Senior Project Officer II – Agribusiness and Markets Full Time NEW

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position: Senior Project Officer II – Agribusiness and Markets

Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s): Jigjiga, Ethiopia

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: October 23, 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 Regional Agribusiness, Marketing SPO II is responsible is responsible for coordinating and implementation of market related interventions in the HDP project. S/he will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating of all activities connected to entrepreneur development and marketing activities of the project as well as providing advice and consultation on all business skill and marketing management activities throughout all HDP program in the region. Also, he/she is responsible for compiling, analyzing, reporting and assume potential risks for effective project implementation. The job holder will report directly to the regional team lead and Director.

The HDP Nexus project, is a framework that integrates humanitarian, developmental, and peacebuilding efforts to address crises efficiently and effectively. It aims to support development and ensure self-sufficiency by combining market-driven approaches with a holistic perspective. The project focuses on addressing the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees by creating a working relationship with the host community. The main aim of the HDP is to achieve self-sufficiency by supporting production, improving agricultural practices, increasing yields, and accessing better markets. By combining the market-driven approach of ACC with the holistic approach of HDP, the recovery and self-reliance rate of crisis-affected populations can be expedited.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Outcome 1: Work on facilitation, coordination, and management of value chain forums/multistakeholder meetings; market linkage forums/ business to business/B2B meetings; and contract market agreements to meet the agri-business needs (25%).

• • Identify main actors (smallholder and commercial producer agro-pastoralists, private and cooperative aggregators, processing plants, buyer institutions) and service providers (government offices, NGOs, financial institutions, etc) as main attendants for prospected platforms across VC of the prioritized commodities.
• • Develop agendas with consultation of main and service provider stakeholders
• • Ensure effective operational planning of interventions and activities, budgeting, reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• • Facilitate, coordinate, and manage periodic VCA, B2B and marketing meetings/forums
• • Ensure execution of contract farming and contract market linkages between agro-pastoralists and institutional/individual buyers
• • Support market structure and/or facilities investment works for timely completion
• • Work closely with implementing partners and build their capacity in value chains and market systems development related interventions.
• • Ensure CCI (Gender, CSA, and Nutrition) properly mainstreamed in the project interventions
• • Experience in emergence support and rehabilitation, reinstating affected agro- pastoralists would be a strong asset
• • Facilitate inclusive and sustainable linkages between agricultural input businessmen, input suppliers, and value chain actors, driving systemic change to ensure the scalability and long-term viability of agricultural input supply systems in the region.
• • Propose and implement innovative market-based solutions and business models for economic engagement for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, fostering self-reliance and contributing to sustainable development.
• • Establish and strengthen networks between MSEs and major input suppliers by promoting market linkages and cultivating long-term, sustainable business relationships to support enterprise growth and income generation.

Outcome 2: Stakeholder engagement (15%).

• • Work with regional implementation partners to resolve strategic and operational issues on agribusiness, market, and agro-processing that arise throughout the project’s lifetime
• • Liaison bureaux in the preparation of annual HDP project marketing plan and for an efficient marketing implementation.
• • Provide technical support on the development and revision of tools applicable for FPCs/ACC marketing.
• • Support the establishment and strengthening of a Value Chain platform which involves value chain actors and promote an integrated and inclusive model of the value chain (in collaboration with crop, horticulture, livestock and other project teams).
• • Support for the establishment and operationalization of guidelines for VC and market linkage guidance to have smooth relationships among actors and smooth flow of produces across the VC in each prioritized commodities.
• • Foster backward and forward market linkages between value chain actors and strengthen private sector involvement in the value chain.
• • Provide content direction and input to other members of the ACC and other project teams.
• • Support effective cross-sector and public-private stakeholders’ coordination and problem-solving issues in all input and credit administration, production and marketing components of VCs of the prioritized commodities in the region.
• • Proven record in smoothly working with multiple community leaders, IDPs/Refugees, stakeholders, Humanitarian Organizations and Donor Partners
• • Good experience in facilitating stakeholder forums, business and market linkages, working with sectoral associations, and strengthening of MSEs and private traders.
• • Experience in providing business development service support and mentoring of agri-SMEs

Outcome 3: Conduct assessments, developing, and leading the implementation of solutions to solve technical and operational challenges (20%).

