Advisor to the state minister: Food System Crop Development Full Time

Position: Advisor to the state minister: Food System Crop Development

Term of Employment: One year with the possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa, Secondment to MoA

Required Number: One

Background:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions.

The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.

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 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.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Chief Executive Officer has the following objectives

• Provide strategic leadership for the development of national crop development strategies, plan and overseas its implementation.
• Facilitate and coordinate the implementation of programs, initiatives, projects designed to enhance crop production and productivity across the different agro-ecologies of the country.
• Explore best practices and knowledge improving crop productivity locally and abroad and promote and partner with relevant actors to showcase and scale up to the wider farming communities.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Outcome 1: Coordination and Leadership

• Leads, coordinates, and provides strategic direction for the preparation of short-, medium-, and long-term crop development strategies and plans in alignment with the Ministry’s strategic plan.
• Oversees implementation as well as the activities of desks under his/her supervision.
• Directs and supervises the activities and assignments of the desks; leads the design and implementation of programs and projects for various crops; and ensures the expansion of irrigated crop development across all suitable agro-ecologies.

Outcome 2: Linkage and coordination

• Leads and supervises seed multiplication activities; strengthens coordination and linkages among sector stakeholders to achieve national objectives by ensuring access to high-quality and sufficient seed for growers.
• Leads and supports the design and implementation of national initiatives and programs aimed at substituting the importation of crops and their products.

Outcome 3: Promotion of Agricultural initiatives

• Promotes the use of agricultural mechanization; facilitates and leads collaborative efforts; and provides direction for studies that support crop development and growth.
• Identifies major challenges related to crop production and productivity; collaborates with research systems in setting research agendas; and ensures that studies and programs aimed at improving crop production and productivity are conducted and that resulting technologies are made accessible to growers.
• Establishes operational systems to work effectively with regional bodies, research institutions, extension services, private sector actors, and development partners in relation to crop production.
• Leads and establishes systems to ensure the generation and dissemination of climate-informed crop production advisories and seasonal production forecasts for both the Meher and Belg seasons.

Outcome 4: Capacity Building

• Establishes systems to identify demanded varieties by farmers and agro-pastoralists and ensures the multiplication of quality and sufficient seed of these varieties through the engagement of both public and private seed producers.
• Leads and coordinates capacity-building training programs on policies, roadmaps, legal frameworks, strategies, programs, guidelines, manuals, and packages at all levels.
• Coordinates the preparation of training modules, manuals, packages, brochures, and related materials; and ensures their effective delivery to end users through training centers.
• Promotes training on digital agriculture technologies and models for both experts and end users.

Outcome 5: Performance Review, coordination

• Plans and coordinates monitoring and evaluation activities; reviews performance; conducts supervision; and provides feedback and reports to the state minister.
• Facilitates stakeholder consultations to assess the outcomes and challenges of crop development strategies and programs.

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, training, and experience:

• Minimum Master or PhD in Plant Science, Crop Production, or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience for Master’s degree holders, or 6 years for PhD holders, in crop development, of which at least 6 years must be in leadership and managerial roles. Proven leadership and management experience in agricultural projects or programs is required. He or she must demonstrate strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong set of personal values, including integrity, honesty, and desire to be of service.
• Ability and willingness to shoulder responsibilities under hectic conditions (in terms of overlapping assignments that may happen occasionally).
• High sense of responsiveness and ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability, and results.
• Experience in working with multi-cultural teams preferred.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills, including experience in producing policy reports and presenting to high-level audiences.
• S/he must possess deep familiarity and understanding of the Ethiopian agriculture and the livestock systems.
• Excellent understanding on relevant major macro-economic and micro-economic policy reforms related to the agricultural sector and make maximum efforts for its implementation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional-level and federal-level institutions; coordinating multi-stakeholder processes, extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders.

Safeguarding Requirements:

The (position holder, specify) must comply with ATI’s Safeguarding Policy and related procedures, promoting a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment and implementing all program/project, activities responsibly to avoid harm to people, communities, and the environment.

Responsibilities

• Promote a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for colleagues, participants, and marginalized groups.
• Remain vigilant to potential risks of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or harm to people, marginalized groups, and the environment.
• Promptly report safeguarding and /or environmental concerns through established channels
• Cooperate fully with safeguarding and environmental investigations

Ethical Standards

• Uphold professional and ethical behaviour in all (program/project, specify) activities
• Treat colleagues, participants, and stakeholders with respect and dignity
• Maintain confidentiality and share information only on a need-to-know basis.

Compliance Requirements

• Comply with ATI’s Safeguarding Policy, other procedures, and codes of conduct
• Participate in mandatory safeguarding inductions, refresher trainings, and capacity-building sessions
• Implement all (program/project, specify) activities responsibly, ensuring no harm to people, communities, or the natural environment.