Position:                          Senior Technical Expert I- Regional Agricultural Inputs

Term of Employment:   One Year with the possibility of extension  

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa/Oromia

Required Number:         One

Application Deadline:    October 20, 2023

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) was established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify systemic bottlenecks, conduct studies, and provide recommendations, provide implementation support, manage projects, create linkages and coordination among activities and   agricultural development programs. The Institute 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 that, to be the leading centre of innovative solutions to catalyse and contribute to the transformation of the Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030 where smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

 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. 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 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 Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has providing implementation support activities for the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and regional Bureau of agriculture to address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda and build capacities for institutions. The Senior Technical Expert for Agricultural inputs is expected to successfully organise and lead the planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting processes and analyse the input system of the region and make ready for intervention and decision-making processes.  

The Senior Technical Expert is responsible for assessing agricultural input related bottlenecks in the region and propose appropriate intervention to reverse the challenges. He/she is responsible for the achievement of its planned results to a high level of quality and in a timely manner in input planning, need assessment, supply, and distribution. To achieve this, he/she will expect to coordinate and work with key stakeholders working on input production, supply, and distribution. The Senior Technical Expert is directly report to ACC Director and seconded to Regional Bureau of Agriculture with matrix  reporting to the Head, Regional Bureau of Agriculture.

  Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, track and report agriculture related input supply, distribution, and utilization.

• Identify key challenges related to agricultural inputs in the region and propose key interventions that involve government and private sectors.

• Support execution and day-to-day project and activity management of the regional prioritized initiatives related with agricultural inputs, and design mechanisms for satisfying input demands for the special initiatives in the region.

• Provide light analytical problem-solving support to senior leadership on high priority requests, such as analysis of trends, strategic planning, or policy analysis related to Agricultural inputs.

• Develop high level technical advisory notes, concept notes, studies and facilitate workshops and develop training materials on Agricultural inputs.

• Support linkage and coordination across key regional implementors, MoA, unions, research centers, and private sectors on priority areas related to agricultural inputs.

• Coordinate and facilitate the development and use of appropriate planning techniques, provide technical guidance and leadership to regional government agricultural input initiatives and TADs.

• Provide close follow-up and supervision for timely and quality annual target setting, technology demand, and need assessment and implementation processes.

• Assist the Regional agricultural inputs specialist and professional staff to develop relevant regional-level indicators.

• Work in consultation and collaboration with input project officers at Agricultural Transformation Centre (ATC) and compile input projects best practice and scale for its sustainability

• Coordinate and conduct regional monitoring and evaluation activities based on performance indicators.

• Provide technical support to Regional agricultural inputs experts in developing standard tools and templates, and Coordinate and conduct regional monitoring and evaluation activities based on performance indicators.

• Work closely with regional teams to provide necessary data/evaluation results (including agricultural inputs case studies, success stories and lessons learnt).

• With the approval of the SD Agricultural Transformation Centre (ATC ) and Regional Bureau Head , the STE can share data/documents with external stakeholders.

 Others

• The Regional agricultural inputs advisor STE is also responsible for tasks/assignments given by the SD Agricultural Transformation center (ATC), Regional senior advisor and Regional Bureau Head.  

Job Requirements

• Minimum of MSC in agricultural economics, project management, economics, statistics, agriculture, agriculture extension, Information Technology, business administration, and agribusiness.

• At least six years of work experience in performance Management particularly in seed and other agricultural inputs planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting in public, private and development sector organizations.

• Knowledge of reporting management and MEL methods and approaches (quantitative, qualitative, and participatory).

• Good understanding and exposure to data visualization.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability, and results.

• Understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural system with a broad perspective on interactions between public, private and informal actors in the seed and other agricultural inputs system

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Self-driven individual with ability to drive work with minimal supervision; demonstrated track record of organization, multi-tasking, and time management skills.

• Experience leading multi-dimensional teams and complex work programs.

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

• Strong capacity to facilitate teamwork, conflict management capacity.

• Willingness to undertake frequent field visits.

• Strong Communication skills (writing, speaking, composing, presenting, etc).

• Working in Regional Agricultural Transformation organization will be encouraged.

• Proficiency in Oral and Written English and Oromiffa languages required.  

• Computer literacy.

How to Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to CLICK HERE

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.