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 Agronomist primarily responsible for providing technical oversight to all irrigation, agriculture and land use-related activities. These activities should be in line with government land use policies, Action Against Hunger’s strategic plan, and agriculture strategies aimed at strengthening the Food Security, livelihoods, Resilience, Recovery of the country through promoting and strengthening agricultural rural value chain activities. 

 Purpose

• The Agronomist will provide expertise and guidance to onion producing farmers and help them increase yields, improve the quality of their products, and maximize profits. S/he analyze soil and weather conditions, advice on Onion seed selection, and recommend strategies for pest management. S/he provides technical Advise on the technical/socio-technical diagnosis of irrigated agriculture production technologies and systems, and the design of appropriate irrigation and agronomic interventions.

 Engagement

Internal      

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

•         Exchange of information, updates and consultation with FSL- PM, Agricultural value Chain program Manager, 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 Agronomist is responsible to have a meaningful engagement in  DRM/ATF and food security coordination meetings ;

Delivery

·       The Agronomist will organize effective planning, implementation and follow up of Onion production activities that mainly includes leading organization of Vibrant Onion producing groups [Cooperatives] , ensure timely and quality planting, caring, harvesting and selling of Onion crop and ; provide timely technical on farm follow up and advice. S/he proactively develops agricultural calendar consistent with woreda seasonal calendar and ensure the Onion producers are align with this

 II.     Essential job duties

Objective 1 Planning, Implementation and monitoring of project interventions

·       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 Project procurement Plans and raise PLs on time and as appropriate

·       Ensure delivery of quality procured items – farm tools, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides  

·       Participate and support survey and detail engineering design of irrigation facilities like irrigation Canal construction

·       Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations

·       Provide counseling and advice on topics such as land preparation, Site selection, bed preparation and seed sowing tilling /ploughing, cultivation, soil preparation clearing , pest control, plant care/ weeding , seedling transplanting , harvesting , pest management , irrigation water use and application  and management, fertilizer application as well as post-harvest management

·       Ensure , support, assist and follow up that farmers follow standard Onion production and cultivation procedures

·       Establish, support and Strengthen nursery/demonstration  sites for Onion production (Onion seed, fertilizer, Insecticides /Pesticides purchase)

·       Use standard Onion production guideline to advise farmers are following standard Onion production procedures

·       Identifying insect infestations and taking steps to eliminate them

·       Regular inspection and control of Onion production farm and nursery sites

·       Establish nursery site, guide and lead Onion seeds production nursery management

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

 Objective 2 strengthening capacity of project partners and beneficiaries:

·       Conduct the capacity technical capacity gap of beneficiaries and provide training, on job technical support, mentoring and coaching

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

·       Support the Onion producing cooperatives to prepare business plans, operational plans, and other relevant policy documents, and their smooth implementations

·       Assist the Agricultural Value Chain Program Manager in Planning  and managing implementation of learning programs (trainings, workshops, exposure visits) on marketing and value chain development

 Objective 3: Contribute in the management of project and team

·       Ensure implementation of the activities defined by the project and the FSL –PM and Agricultural Value Chain Program manager

·       Identify and anticipate problems or constraints

·       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

·       Perform other tasks as required

 Objective 4: 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

·       The Agronomist is responsible to line manage two community facilitators

 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 be at field and provide technical assistance, follow up and support the day-to-day activities of Onion producing farmer cooperatives. S/he needs to supervise, coach, mentor and guide farmers and the community facilitators on farm activities and provide any corrective measures for deviations from track by being on spot at the farm field.  

·                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

• MA/BSC Degree in Horticulture, agronomy, General Agriculture , Plant science , Agricultural economics and with related field of study and of 8 years and 10 years relevant work experience

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

 Required Skills & Competencies

• Further education and experience may be preferred.

• Knowledge of national and international Agricultural irrigation / river based irrigation standards,

• 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 “Agronomist – Somali - Adadle Woreda 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.