About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

 About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. Action Against Hunger currently operates in 6 different regions (Tigray, Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

 I.     Summary of position

The Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager primarily is responsible for providing technical oversight to Onion producing farmers’ cooperative formation, Support networking and marketing of agricultural products and assist in the overall process of Onion value chain development. S/he is primarily responsible to facilitate capacity building of onion producing cooperatives and relevant government offices that take part on the development and support of onion value chain activity.    

 ·       Purpose

The Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager will provide expertise and guidance to onion producing farmers in creating vibrant groups work toward profit making through strengthening onion marketing and value chain activities. S/he will be the focal point to assist the farmers in creating market linkage whole sellers /traders and with all actors along the onion value chain that include – Seed Suppliers, traders, exporters. S/he develops relevant value chain documents, training materials, manuals, articles and guidelines related to agricultural marketing, Onion value Chain development and market linkages.  S/he also develops, in consultation with project team, the value chain grant guideline and support on its operationalization; and document best practices and lessons learnt of the project and support to replicate it.

 ·       Engagement

Internal      

•         Closely work with direct line manager – Food Security and Livelihood Program Manager for technical support and advise;  Strengthening rural Value Chain project teams;  and shares information and updates /progress with Food Security and Livelihoods Head of Department

•         Exchange of information, updates and consultation with FSL- PM, FSL- HOD, irrigation engineer and Gode base Food Security and Livelihood Department colleagues

•         Collaborate and Closely work with functional departments [ Program and Operations ] at ACF

External

·       The Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager ()   is responsible to have a meaningful engagement in  DRM/ATF and food security coordination meetings ;

Delivery

·       The Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager ()  will facilitate organization of Onion producing groups in to vibrant, self-sustaining and well-functioning Cooperatives; Coordinate capacity building for both farmers and government stakeholders, Produce onion value chain strengthening guidelines and manuals. In addition, s/he will supervise and support capacity gaps and priority needs of government stakeholders rural Value Chains. The post is responsible to develop Terms of Reference for all activities that needs consultancy; identify experienced and skilled consultants for all consultancy activities detailed on the proposal and coordinate with procurement and finance in the identification, awarding and evaluating all consultancy work

 II.                  Essential job duties

Objective 1 Strengthening capacity of Onion producers and government stakeholders

·       Identify capacity gaps and priority needs of woreda government offices in strengthening rural Value Chains

·       Support regional /Zonal / woreda state actors based on the identified gaps

·       Facilitate and organize workshop on regional government policy and strategy on rural Value Chain

·       Train government experts on cooperative formation, management and support  

·       Prepare Detail Implementation Plan, strategies and farming methods and share with farmers ;

·       Follow up and ensure day to day  implementation of the Detail Implementation Plan

·       Schedule activities according to the project’s development ;

·       Prepare all consultancy Terms of Reference , raise PLs, participate in tender opening and evaluating process

·       Technical analysis of submitted consultancy tender documents and submit on time

·       Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations

·       Develop relevant training and extension materials, manuals, articles and guidelines related to agricultural marketing; cooperative/collection Centre management and value chain upgrading

 Objective 2 Organize, support and Coordinate Onion Value Chain development and market linkage

·       Support government agencies and value chain actors to better coordinate, support, and linkage

·       Coordinate and organize Onion Value Chain Study and analysis;

·       identify market opportunities and develop intervention Strategies

·       Provide training to woreda and kebele level government and other stakeholders in area of  promoting and supporting Onion agricultural value chain activities

·       Organize Planning  and managing implementation of learning programs (trainings, workshops, exposure visits) on marketing and value chain development

·       Research the marketing and market information system and identify opportunities to strengthen the system

·       Identify potential market actors and business development service providers, and connect with producer’s organization for assured market and services; and

·       Support the cooperatives and market committees to develop value chain grant and its effective implementation.  

 Objective 3 Stakeholders engagement and partner’s coordination

·       Support local government to prepare standards, guidelines and procedures for agricultural Onion cooperatives and marketing services;

·       Identify opportunities for campaigns, services, and distribution channels that will lead to enhanced market linkage of onion already produced

·       Coordinate and collaborate with regional government, Zonal government, Woreda government offices and other development partners for better market linkage and value chain development initiatives; 

·       Attend events and conferences on marketing, value chain development, cooperatives and postharvest management and provide feedback and information;

·       Explore and collaborate with commodity associations, entrepreneurs’ associations, cooperative federations/associations on possible areas of interventions;

·       Represent the project at different meetings and events at different levels, where necessary in consultation and discussion with FSL-HOD

 Objective 4: Project management support:

·       Ensure implementation of the activities defined by the project and the FSL –PM and Food Security and Livelihood Head of Department

·       Provide support to establish functional partnership with government  and cooperatives/market committees Propose solutions or improvements for better performance of the project

·       Provide information and detail data in time for the development of reports as required by the donor agency and the implementing partner

·       Contribute on periodic progress reports, monitoring reports, fact sheets and case studies to meet the in-house and donor reporting requirements

·       Provide technical support to project team and specialists on areas of cooperatives, markets, value chain and project management related issues

·       Contribute enhanced visibility of project on different forums at different levels where applicable

 Objective 5: Contribute to internal and external coordination and representation

·       Represent ACF in the field with local authorities and other stakeholders when needed

·       Keep/document accurate project records with the required detail and quality

·       Write weekly, monthly and periodic reports as requested by the FSL-PM and Agricultural Value Chain PM

·       Regularly reporting an input to the FSL –PM  on project performance

·       Participate in internal and external coordination meetings  when needed

·       Ensure gender, social inclusion and protection are appropriately mainstreamed as per ACF’s protection mainstreaming guideline and procedures 

·       Manage data disaggregated by sex, age, and caste/ethnicity from the records of project interventions. 

 III.                  Supervisory Responsibilities

·       None

IV Gender Equality Commitments  

·       Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.

·       Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

·       Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion. Race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

·       Value and respect all cultures. 

 V Fiscal Responsibility

·       Support FSL Program manager in Budget follow up regularly and follow the utilization of allocated budget in a timely manner to ensure accurate and effective use of funds in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations

 VI Physical Demands

·       While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis

·       The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

 VII Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment 

·       The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

·       Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

VIII Job Requirements

Education 

• ·MA /BSC Degree in General Agriculture, Agricultural Value Chain , Agricultural economics, Plant Science , Development Studies and related field of study

Experience 

• §  Eight [8] years for MA OR 10 Years for BA professional work experience in the field of agriculture value chain, market linkage, marketing, and horticulture development

·       NGO related experience is advantageous especially in horticulture agricultural programs development

Required Skills & Competencies

·       Sound understanding of agricultural policies and agriculture research, development, and extension systems of in Ethiopia in General and Somali region in particular

·       Demonstrated capacity on design and implementation of agricultural value chain development;

·       Experience in irrigation based Agricultural activities – primarily vegetable production

·       Good communication with staffs and flexibility

·       Good organizational skills

·       Excellent Computer skills (Word, Excel, outlook, power point, etc.

·       Ability to develop effective working relationships across a network

·       Experience in the leading team, coaching, and mentoring and effectively working with partners; and Ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.

·       Ability to communicate effectively and build high-performance teams in support of the achievement of organizational objectives.

·       Strong research, decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

·       Strong skills in facilitation and negotiation; report and proposal writing skills

·       Working knowledge of the local language is a must [ Somali Language]

 Languages:

·       Fluency (written and Spoken) in English and Somali Languages are required. 

·       Knowledge of more than one local language is a plus. 

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a cover letter with “Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager” written in the subject line, and three references, through THIS LINK

 Closing date: 18 December 2023

 NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.