ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position:   Junior Project Officer I- Data Encoder - Farmer Profiling project 

Term of Employment:     Six months  

Duty Station(s):                Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Required Number:           10

Application Deadline:     April 13, 2025

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 centre of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyse 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,  Central Ethiopia ,South Ethiopia, Sidama, South-West Ethiopia, 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.

Project and Position Summary

The Ethiopian Digital Agriculture Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) 2030 Roadmap envisions a productive, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food system in Ethiopia through the collaborative delivery of customized digital services to all farmers. As part of this roadmap, the Farmer Profiling Project aims to address major challenges, including limitations with reusable datasets, poor data quality, gaps in data sharing, and limited options for integrated data access points. The priority of the initiative involves creating a comprehensive database of 1 million farmer profiles over three years. The success of this initiative is crucial for delivering quality farmer-facing digital services including digital extension and advisory services, facilitating a more efficient and effective agri-food system in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute is seeking to hire highly organized and detail-oriented data encoders to collect and clean farmer data. The enumerators will conduct phone surveys, following established protocols, manage data accurately, and identify and resolve discrepancies. They will also review and verify farmer data, utilize data cleaning tools, and collaborate with statisticians and project team to ensure accuracy and alignment with project objectives. Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and proficiency in data-cleaning techniques are required. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Conduct phone surveys to collect demographic as well as agricultural practice related data from individuals, mainly farmers.

• Follow established survey protocols and procedures to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

• Maintain accurate and complete records of all survey responses.

• Enter survey data into a designated database or spreadsheet program.

• Identify and report potential data discrepancies or inconsistencies.

• Complete data collection tasks within specified deadlines.

• Adhere to confidentiality guidelines and protect sensitive data.

• Participate in training sessions to maintain proficiency in survey methodologies and data collection techniques.

• Provide feedback on survey instruments and procedures to improve data collection processes.

• Review and verify farmer data accuracy, identifying and correcting errors or inconsistencies in information such as names, contact details, farm demographics, and agricultural practices.

• Utilize data cleaning tools and techniques to identify missing information and perform data imputation or data deletion as appropriate.

• Collaborate with statisticians and project officers to understand data requirements and ensure data cleaning processes align with project objectives.

• Document and record all data cleaning activities, maintaining a clear audit trail of changes made and justifications for modifications.

• Adhere to strict data security and confidentiality protocols to protect sensitive farmer information.

• Communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders regarding data cleaning progress and any issues encountered.

• Collaborate with the National ID program and Ethio telecom to verify farmers' National ID status and record their ID numbers in the farmer profiling system.

Job Requirements

Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in any field from a recognized higher education. 

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience for Diploma or 1 year of relevant experience for bachelor’s degree with experience in conducting phone surveys or a related data collection role.

• Experience in conducting surveys using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) or CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) software.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent software.

• Familiarity with basic research methods and data collection techniques.

• Familiarity with rural agricultural contexts and challenges.

• Experience working with diverse populations and cultural backgrounds is desired.

• Experience with data management systems and databases; proficiency in data cleaning techniques and tools (e.g., Excel, Kobo toolbox, ODK, etc) is preferred.

• Fluency in Amharic, English and at least one other local language (Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Sidama, Wolaitigna) is a must.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Strong organizational and time management skills and as well as attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately.

How To Apply

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages), using THIS LINK and include “Application for Junior Project Officer I- Data Encoder - Farmer Profiling project” in the subject line. Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form. 

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.