Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Senior Project Officer, Private Sector in Agriculture (PSA)
Term of Employment: One year with possible extension
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
Required Number: One
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: September 17, 2017
BACKGROUND
The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and is Secretary to the Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different pillars: Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization and Rural Finance; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation and Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender and Nutrition, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Targeted Livelihood Support, Biodiversity and (temporarily) Planning and MLE; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Support Services, Commercial Farming, Agro-processing & Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; and Enhanced Implementation Capacity which includes ICT, Private Sector, and Organizational and Human Capacity. In addition, the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative is another critical focus area for the Agency. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.
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 team work to achieve excellent results.
At ATA, 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.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Private sector partners are expected to play an increasing role in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. This private sector participation will become even more critical in the years to come, as Ethiopian agriculture strives to move from subsistence based, low-input/low-output farming, to a model that is more market-oriented and integrated into the global food system. To effectively engage private investors and corporations in the Ethiopian agriculture sector, the ATA has recently established a Private Sector Development in Agriculture (PSDA) Program area, whose main aim is to connect smallholder farmers with commercial, market-focused supply chains to increase incomes and improve livelihoods.
The Senior Project Officer (SPO) will be primarily responsible for identifying and implementing Transformation Agenda Deliverables that support investment conversion, and address systemic and structural challenges affecting the conversion of agribusiness investment interests and opportunities into tangible, operationalized investments on the ground. The candidate will also approach, engage and facilitate quality investment flows to the agriculture sector The Senior Project Officer (SPO) is expected to engage early and in a meaningful way with serious investors to understand their interests and concerns, work alongside government and non-government organizations to identify promising opportunities for investment, clarify the nature of these opportunities (for example, expected requirements, financial and social returns), overcome key systemic bottlenecks preventing investment, and help investors navigate the local agriculture sector environment.
This position will officially report to the Director of Private Sector in Agriculture (the Director).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
• Drive the conversion of key investment opportunities by supporting the Director in the direction and management of the program, including:
o Conducting targeted research and analyses around promising agribusiness investment opportunities and provide technical assistance to serious investors on their market orientation and business planning
o Proactively identifying and prospecting local and international agribusiness investors and link them with greenfield investment opportunities or domestic partners for brownfield investments, where relevant
o Establishing an investment monitoring system for converted investments
o Actively attracting quality investors and promoting Ethiopia as investment destination for agriculture related investment opportunities
o Preparing and utilizing investment promotion tactics and tool kits that inform and convince quality investors in agribusiness.
o Disseminating key information on investment opportunities and proactively engage in promotional events and targeting of desirable agricultural investors
o Navigating and supporting investors in their investment journey and ensure they comply with investment requirements and adhere to Responsible Business Conducts
• Identify and address key systemic and structural challenges to increased private sector engagement and investment flows to Ethiopia’s agricultural sector through:
o Identifying, designing and following-up interventions that mitigate the key systemic and structural challenges to increased private agribusiness investment
o Advocating within government to seek necessary approvals or urging the removal of policy obstacles for responsible agricultural investments and support the implementation of priority interventions
o Supporting the streamlining of administrative procedures to reduce the cost of establishing new agribusiness investments in Ethiopia and related transaction costs
o Identifying specific financing gaps and assisting in the development of innovative financing tools and structures to facilitate increased and more targeted investment in Ethiopian agriculture
o Building capacity of investment facilitation agencies/desks using international and regional initiatives aimed at building investment promotion expertise
o Supporting the Director in providing regular reports to the Senior Director of Agribusiness and Markets, and to the CEO on progress, challenges and constraints of the program activities
• Develop and maintain collaboration mechanisms with government and non-government actors at international, Federal and Regional levels by:
o promoting alignment and facilitating investment processes for increased private-sector participation in agribusiness
o establishing and building ongoing relationships and tracking interested investors via the Investor Relationship Management (IRM) tool
o working with agribusiness investors and partners to problem-solve in real-time to overcome key challenges in operationalizing investments
o identifying issues and risks related to investment conversion in a timely manner and suggesting appropriate mitigation measures/ recourse
o exchanging and analyzing relevant agribusiness information that helps to enhance investment flows and/or address issues timely.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Finance, Commerce, Management or other relevant fields
• At least 10 years (for Bachelor’s) or 8 years (for Master’s) of experience in investment facilitation and agribusiness, including experience in corporate finance, stakeholder management and strategy; experience in leadership or managerial roles are preferred
• Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal partners operate within the system
• Deep understanding of the private sector and investor perspectives, as well as ability to ‘speak the language’ of commercial and private sector investors
• Experience in facilitating stakeholder relationships and partnerships
• Strong skills in project management, political acumen, and extensive private sector networks
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability, and results
• Highly facilitative and collaborative style
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and data gathering skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service
• Fluency in English is essential; Fluency in Amharic is highly preferred
• Previous experience in a private-sector consulting firm is an advantage