Project Officer for ECOTRADE project Full Time

Mission description

This EU-funded project focuses on supporting the advancing and implementation of the AfCFTA in Ethiopia with a focus on a private-led value chain development approach to increasing intra-African trade, promoting greater economic integration, sustainable growth, and creating jobs.

The five specific objectives of the project are:

• Specific Objective 1: The private sector is actively engaged alongside the government to support the AfCFTA’s successful implementation
• Specific Objective 2: Regional value chains are integrated, and trade/transport connectivity is facilitated with a focus on increasing women’s participation in commercial and logistics processes;
• Specific Objective 3: Relevant authorities in the implementation of the AfFTA are supported;
• Specific Objective 4: Academic institutions and research institutions are supported;
• Specific Objective 5: Strenghtening Ethiopia’s capacity to implement the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP)

The project team will be based in Expertise France’s offices in Addis Ababa, ensuring proximity to stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The Project Officer will play a key role in providing technical assistance and overseeing the implementation of project activities. Additionally, the Project Officer will support the project’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) functions to track progress and ensure quality delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader, the Project Officer will conduct the following activities in strict compliance with Expertise France procedures:

1. Technical Assistance and Activity Implementation

• Provide technical support in prioritizing project activities and the alignment of all activities with project goals to enhance program delivery and coverage
• Assist in the day-to-day coordination of project activities across outputs and stakeholders.
• Draft concept notes aligned with the project’s strategic objectives
• Prepare Terms of Reference (ToRs) in collaboration with project partners and support the recruitment of experts for activity implementation
• Provide logistical, monitoring, and oversight support to experts to ensure effective delivert of project outputs.
• Conduct quality control of project deliverables and ensure adherence to agreed implementation plans.
• Contribute to updating work plans (including procurement plans), project tools and methodologies

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Support

• Collect and acontribute to data analysis on activity implementation to strengthen project monitoring and evaluation.
• Support in the review of data against performance indicators to assess project success and impact.
• Collaborate with all team members to integrate M&E functions across all aspects of the project.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise and follow-up (facilitate communication) with relevant stakeholders
• Support stakeholders with operational support during events

4. Cross-Cutting Support

• Support the project team in the efficient utilisation of all essential project tools (example Wimi, Magellan) to enhance project delivert
• Actively lead on the project’s internal coordination (team meetings, planning, etc.)
• Liaise with the Country Office Support Unit on all logistics, procurement and other related matters
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned

Project or context description

With approximately 132 million inhabitants and a population that continues to grow rapidly (+2.5% per year), Ethiopia is expected to reach 150 million people by 2050 (World Bank projections, 2022) and remain Africa’s second most populous country. Its economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, with an estimated 8.1% growth rate in 2023/24 (World Bank Data).

Ethiopia is at a pivotal moment in its economic development, with its recent launch of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, providing a transformative opportunity for regional integration and growth. The country faces significant challenges, including structural weaknesses in its state-led growth model, high trade costs, and limited private sector engagement. These factors hinder Ethiopia’s ability to integrate into regional and global value chains, especially in the production and trade of value-added goods.

The AfCFTA aims to address these barriers by promoting intra-African trade, supporting regional economic integration, and fostering sustainable growth. For Ethiopia, the agreement is an opportunity to enhance its export base, engage its private sector, and create jobs, particularly for women and youth. This project aligns with Ethiopia’s national priorities under its Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda (HGER) and its Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree (Master’s preferred) in Economics, Development, Project Management or a related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook is required.
• Strong organizational skills, flexibility, and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to communicate diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, writing, and summarization abilities
• Language: Fluency in English and Amharic, French is an asset

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience working on externally funded projects
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation is an asset
• Experience with an international development partner is a plus
• Experience working with Ethiopian Ministries is an asset
• Previous work experience in the Horn of Africa is an asset
• Specific experience working with Expertise France is strongly desired

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

• Employment contract under local law, via a third-party employer company
• Duration of the contract: Fixed-term contract of one year renewable depending on the performance evaluation and available budget
• Job location: Addis Ababa
• Start date: January 2026