• • Introduce new technologies and participatory planning of marketing activities, improved market information and targeted business development services
• • Identify concrete commercial opportunities and conduct market analysis for priority commodity value chain
• • Collaborate with the regional relevant teams to map and develop market linkages
• • Evaluate investment needs to upgrade production and processing, accessing output finance, improving marketing practices, upgrading aggregation and agro processing.
• • Provide problem solving support during the redesign and/or enhancement HDP Project
• • Conduct assessment of limiting factors across the value chain and propose mitigation measures.
• • Identify potential risks that could affect the overall performance of the project and develop mitigation measures for resolutions.

Outcome 4: Conduct capacity building activities and follow up support to ensure the creation of human capital capable of executing the HDP Project activities at the region (15%).

• • Provide guidance to Woreda experts and DAs and implementation partners in the implementation of marketing and value chain intervention activities
• • Identify business skill gaps of main actor and service provider stakeholders in each VC of prioritized commodities
• • Conduct awareness creation on contract farming and contract marketing for key implementors
• • Facilitate and provide ToT training for stakeholders (concepts, principles, analyses, guidance, upgrading and financing) and on agri-businesses (commercialization, effective aggregation, value addition, quality assurance/effective product management and output placement) to effectively execute the HDP Project.
• • Facilitate and provide special training on export marketing for export commodities.
• • Strengthen business relations capacity of FPCs with potential buyers.
• • Identify systemic and operational issues affecting the market linkage and value chain implementation and provide systematic intervention support
• • Provide technical support to model FPC member agro-pastoralists for the preparation of their business plans and facilitation of linkages with potential buyers

Outcome 5: Documentation of efficient methodologies & tools, and development of a network of partners and service providers (15%)

• • Document minutes, meeting agendas and pictures for each VCA meetings and contract agreements
• • Compile experiences of each meeting and agreement events to main stakeholders as lesson learnt.
• • Make the learnings publicly available through different communication outlets
• • Develop an interactive website/App for Agribusiness for knowledge and best practices sharing
• • Develop network with partner and service providers for project efficacy and efficiency

Outcome 6: Responsible for compiling and submitting data and reports to ensure alignment on project implementation and identify potential risks that could affect the overall performance of the project (10%).

• Prepare standard VC meetings and market linkage forums minutes and periodic (weekly, monthly and quarterly) reporting templates aligned with regional and HO demands for both regional and upward reports.

• Ensure alignment on the plan, effective coordination of relevant stakeholders to address critical issues along the value chain and monitor progresses on agreed actions.

• Prepare and submit high standard aggregated biweekly, quarterly, annual and on demand performance reports to regional team lead and Director.

• The job holder is responsible also for additional interventions assigned by his/her immediate supervisor

Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience

• • Minimum MA/MSc Agribusiness, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural economics, Development Economics, Business Management, cooperative marketing, and other relevant fields
• • At least 8 years of experience directly related to agricultural marketing and promotion, private sector engagement, or related fields. Previous experience in humanitarian and development peace nexus activities is advantageous.

Behavioral Competencies

• Result-Oriented: Focus on VCA development and marketing tasks.
• Teamwork: Believes in teamwork and organizes regional team needs.
• Passion for Rural Development: Strong passion for working with IDPs/Refugees and host communities.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligns with stakeholders’ visions.
• Networking: Builds networks with actors in humanitarian, peace, and development sectors.
• Communication: Conversant in regional languages; strong oral, written, and collaborative communication.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills.
• Adaptability: Understands stakeholder vision and scans domestic and international market systems.
• Decision-Making: Identifies key problems, makes timely decisions, takes calculated risks, and accepts responsibility.
• Confidentiality: Keeps organizational information secure and confidential.
• Personal Values: Strong integrity, honesty, and service mindset.

Technical Competencies

• Agribusiness: Applies best practices in product aggregation, value addition, and marketing.
• Planning & Monitoring: Plans, implements, and monitors HDP and ACC project tasks.
• Stakeholder Management: Understands institutions; facilitates dialogue; strong stakeholder communication and management across sectors.
• Value Chain Management: Experienced in market-led value chain development, analysis, guidance, and upgrading.
• Agricultural Marketing: Skilled in contract farming, market linkage, value addition, and agribusiness development.
• Professional Skills: Works with minimal supervision; strong organization, multitasking, and time management in multicultural settings.
• Resource Management: Identifies and manages resources efficiently.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS (LANGUAGES, LICENSING OR CERTIFICATIONS)

• Competent in utilizing essential computer applications.

• Proficiency in oral and written English, Somali and Amharic languages

• Having a certificate in project management is an added advantage