture Project Team Lead effectively delivers Cluster Development projects in the region. S/he is accountable for ensuring the project contributes to an increasing level of farmers' aggregation, adoption of improved production practices, and improvement of institutional capacity through effective delivery of the following KPIs:

• Farmers know about and get registered in FPCs

• Land covered under FPCs/ACC with Full Package recommendations increased

• Horticulture FPC established, assessed, transited, and certified

• Productivity and Volume of production for horticulture primary commodity in horticulture FPC and Horticulture ACC Woreda increased

• Amount of horticultural produce for agro-industry, local market and export increased

• Horticulture production and storage technologies (greenhouse, model nurseries and storage etc) construction introduced, supported, and encouraged for FPC farmers, private sectors & public institutions

• Relevant stakeholders’ staff’s trained based on standard modules

• FPC/ACC planning and M&E system established and made functional covering ACC woredas

• FPC/ACC planning and M&E system integrated into national and regional system and processes

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities for the Horticulture Value Chain Expert of the ACC/FPC Horticulture Project include, but not limited to:

Assist the regional Director for ACC program in managing the Cluster Development project team workload in order to ensure on time completion of deliverables. Activities include:

•  Assist the regional Director for ACC Program in detailed implementation planning and resource allocation for Cluster Development of horticulture FPCs

• Ensure effective operational planning of interventions and activities, budgeting, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation

• Ensure effective day-to-day management and execution of relevant ATI-owned interventions implemented by the ACC/FPC Horticulture Project Team

• Follow up and facilitate the Input supply system to ensure needs-based input supply as per the full package recommendation

• Participate in periodic Horticulture VCA meetings to review project progress and develop and monitor actions to ensure timely and effective delivery of project outcomes

• Support horticultural investment works for timely completion

 Assist the Regional Director for ACC Program in managing stakeholders to get prioritized support from the government agricultural ecosystem, private sector, and other implementers for FPCs to keep transitioning towards company-level entities. Activities include:

• Work with regional implementation partners to resolve strategic and operational issues that arise over the course of the project lifetime

• Liaison the RBoAs in the preparation of annual FPC/ACC roll out plan and to collect data for FPCs/ACC at the agreed time intervals

• Provide technical support on the development and revision of tools and approaches used to assess and certify FPCs

• Work with other project teams and project deliverable owners (e.g. Subgrantees) to ensure the provision of focused support for FPCs

Conduct assessments, developing, and leading the implementation of solutions to solve technical and operational challenges

• Introduce new technologies and farming system, participatory planning of production and marketing activities, improved market information and targeted business development services

• Identify concrete commercial opportunities and conduct market analysis for horticulture value chain

• Collaborate with the regional agribusiness promotion expert to map and develop market linkages for clusters with national, regional, and international potential markets and market channels identified

• Evaluate investment needs to upgrade production and processing, accessing finance, improving production practices, upgrading post-harvest handling and storage

• Provide problem solving support during the redesign and/or enhancement of Cluster Development Project

• Coordinate and provide guidance to Cluster Coordinators and DAs on periodic FPC/ACC assessment

• Provide technical support in the development and revision of transition criteria and support packages

Conduct capacity building activities and follow up support to ensure the creation of human capital capable of executing the ACC/FPC Horticulture Project activities at the region

• Provide guidance to Cluster Coordinators, Zonal, and Woreda experts and DAs and implementation partners in the implementation of project activities

• Conduct awareness creation on FPC interventions and governance for implementors such as Zonal and Woreda experts and DAs

• Facilitate Workshops and ToT training for Zonal and Woreda experts

• Provide technical support in the capacity gap assessments and revision of capacity building packages for grass-root level implementors

Responsible for compiling and submitting data and reports to ensure alignment on project implementation and identify potential risks that could affect the overall performance of the project

• Prepare regular reports on own activities and guide Cluster Coordinators in the utilization of reporting tools

• Prepare and consolidate biweekly, quarterly, annual and on-demand performance reports and submit them to the Regional Director of the ACC Program and ACC/FPC Horticulture lead 

Other

• The Horticulture Value Chain Expert is responsible for additional tasks assigned by the ACC/FPC Horticulture Team Lead and Regional ACC Program Director to meet the team’s functions

Job Requirements

• Minimum Master’s Degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Agronomy, Plant Protection, Irrigation-Agronomy, or another related field.

• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in the Horticulture related area.

• Familiarity with Agricultural policy and regulatory framework in Ethiopia including horticulture development and marketing strategies, and specifically:

• Understanding of the agriculture sector in general and best agricultural practices in horticulture (Quality seedling/seed production, agronomic practices, mechanization, agrochemical uses, post-harvest losses etc...)

• Understanding and practical experience in agribusiness, domestic and international markets, and trade development

• Proven ability to undertake and oversee analytical studies, problem-solving and policy analysis, and willingness to innovate, design and plan catalytic and implementable interventions

• Understanding of private sector, commercial farming, food processing and marketing experience

• Broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public and private actors operate within the agricultural system

• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance,

• Teamwork and accountability

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

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

• Fluency in Amharic and the regional language (Oromiffa) and proficiency in English are essential 

How to Apply

Register using the following LINK

Note: It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter. Women are highly encouraged to apply.