Marketing / Co-operative Expert (woreda level) 63 views0 applications

Farm Africa is implementing a large number of projects/programmes in the areas of agriculture (crop and livestock), natural resources management and market engagement across Ethiopia. We are increasingly designing and implementing complex and integrated multi-sector projects, some by ourselves and some others in partnership with like-minded organisations in the form of consortium

Farm Africa, in partnership with SoS Sahel-Ethiopia, FZS, PHE-EC and IWMI, has secured funding from the EU to implement an integrated multi-sector landscape management programme in Bale Eco-Region in Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia. The programme is a follow up of an earlier project called SHARE Bale Eco-Region that employed an ecoregional approach to integrate and coordinator activities across sectors and actors so as to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies across sectors and ecosystems at various altitudinal gradients, while ensuring a sustainable use and management of environmental resources for socio-economic development in the project intervention areas as a pilot in seven woredas in the Bale Eco Region. The project will work across 16 woredas located in two zones, namely Bale and West Arsi. Farm Africa is seeking to recruit a dynamic and experienced person as a Markets Wordea Expert.

 This Expert will be based inside a woreda office working side by side with government experts to implement the BER framework across identified woredas.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The overall responsibility of the position holder is to coordinate planning and execution of marketing related activities of the project – working closely with the agriculture and NRM experts. He/she will be specifically responsible in planning, execution of capacity building trainings, facilitate market linkages, organize farmers groups, support Co-operatives with technical advice, and provide technical support to government counterparts.

He/she ensures that communities are engaged in improved high value crop and livestock production, processing and marketing. In coordination with the project coordinator, he/she will ensure good partnership with government stakeholders, community members, CBOs, consortium partners, CSOs, private sectors and other relevant partners in the operational areas of the SHARE II project.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONISBILITES

Key areas of responsibilities are:

Ensure timely project implementation at Woreda level

• Work with the project team and government counterparts to achievethe project outputs/outcomes at his/her specific cluster
• Ensure adequate consultationand participation of Woreda and village/community level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women
• Facilitate identificationof training needs, prepare training materials, and deliver training, business plan development and other services to CBOs and unions
• Conduct other duties as may be assigned by the Project Field Coordinator

Bring technical expertise to ensure high quality project delivery

• Support set up of new cooperatives and strengthen existing ones
• Support in identifying process in aggregation hubs of NTFPs and rangeland products to maximise marketing potential.
• Work with Cooperative Bureau in establishing support to cooperatives on registration, and licensing support
• Facilitate market linkage of crop and livestock producing and marketing groups to  private sectors
• Support small business group development:

Facilitate and coordinate community/institutional capacity building activities

• Provide technical support to Woreda level technical staff and government staff to support cooperative leaders/managers in building capacity technically and managerially by using OCAT tools
• Train cooperative managers/leaders in inventory for agricultural input issue, market linkage, loan management (disbursals and repayments), financial management, record keeping, legal requirements on registration and licensing.
• Organizes and coordinates capacity building trainings and workshop for beneficiaries, consortium partners, CBOs, private sectors on the improved agronomic and livestock practices and support.
• Facilitate development of Organizational and Managerial Capacity Assessment
• Organize periodical assessment of cooperatives  organizational and managerial capacities using the developed OCAT tool
• Analyse the results of the assessment and prepare tailor made capacity building plans
• Ensure implementation of these capacity building plans in close collaboration with the relevant stakeholders

Contribute to project management and reporting

• Participate in assessment, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of the project activities with other woreda experts and project staff.
• Prepare and develop status reports as required by management.
• Ensure proper recording and documentation of best practices and success stories
• Ensure that the project implemented according to work-plan and BER framework.
• Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact with rural communities.

Play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Project team

• Identify and explore opportunities to improve project implementation and guarantee it’s sustainability
• Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples in-country and internationally, to ensure ongoing organizational and personal development and learning;
• Identify and explore opportunities to grow and expand the country project pipeline, both in relation to the current project (e.g., potential scale-up opportunities, replication in other geographies/regions) or related to new project opportunities
• Pro-actively share information with other project and BER consortium partner  staff members to support Farm Africa’s aims
• Participate in broader Farm Africa meetings with other project staff members, as requested by line manager.

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

DURATION & HOURS: Five years with probation period of 45 days

Job Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education, Qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• BSc in Agriculture, Rural Development, Business Management or Economics
• Knowledge of Agriculture Sector commercial and economic policy
• Knowledge of  gender and social inclusiveness

Experience

Essential

• Four years’ work experience in rural development or similar organizations
• Experience in the areas of business planning & assessment, small business group development, knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness and organizational capacity building of private sector and community based institutions
• Experience of project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working in the area of value chain and economic strengthening of rural community

Desirable

• Previous NGO work experience in rural development
• Previous private sector agriculture work.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Very good English language skills (written and spoken
• Computer literacy, excellent record keeping and report writing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach
• Budget and financial management, training need assessment and training facilitation
• Willingness to reside in rural/marginal areas, ability to work with minimum supervision
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa
• Good community level facilitation and coordination skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of local language is advantageous

OUR VALUES

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.

BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

How to Apply

Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 3 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing [email protected] with the subject Marketing/Cooperative Expert (Woreda Level) for SHARE II BER by         June 23, 2019.

Documents cannot be returned and due to large number of applications, only short listed candidates will be contacted. Applications are especially welcomed from female applicants.