Project Officer- Regional Business Development

Term of Employment:  Project Based

Duty Station(s):              Tgray- Mekele

Required Number:        One

Salary & Benefits:          Competitive

Application Deadline:   February 07, 2016

 

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to a Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister and whose co-chair is the Minister of Agriculture. 

The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into three different groups:  Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization and Rural Finance; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Support Services, Commercial Farming, Agro-processing & Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; and Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.

 Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented individuals are committed to doing their best and work together to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, 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, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our people and are committed to providing our employees with the tools and training necessary to achieve their career goals. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

ATA, in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Bureau of Agriculture, USAID and CNFA, is implementing a three-year Feed the Future Ethiopia Commercial Farm Services Project. The objective of this project is to improve smallholder productivity, food security and incomes through the development of sustainable private sector driven agricultural input supply and services by creating 20 new Farm Service Centers (FSCs) throughout Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and SNNP Regions. These FSCs will serve as innovative and replicable private, retail input supply and farm service businesses model for scaling up private farm supply and service networks in Ethiopia and throughout Africa.

Working under the supervision of the Project Lead, the Regional Project Officer (PO) will work on all aspects of promoting the FSC opportunity, identification of potential FSCs, and assessment of inputs demand and supply in selected potential areas, business management counseling, clear guidance on development and implementation of presentable accounting systems, business development initiatives at the FSCs. In collaboration with the Senior Project Officer (SPO) at the Head Office, the PO will provide guidance on Business Plans preparation by candidate FSCs in the course of grant application processes. The PO will be a key player in providing all aspects of business management capabilities to candidate FSCs through business profitability assessment and analysis. In collaboration with SPO at the Head Office, s/he will provide periodic and need based business management skill enhancing trainings; grant utilization and reporting in compliance with USAID policies to FSC staff. The PO will seek, guide & recommend on alternative access to credit financing to the FSC. As a multi-faceted position, the PO will review & monitor clients accounting reports, business performance progress & provide timely technical support wherever necessary.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The specific duties of the PO will include the following:

a)    Promote the FSC opportunity to potential private sector actors in potential areas

b)     Gather, compile and provide information for evaluation of FSC grant applicants, including performance of documentary and in-person due diligence of the applicant’s historical financial records;

c)      Assist FSC grantees to access trade credit and commercial finance, to help meet their matching investment requirements and project implementation costs;

d)      Provide capacity building on financial management and business planning to FSC staff  and program beneficiaries over the life of the project;

e)      Coordinate regional staff, project report and overall communication

f)       Produce timely and quality periodic reports;

g)      Other duties assigned to him/her by the Regional Project Manager.

• Minimum of Bachelors’ degree in finance, business management, economics, agro-economics, agri-business development, or relevant field required. Master’s degree is preferred;


• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in business management, preferably in the agriculture sector;


• Experience with credit facilitation activities for USAID or other donor-funded programs a plus;


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including advanced proficiency in Excel;


• Proficiency in Peachtree Accounting system required;


• Strong interpersonal, communications, and leadership skills;


• Fluency in English and local languages required;


• Strong communication skills and ability to work with people having different background.

Closing date: Feb 07, 2016