Senior Project Officer II – Crop Value Chain, FPACs Full Time NEW

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE

Position: Senior Project Officer II – Crop Value Chain, FPACs

Employment: One year with the possibility of extension

Duty Station: Hawasssa, Center office and Durame ,Central Ethiopia

Required Number: Hawassa (1) and Durame (1)

Application Deadline: February 19/2026

Please Note: WE WILL ONLY CONSIDER APPLICATIONS THAT CLEARLY INDICATE THE SPECIFIC DUTY STATION THE APPLICANT IS APPLYING FOR.

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 centred 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 to 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 Senior Project Officer II, Crop Value Chain Development, will provide analytical and technical support in crop production and agribusiness to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains. Key responsibilities include capacity building for all implementing partners and stakeholders, including farmers, to increase production and productivity. A central objective is to ensure commercialization by strengthening farmer production and agribusiness companies, and clusters.

The SPO II will play a key role in planning, implementing, monitoring, and coordinating grain and horticulture production and processing activities under the Grain/Horticulture Farmer Production and Agribusiness Company (FPAC) project. The officer must possess strong technical expertise in cropping systems agronomy, post-harvest management, agro-processing, value addition, and marketing. This position reports to the Regional ACC Director and work closely with regional team.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Outcome 1: Ensure Effective FPC/FPAC grain Project Management

• Support the establishment of new Farmer Production Clusters (FPCs) for new commodities and strengthen existing ones to implement full production packages, thereby increasing production and productivity.
• Support and follow up on the implementation of demonstrations for new technologies and improved practices.
• Collect and analyze data, interpreting the results to guide the diffusion and adoption of technologies.
• Lead and support the establishment of Farmer Production and Agribusiness Companies (FPACs) by providing expertise and management support to regional teams and stakeholders at the regional, zonal, and woreda levels.
• Monitor and ensure targeted support is provided to FPACs in production, aggregation, post-harvest management, processing, and value addition to accelerate their formation and operational success.
• Conduct operational planning, budgeting, reporting, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning for FPACs/FPC interventions within priority crop value chains to enhance smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.
• Facilitate the input supply system to ensure the timely delivery of needs-based inputs according to full-package recommendations.
• Support FPACs/FPCs in improving mechanization access, crop production and protection, soil health and fertility management, and post-harvest handling, in collaboration with the regional bureau.
• Collaborate with other teams to resolve FPC legalization issues, enabling their step-by-step progression into full production companies
• Foster the introduction and adoption of new technologies and farming systems, including Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), and facilitate participatory planning for production and marketing.
• Identify systemic and operational issues affecting the priority crop value chains from the regional to cluster levels.
• Support smallholder farmers in implementing the Full Package and provide extension advisory services via digital platforms, in collaboration with the digital team.
• Lead and organize regular FPC assessments to facilitate their transition into Farmer Production and Agribusiness Companies (FPACs).
• Play an active role in regional annual planning, crop package revision, and other activities aimed at enhancing crop production and productivity.
• Ensure Cross-Cutting Issues specifically Gender, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), and nutrition-sensitive agriculture are effectively mainstreamed throughout the project.
• Support the Regional ACC Director in the day-to-day management of stakeholders and programs related to crop value chain development and other areas as required in the assigned region.
• Facilitate periodic experience-sharing and learning sessions on ACC/FPAC activities and results for representatives from producer organizations, value chain actors, and other relevant stakeholders and partners.
• In collaboration with the Private Sector team, develop standardized technical training manuals, model FPAC governance structures, and guidelines for technology utilization and demonstrations in ACC/FPAC woredas.

