Field Officer

SNV Ethiopia is looking for a:

Field Officer

(GRAD project)

Based in Hawassa on a local employment contract

(Internal/External)

SNV, Netherlands Development Organization, has worked in Ethiopia since the 1970s and currently operates in SNNPR, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray regional states, providing capacity strengthening support in three sectors – Agriculture, WASH and Renewable Energy.  Through its work in agriculture, SNV in Ethiopia supports the development of number of value chains such as milk and milk products, honey and bees wax, oil seeds and edible oil, fruit and pulses, livestock and horticulture. This takes a value chain development approach, with special focus on improving access to sustainable markets for smallholder farmers and by developing business-to-business relations and improving business development services.

 

SNV Ethiopia with other consortia members including CARE Ethiopia, CRS, ORDA and REST is implementing GRAD a 5-year USAID program in four regions, namely Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray in 16 woredas i.e. Ofla, Alamata, Enda Mehoni and Raya Azebo (Tigray); Libo Kemkem and Lay Gayint (Amhara); Arsi Negele, Zeway Dugda, Shalla, Adami Tulu (Oromia); Meskan, Mareko, Loka Abaya, Hawale Tula, Hawassa Zuria and Shebedino (SNNPR). The program intends to reach directly 65,000 PSNP households and graduate 50,000 households from safety net. SNV provides technical support on value chain development and agricultural extension. SNV mainly focus on in providing leadership in facilitating innovative input and output market linkages in GRAD woredas that mainly benefits food insecure households. Livestock, pulse (haricot bean), horticulture, honey and malt barely are the selected value chains being supported by GRAD Project.

 

SNV wishes to recruit a Field officer for its operations in SNNPR region. The officer will be based in Hawassa, with frequent travel to the field. The overall objective of the position is to provide support to GRAD-SNV staff in facilitating linkages with stakeholders and to support the private and other actors involved in the region.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide field level implementation support


• Track data from agro dealers, cooperatives and unions on input and output marketing


• Provide technical support to transform  farmers associations into cooperatives to sustainably link households with markets


• Assist and coach the private sector actors, cooperatives and agro dealers for the implementation of assignment agreements as made with SNV-GRAD.


• Assist agro dealers in linking with agriculture offices to work with the extension staffs and model farmers to create demand for improved inputs


• Support consultants and local capacity builders assigned by SNV in the implementation of their duties in the region


• Contribute in the documentation and dissemination of learnings from value chain development and demand driven extension intervention of the GRAD project


• Contribute to the preparation of monthly, quarter, biannual and annual progress reports


• Coordinate GRAD project activities in SNNPR region with GRAD staff of SNV and  implementing partners


• Represent SNV for GRAD project in the region and serves as a liaison with BOFED and other Government bureaus and offices


• Implements other assignments of the GRAD project manager

·          BSC/MSC graduate in agricultural marketing, agri-business, economics, agricultural economics, rural development and extension, and related fields.

·          At least 5 years’ experience in similar position

·         Knowledge and experience in agricultural marketing, value chain development, business plan development, private sector involvement and cooperatives

·        Knowledge of agriculture and input supply system

·          Good communication skills in English and local languages

·       Proactive, result-oriented and accountable team player

·          Computer skills

·        Reporting and writing skills

Closing date: Nov 09, 2015

Candidates should apply by sending:

i)              A motivation letter; ii) An updated Curriculum Vitae with names and email contact details of at least two professional referees.

Only applicants who meet the above requirements are invited to send their applications and CVs to the HR Office, SNV Ethiopia, P.O.Box 40675 Addis Ababa or e-mail at

November 2015. Only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.