Livestock Value Chain Development Expert, ACC Regional Secretariat - Re-advertised Job at Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) - 2015

Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

 

Position:                              Livestock Value Chain Development Expert, ACC Regional Secretariat  

Term of Employment:   Project-based 1 Year Term with Possible Extension

Duty Station(s):               Oromia Region  (Addis Ababa)

 Required Number:         one

 Salary & Benefits:          Competitive

Application Deadline:   May 10, 2015

 

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development and transformation. The Agency does this through problem-solving, project implementation and support, and coordination and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation.

The National Framework for Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) is being introduced in Ethiopia by the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency, the Synergos Institute, and partners at the Federal and Regional levels, and from the development and private sectors. ACCs apply a geographically-focused approach for rapidly enhancing priority agricultural commodity value chains throughout the country. The implementation of this National Framework will support agricultural sector transformation by enhancing and supporting existing structures to address systemic as well as commodity- and geography-specific bottlenecks across priority commodity value chains. This Framework builds on previous federal and regional efforts for value chain development and advocates for a more focused and market-driven solution with significant coordination between diverse public, private and development sector actors.

To support implementation of this National Framework for ACCs, Regional ACC Secretariats are being established by Regional Governments with the following main responsibilities:

·         Provide effective upward reporting to the Regional President and the Regional ACC Board, chaired by the Regional President and the Head of the Bureau of Agriculture, as well as to the National ACC Coordination and Capacity-building Unit

·         Act as Secretary of the Regional ACC Board, including organizing and supporting Board meetings, following up on actions agreed, and other related responsibilities

·         Support effective stakeholder coordination and problem-solving of issues at the Regional level, including alignment with other national and regional policies, strategies and programs

·         Support effective escalation of issues which cannot be addressed at the Regional level to the National ACC Coordination and Capacity-building Unit for resolution

·         Oversee stakeholder coordination, planning, reporting, problem solving and implementation support activities by ACC Support Teams in clusters across the Region

·         Provide capacity building and training to ACC Support Teams

·         Facilitation of private sector investments by ensuring timely and efficient investment support (e.g. registration, certification) and on-going problem-solving support

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Regional ACC Secretariat will consist of a Secretariat Lead, Program Manager and several additional professional staff, including Livestock Value Chain Development Expert. The Livestock Value Chain Development Expert will report to the Secretariat Lead, provide livestock value chain knowledge and expertise to the Secretariat team and monitor progress and provide technical backstopping on cluster interventions across the entire value chain from input and production to markets at the regional level. The Livestock Value Chain Development Expert will also support the diagnosis, design and implementation of ACC strategies and interventions. As an integral part of the livestock value chain definition, there is a natural flow or sequencing of activities from production to markets, so that, the Livestock Value Chain Development Expert will also engage in coordinating stakeholders along the Value Chain (including those involved in aggregation and market linkage activities). The ideal candidate will therefore possess very strong knowledge and experience of livestock value chains, market linkages and livestock systemic issues. The candidate will also demonstrate a passion for transforming agriculture and improving the lives of small-holder farmers. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

·         Support Regional ACC Secretariat Lead in day-to-day stakeholder and program management in respect to livestock value chain development in the Region, and other areas as required

·         Monitoring of progress on ACC interventions in the priority livestock value chains across the entire value chain from inputs and production to markets

·         Drive the implementation of specific priority ACC interventions in the priority livestock value chains in the Region

·         Build the capacity and ensure coordination among key government, private and other actors in the priority livestock value chains

·         Drive identification, design and coordination of implementation of critical policy and other interventions in the priority livestock value chains to promote market linkages in the clusters

·         Provide content direction and input to other members of the Regional ACC team

·         Facilitate communication and coordination between the different stakeholders of the priority livestock value chains

·         Facilitate in market linkages among producer groups, private sector and public sector

·         Initiate periodic experience sharing and learning sessions, particularly with the representatives of the producer organizations, Value Chain Actors and  of the program intervention

·         Identify systemic and operational issues affecting the priority livestock value chains at regional and cluster levels

·         Provide technical support for Partners on feed technologies, Animal health service delivery, market linkages and market intelligence

·         Ensure regular technical and administrative reporting on cluster progress

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·         BA/ Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Marketing or related Agriculture fields

·         Minimum of 8 years of work experience for BA holders and 6 years for MA/PHD holders with project or program management leadership role in government, non-government, or private sector

·         Proven and demonstrated experience in the area of livestock marketing development

·         Good experience in livestock market information system or related support services

·         Good experience on market linkage of farmers’ group with markets

·         Proven experience in market intelligence is a plus

·         Demonstrated experience in the successful promotion improved animal feeds and feeding technologies

·         Experience working with livestock producers groups in the area of capacity building

·         Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s agricultural system, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system

·         Good knowledge of livestock development issues for agro-pastoral and pastoral areas of the country

·         Good knowledge about and possibly experience working with livestock value chain actors and key market players in livestock value chains

·         Strong team player with good people management skills

·         Ability to work and perform under pressure and fast developing work environment

·         Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional as well as federal level institutions; extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant stakeholders. Passion and skill in networking, partnership, collaboration and alliance building

·         Strong operational, organizational and managerial skills

·         Practical experience in implementing solutions at the local level and the zeal to work with rural communities to change their situations

·         Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities

·         Demonstrable track record in program and systems design and implementation

·         Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service

·         Fluency in English and Oromifa required; fluency in other regional languages would be an advantage

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to send (i) a cover letter, (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages), and (iii) a completed ATA Application Form (Download Application Form Here). 

Please note that CVs, cover letter and other application materials WILL NOT be considered unless accompanied by a fully completed ATA Application Form.  Also, please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application form.

Please email (i) cover letter, (ii) CV (maximum 5 pages) and (iii) the completed application form to Recruitment@ata.gov.et  and include “Application for Livestock Value Chains Development Expert, Regional ACC Secretariat” in the subject line.

Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

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