Project Officer II: Farmer Profiling Full Time NEW

Project and Position Summary

The Ethiopian Digital Agriculture Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) 2030 Roadmap envisions a productive, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food system in Ethiopia through the collaborative delivery of customized digital services to all farmers. As part of this roadmap, the Farmer Profiling Project aims to address major challenges in farmer data, including limitations with reusable datasets, poor data quality, gaps in data sharing, and limited options for integrated data access points. The priority of the initiative involves creating a comprehensive database of 1 million farmer profiles over three years. The success of this initiative is crucial for delivering quality farmer-facing digital services including digital extension and advisory services, facilitating a more efficient and effective agri-food system in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is seeking to hire a Senior Project Officer for its Farmer Profiling Project. The Project Officer will be part of a team responsible for the creation and management of a comprehensive farmer profile database. This includes data cleaning by leveraging existing databases and conducting a new farmer registry. The Senior Project Officer supports the Farmer Profile Team Lead, contributing to both managerial and technical aspects, including planning, implementing, and reporting processes, managing stakeholders, participating in system design and development, and overseeing the overall project management. This role demands an individual with experience in leadership and project delivery, demonstrating a strong focus on urgency and ownership in their work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Project Officer will be expected to coordinate and support in the implementation of the farmer profile pilot and unique ID initiatives through effective data collection, analysis, problem-solving, document preparation, reporting, stakeholder management, and delivering regular support to data collectors and digital agriculture team. He/she will also oversee the introduction of various tools that might be utilized for upskilling and supporting smallholder farmers (SHFs) and development agents (DAs) in his/her respective region. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1.Supporting the project team on the Farmer Profiles initiative pilot and related activities, ensuring on-time completion of deliverables. Including:

• Assist project team in planning, implementation, and execution of activities.
• Ensure effective operational planning of interventions and activities, budgeting, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure effective day-to-day management and execution of relevant activities within the scope of the Farmer profiling pilot project.
• Follow up and facilitate ground-level project implementation and support.
• Coordinate implementation of data cleaning and consolidation activities working closely with data enumerators and statisticians.
• Execute data collection, analysis, and problem-solving swiftly.
• Produce high-quality written materials and reports as required.
• Review project progress and develop and monitor actions to ensure timely and effective delivery of project outcomes.
• Assist implementation and provide support in resolving strategic and operational problems that arise throughout the project lifetime.
• Support the development of communication plans for the project; monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the outreach plan and adjust as required to ensure its success.
• Organize and conduct workshops, training sessions, and meetings with regional stakeholders to provide project updates, address challenges, and resolve issues.
• Train data enumerators, experts from the Bureau of Agriculture and other relevant bureaus and offices on proper data collection techniques and systems.
• Manage the engagement of key regional stakeholders in monitoring, follow-up, and promotional activities, ensuring their active participation in project success.
• Provide remote and in-person technical support to data enumerators on Open Data Kit (ODK) or other data collection tools operations. Ensure that data enumerators have the necessary tools, such as voice/data packages and other ICT services, for efficient operations.
• Provide problem-solving support during system enhancements, aligning regional needs and providing necessary support to achieve the desired outcomes.

2.Assist Project team in managing and coordinating stakeholders, maintaining relationships, and leveraging existing farmer registry initiatives. Including:

• Engaging a wide range of key project stakeholders, including donors & implementation partners
• Develop communication content tailored to various stakeholders, including farmers, DAs, implementation partners & donors.
• Assist in leveraging existing initiatives with farmer profiles, RBoAs, hired consultants, and other regional and partners to jointly support the implementation of the project, as required by the project.
• He/she will also coordinate and verify the registration of the National ID and land information systems within the region.

3.Support the prioritization of pilot locations and the identification/prioritizing of various agricultural use cases.

• Coordinate in the selection of pilot areas and conducting top-down data collection, validation, and analysis.
• Conduct data analysis to understand the viability of opportunities in the local context.
• Produce briefing materials on new solutions and initiatives within the farmer profiling project.
• Coordinate in the prioritization of bottom-up data contributors, defining partnerships, and managing data collection in the region.
• End-to-end management and organization of quality and effective digital skill development trainings and workshops including the launching and facilitating of trainings.
• Report performance and brief progress updates about his/her duties to the immediate supervisor/director regularly.

Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience

• Master’s degree in project management, statistics, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Management, or related fields, with relevant experience in project management preferably in the agricultural sector.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in project management and implementation with master’s degree, specifically implementing digital tools with regional organizations, government, private sectors, NGOs, and other similar organizations
• Proven ability to influence and work collaboratively with a diverse set of partners, including government organizations, NGOs, donor organizations, and private players.
• Ability to effectively manage relationships with farmers and understand their needs.
• Relevant experience within the agricultural sector, preferably in the development of use cases for innovative solutions
• Experience in communication content creation for various forms of engagement including print & digital content.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make strategic decisions based on data. Experience in designing and implementing data systems is desirable.
• Experience in implementing digital platforms in rural communities and knowledge of digital agriculture initiatives would be a plus.
• Working knowledge of the agriculture value chain and associated technologies.
• Fluency in English and Amharic. Knowledge of local languages is mandatory.
• Willingness and experience in traveling to different parts of the country.
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Self-driven individual with the ability to drive work with minimal supervision; demonstrated track record of organization, multi-tasking, and time management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability, monitoring, and results measurement.