Outcome 2: Ensure Effective Linkage, Coordination, and stakeholder management

• Organize alignment meetings with key regional stakeholders, field visits, workshops, field days, and cluster performance evaluation sessions.
• Support the establishment and strengthening of a value chain platform that involves relevant actors to promote an integrated and inclusive model, in collaboration with the agribusiness team.
• Foster backward and forward market linkages between value chain actors and strengthen private sector involvement.
• Collaborate with other regional project teams, and center teams, to ensure focused support for FPACs/ACCs.
• Support effective cross sector and public private stakeholder coordination and problem-solving at the regional level.
• Conduct capacity building activities, provide technical backstopping, and perform implementation follow-up.
• Facilitate and provide Training of Trainers (ToT) for regional, zonal, and woreda experts on FPAC/FPC principles, full crop packages, crop protection, and new technologies (including CSA) to ensure effective execution of the Cluster Development Project.
• Conduct awareness creation and provide guidance on FPAC/FPC interventions and governance for all implementers, including regional, zonal, and woreda experts, development agents, and farmers.
• Assess capacity gaps from zone to kebele levels and deliver targeted training and technical backstopping.
• Work closely with the Regional Bureau of Agriculture (RBoA) and other partners to strengthen Farmer Production and Agribusiness Companies (FPCs).
• Monitor and evaluate FPAC/FPC progress across the entire priority crop value chain, from inputs and production to aggregation and marketing.
• Ensure alignment of FPAC plans, coordinate stakeholders to address critical value chain issues, and monitor action items in collaboration with the agribusiness team.
• Collect, compile, and submit high-standard data, and prepare regular performance reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) for the ACC Director.
• Ensure effective internal and external communication by providing timely project updates to staff and fostering cooperation within and outside the team.

Outcome 3: Ensure Effective Communication and cooperation within and outside the team

• Prepare and submit high standard aggregated weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, annual and on demand based performance reports to ACC Director.
• Collect, compile, and submit high standard data and information from different stakeholders and partners which is important for FPAC/ACC project implementation and result.
• Cooperate with other ATI teams to Achieve the ATI organizational Goal and Objectives
• Ensure alignment on the plan for the FPACs, cluster, effective coordination of relevant stakeholders to address critical issues along the value chain, and monitor progress on agreed actions owned by VCA members (in collaboration with Regional Team Private Sector team at the center)
• Provide timely and updated information related to his/her project to regional staffs to ensure smooth internal communication and transparency.
• Work closely with the RBoAs and other responsible partners to strengthen Farmers Production and Agribusiness Companies and FPCs.
• Ensure effective and timely reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and learning on FPAC and FPCs interventions in the priority crop value chains to drive impact on small farm holders.

Required Qualification, Experience and Competencies

• Minimum master’s degree in Plant science, crop Science, agronomy, plant breeding, seed technology, Crop Value Chain development, Plant protection and other relevant fields.
• At least 8 years professional experience directly related areas of Agricultural Value chain development.
• Experience in a senior program management role in government, non-government, or private sector. Practical experience in crop production post-harvest, processing/value addition and linking farmers’ groups with potential markets.

Behavioral competencies:

• Result oriented – Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities
• Collaborative and team building – Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style; Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people
• Energetic and passionate in transforming livestock commercialization -–
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results
• Problem-solving – Practical experience in testing and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level; Excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging work environment
• Act with Integrity – Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service
• Networking – Creating a network in his /her functions with all actors in the program and beyond
• Time management – Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities

Technical competencies:

• Planning, implementing, and monitoring: Planning, implementation and monitoring of Livestock Commercialization Program tasks and efficient resource management.
• Knowledge and experience on Value Chain Management: Market-led value chain development and value chain principles, analysis, upgrading chains, with strong skills in supporting commercialization.
• Agricultural system – Understanding of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system
• Agribusiness development & Management – Practical experience in business planning, linkages between producers and markets and working across crop value chains in Ethiopia;
• Project Management Cycle – Experience with project design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation
• Data management and analyses – Good data management and analytical skills

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Competent in utilizing essential computer applications.
• Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic language for the position at Hawassa
• Proficiency in other languages in working region is an asset