Agriculture Officer Full Time NEW

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in Eight regional states – Afar, Sidama, Tigray, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Agriculture Specialist, the agriculture officer will be responsible for leading timely and quality implementation of Agriculture (Crop and Vegetable) production activities in HACAP program, which is under operation in Goro Dola, Gumi Eldalo and Liben Woredas of the Oromia Region. She/he will work to ensure program achievement and contribute to enhancing agricultural productivity in the areas including crop and vegetable production.

Position Title: Agriculture Officer

Location: MC Negele Office

Position Status: Full-time

Salary Level: Based on the organization scale

Current Team Member: New

Safeguarding Risk Level: High

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Provided technical facilitation support around responsibilities for agriculture activities in crop and vegetable production and productivity activities to ensure the planned activists are implemented timely and with required deliverable quality.
• Facilitate capacity building efforts for market actors (i.e. private, public) on the MSD approaches, identification of the market system opportunities/constraints through conducting continues system analysis and access to agricultural inputs, support the delivery of market feed/fodder, agricultural inputs through market actors to targeted communities.
• Engage in regular field visits to assess the activities of implementation progress, give technical advice/mentor, and provide feedback(s) for further improvement.
• Closely work with supervisor and M&E team during the development of monitoring
• tools/measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcome in his/her area assigned.
• Ensures the program properly captures, documented, and updated relevant information in crop and vegetable production activities of HACAP.
• In collaboration with project teams, work to build and maintain close relationships with key government partners and local implementers.
• Represent Mercy Corps professionally at zonal and woreda level to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission.
• Compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly); and
• Other duties as assigned.

Team Management:

• Support and liaise with Agriculture Specialist and Livestock officers in managing the agricultural intervention of the HACAP Program.
• Coordinate and work with other HACAP team members, Woreda level stakeholders, and Agricultural experts during the implementation of the program activities.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

• REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Agriculture Specialist
• WORKS WITH: Mainly with Agriculture and Protection teams and other MC Negele Office support staff.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree BSc degree in the areas: General Agriculture, plant science, Crop production, Rural Development, and other related subjects.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in private sector and/or NGOs working focused on MSD (facilitation and providing technical support), agribusiness and/or financial services.
• Good understanding on the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Experiences in supporting privet sector lead business enterprises in pastoral/ agro-pastoral settings, providing business development support, industries (public and private), institutions and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of participatory analyses, actions, and results of processing.
• Experience/exposures to the location/region he/she applied for.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English and speaking the local language is a plus.

Ongoing Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps and themselves.

Merit Based Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek solid backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can collectively become stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where merit based equal employment opportunities are available to all.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.