Project Officer II -Cluster Coordinator Full Time NEW

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position: Project Officer II -Cluster Coordinator

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): East Gojjam- Debre Markos

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: December 31,2025

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 centered 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 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 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 Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) Coordinator will drive day-to-day coordination of implementation activities in the ACC by public, private, and development sector stakeholders, as agreed in the ACC target-setting and operational-planning process. Specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinate planning within the ACC, including strategic as well as joint operational planning with other ongoing activities,
• Ensure strong program management within the ACC through driving day to day coordination of interventions and reporting, verifying status and progress of interventions, proactively identifying issues and solution options, working with stakeholders to ensure effectively joint problem-solving,
• Escalate issues and needs to Regional levels where appropriate, including support around coordination, resources, capacity-building, policy and other systemic interventions
• Ensure upward reporting meets needs for Regional and National stakeholders
• Coordinate planning (including preparation and circulation of meeting agendas, presentation decks, and cluster reports) and facilitating of cluster commodity value chain alliance meetings and other activities within the cluster, follow ups
• Mobilize Farmer Production clusters to transit to FPACs
• Enhance the implementation of Farmer production and Agribusiness Companies ( FPACs)
• Record and document cluster level basic data bases including cropping system and all agricultural data and information
• Mainstream use of planning, program management and reporting processes and tools developed by the National and Regional ACC Teams within the ACC Support Team and by other local stakeholders, to ensure effective decision-making

The ideal candidate will therefore possess strong senior public and private stakeholder relationships in the ACC, with a strong understanding of identifying and problem-solving challenges to agricultural value chain development, as well as best practice program and project management approaches and monitoring and evaluation activities. He / she will also have in-depth experience and knowledge of previous agricultural commercialization, agri-business / agro-industry, or industrial cluster or corridor initiatives in Ethiopia and Africa. Market based programming experience with a particular focus with smallholder farmers will be an added value as well. Finally, the candidate will demonstrate a passion for improving the lives of smallholder farmers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Coordinate effective planning and management of interventions within the ACC, including joint planning and ongoing alignment with other ongoing programs and initiatives (local, Regional and Federal)
• Enhance the capacity of Farmer production clusters (FPCs) to transit to Farmer production and Agribusiness companies ( FPACs).
• Coordinate effective implementation of Farmers production and Agribusiness Companies ( FPACs) in the area
• Drive day-to-day stakeholder coordination and problem-solving of issues at the ACC level
• Ensure regular communication, and performance and financial reporting, with the Regional ACC program manager, key local public, private and development partner stakeholders
• Effectively escalate issues which cannot be addressed at the ACC level to the Regional ACC Senior Director for resolution

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, trainings and experience:

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Economics or other relevant fields
• At least 4 years of professional experience supporting planning and implementation of value chain development and upgrading activities, preferably including project management of large-scale agro-processing and agribusiness focused initiatives
• In-depth knowledge of the region`s agriculture and rural development, in particular:
  • Ethiopian policies and strategies
  • Agricultural Commercialization cluster and corridor implementation initiatives in Ethiopia or abroad
  • Market-led value chain development and upgrading
• Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional level and federal level institutions; extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant senior public and private stakeholders
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with highly collaborative working style
• Experience in working within multi-cultural teams preferred
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Fluency in English and Amharic languages and Working Languages of the respective regions is required;
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability and results