Senior Project Officer II – Livestock Value Chain Development Full Time NEW

• Term of Employment:  One year with a possibility of extension
• Duty Station(s):    Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz Region
• Required Number:   One
• Application Deadline:     October 8, 2026

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, Systems and capacities of the workforces. The ATI’s focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, internally displaced people (IDPs), recovering people affected by conflict and other across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

The ATI works to transform the agriculture and rural development in Ethiopia by conducting analytical studies in the policy and programmatic areas, piloting innovative agricultural technologies and systems, creating jobs to youth and women along the value chain providing technical implementation support, linking actors along the value-chains and attracting foreign direct investment who can work with cluster farmers, implementing problem based, inclusive and sustainable innovative projects and programs and building capacities of diverse players along the transformation continuum. The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, like MoA and other affiliate Institutions of the Ministry, 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, learning opportunities and resources mobilization. The Institute plays a crucial role primarily in supporting agricultural policy and strategies development to drive transformation of agriculture and rural development; facilitate knowledge exchange, generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based policy formulation and decision-making and pilot innovative projects to be scaled nationwide.

OUR CULTURE

ATI brings together highly competent specialists to address some of the toughest challenges in agriculture and rural development and make transformation a practical reality. We work with clear insight and foresight analysis, measurable goals, making use of the unique strengths of our staff. 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 to agricultural and rural transformation leading to structural changes of the sector. We expand our thinking, strengthen our capabilities, and redefine our roles to cover new settings to the extent possible fitting to national, continental and global dynamics. 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.

The ATI is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, inclusive, and equitable environment for its employees, farmers, partners, and all stakeholders. We maintain zero tolerance for any form of abuse, exploitation, harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, or other harmful conduct. The Institute is dedicated to promoting equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion by ensuring fair and respectful treatment regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics. We expect all employees, consultants, and partners to uphold ATI’s Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and related ethical standards in all interactions with colleagues, farmers, communities, and stakeholders. Successful candidates will be required to demonstrate commitment to these principles and to contribute to a workplace and service environment that protects the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of all individuals.

There are many reasons to join us, but if you are seeking a dynamic and meaningful career whin a community of talented professionals with diverse expertise-collaborating to create real impact-ATI is the right place for you.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Project Officer (SPO) II will provide technical support to Livestock Commodities Commercialization (LCC) project with focus on poultry and apiculture value chain development and agri-business initiatives in Benishangul Gumuz region. S/he will actively involve in the planning, coordination and implementation of livestock commodities commercialization project with focus on poultry and apiculture production, aggregation and processing (value addition), input-output marketing, input and service supply, business development, innovative market oriented extension approaches such as Livestock Farmers Filed School (LFFS), digital livestock extension. The Officer will coach and mentor value chain actors, monitor and evaluate the progress and achievements of prioritized interventions, and provide business advisory services. The Officer will ensure proper implementation of targeted livestock commodities commercialization (LCC) initiatives or interventions according to the plan and timely submission of high-quality report to regional ACC and HQ -Livestock Commodities Commercialization program. The Senior Project Officer II will map relevant stakeholders, identify areas of synergy and work together to develop the sector in the region and beyond.

The Livestock Commercialization Program of the ATI focuses on developing the huge potential of the Ethiopian livestock sector by leveraging the clustering approach of the ACC program which has realized a significant impact on improving production, productivity, and market linkages for prioritized crops. The Livestock Commercialization Program aims to address the significant and worsening undersupply of animal-sourced foods and to achieve improvements in farmers and pastoralists incomes, nutrition security, import substitution and forex availability through market-driven value-chain development approach while ensuring environmental sustainability. To achieve these strategic objectives, the program prioritized poultry (egg and meat) and apiculture (honey and other hive products) for immediate interventions in Benishangul Gumuz region.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Outcome 1: Technical Leadership and project management (60%)

• Provide high level technical/expertise support to the poultry and apiculture value chain activities in the region.
• Ensure effective technical and financial planning (annual, quarter, monthly) for poultry and apiculture commercialization activities of the region.
• Support project management in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets and ensure that the work is delivered in consistent with the project implementation document.
• Coordinate and manage implementation of poultry and apiculture commercialization activities within the context of livestock commercialization program.
• Ensure all prioritized interventions of the poultry and apiculture project are successfully implemented following the respective commodities commercialization clustering approach and provide support to achieve the objective of the project.
• Closely support and work with other ATI project teams on livestock value chain development activities in the region.
• Identify and analyse critical technical issues related to the design and implementation of the project, and recommend solutions.
• Provide capacity development and advisory services to actors and project beneficiaries at different levels in the region.
• Provide technical leadership on the implementation of innovative market-oriented livestock extension approaches such as livestock farmers filed school (LFFS) in the region.
• Provide technical leadership in organizing poultry and apiculture production villages into marketing group and their transformation into more commercialized enterprises.
• Provide high-quality technical support to poultry (meat and egg) and apiculture value chain development through practical demonstrations, introduction of good production practices and technologies, and experience sharing.
• Monitor the progress and evaluate performance of the livestock commodities commercialization project and ensure delivery of high-quality report timely.
• Facilitate regional poultry and apiculture value chain alliance platforms.
• Ensure Cross Cutting Issues (Gender, CSA, and Nutrition) properly mainstreamed in the project interventions.
• Ensure effective communication among value chain actors.
• Undertake any other duties as assigned by the supervisors.

Outcome 2: Ensure effective teamwork and coordination (15%)

• Effectively manage programmatic as well operational component of the program
• Represent livestock commercialization project in various internal and external forums in the region.
• Develop Terms of References (ToR’s), organize logistics and facilitate workshops, trainings, field days and other events on prioritized activities.
• Ensure effective collaboration and teamwork with other ATI project teams in the region.

Outcome 3: Stakeholder engagement (10%)

• · Map poultry and apiculture value chain actors including the private sector and create linkage for effective and efficiency value chain development.
• · Facilitate stakeholder forums, business, and market linkages, and create linkage with sectoral associations.
• · Proactively engage with internal and external partners to identify major bottlenecks and recommend solutions for joint implementation.
• · Liaise with project team lead and Director of the program at HQ for effective and efficient implementation of the project.
• Ensure smooth working relationship with project beneficiaries, the private sectors and other stakeholders.

Outcome 4: Ensure effective communication and Representation (15%)

• Provide effective, timely and regular reporting to the program team lead and director and regional ACC directors on programmatic and operational issues.
• Ensure effective regular communication and reporting with internal and external partners.

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

• Minimum master’s degree in livestock value chain development, livestock production with speciality in poultry and apiculture) and other related discipline
• At least 8 years professional experience directly related to the qualification specified with focus on poultry and apiculture and others related to the position.

Technical competencies:

• · Planning, implementing, and monitoring: Planning, implementation and monitoring of Livestock Commercialization Program tasks and efficient resource management.
• · Knowledge and experience on Value Chain Management: Market-led livestock value chain development and value chain principles, analysis, upgrading chains, with strong skills in supporting commercialization.
• · Agricultural system – Understanding of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system.
• · Agribusiness development & Management – Practical experience in business planning, linkages between producers and markets and working across poultry value chains in Ethiopia.
• · Project Management Cycle – Experience with project design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation.
• · Data management and analyses – good data management and analytical skills
• Delivery of impactful interventions – Practical experience in implementing poultry and apiculture interventions to address systemic bottlenecks.

Other requirements

• Competent in utilizing essential computer applications.
• Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic language