Farm Africa is an international NGO founded in 1985, with a vision to see a prosperous rural Africa. We are a specialist development NGO working with smallholder farmers and forest communities, local governments and the private sector in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. We are technical experts in the fields of agronomy, livestock, natural resource management and market engagement. With community engagement underpinning our approach, we design and implement sustainable solutions to rural poverty based on evidence and best practice.
Background:
FARM Africa Ethiopia has recently been awarded a grant from Sida to implement a program entitled “Growth for the Future (G4F): Harnessing small-holder productivity, adapting to climate change and protecting environments”. The G4F program is a four year program which consists four projects operating in Amhara, SNNPR, Bensihangul, Oromia and Tigray regions. Among the four projects FARM Africa in collaboration with ORDA and Mercy Corps is planning to implement a project entitled ‘Growth for the Future: Enhancing Market Systems for Improved Sustainable Livelihoods in Amhara region. The project will be implemented in South Wollo and Oromia Zones of Amhara region. The overall goal of the project is contribute to food and nutrition security by developing a market system that works for the poor. FARM Africa is looking for a qualified personnel for the Job position of Agri Business Officer/Specialist.
Purpose of the Role:
The Agri Business Officer/Specialist is a technical and managerial post responsible for ensuring high quality implementation of agricultural input related activities of the project and coordinates the consortium on behalf of Farm Africa in the project implementation area. The Agri Business Officer/Specialist will be responsible for delivering and coordinating agricultural input related activities with the team and building the capacity of staff and partners in the implementation agricultural input activities.
The Agri Business Officer//Specialist will work closely with the project field team to and provide relevant capacity building and technical assistance to (i) project partners in implementing project interventions; and (ii) encourage active participation and networking between individuals and communities in recognizing Agricultural input market and marketing system problems, identifying solutions and implementing project activities related to the identified solutions. The post holder will also build capacities of communities and institutions in agricultural input markets and finance.
She/he will work closely with project coordinator, officers and community facilitators of ORDA and mercy corps, community leaders, committees and local government development agents. She/he takes part in community meetings for information gathering, exchange and carries out participatory planning supporting field implementation. She/he is responsible for advice around innovative market and finance based solutions and how to link these to sustainable Agricultural input market system. As part of this she/he will work to ensure the establishment of effective linkage between all relevant partners.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
PROJECT: Growth for the Future: Enhancing Market Systems for Improved Sustainable Livelihoods.
REPORTS TO: G4F Programme Manager (PM)
DURATION & HOURS: One year and five months with probation period of 45 days with possibility of extension
Qualification, Education and Experience:
Skills and Abilities:
Other Skills:
Desirables:
Values:
Farm Africa seeks to employ the one who believe, as we do, that farmers can and will play a key role in achieving long-term rural prosperity in Africa and who seek to deliver on those beliefs by: