Senior Project Officer – Agricultural Risk Management (Short Term)

Term of Employment:  Short Term- 6 months with possible extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:        One

Salary & Benefits:          Competitive

Application Deadline:   February 25, 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:

The Senior Project Officer for Agricultural Risk Management is expected to assess and analyze the systemic agricultural risk factors and come up with a portfolio of initiatives suggested as most appropriate intervention for agricultural risk management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

•  Design/adopt appropriate agricultural risk assessment (ARM) and analysis methodology and tools for identification problems in smallholder farmers risk management.


• Undertake critical assessment and analysis of systemic agricultural risk factors, climatic and non-climatic, and prioritize them in order of importance and ease of interventions.


• Identify and critically review a portfolio of initiatives that could be suggested as most appropriate intervention to measurably improve the ARM system to address vulnerability to various agricultural risks factors.


• Support ATA program teams and the Core Analytics team in problem identification, data analysis & prioritization of solution implementation in the areas of ARM in order to mainstream ARM into their activities.


• Assist in critically assessing capacity gaps and systemic issues in the implementation of identified ARM options.


• Coordinate and assist stakeholders in the design and implementation of high-priority ARM interventions to reduce farmers’ vulnerability to risk factors.


• Support the Director in the identification and implementation of appropriate technology options to strengthen and enhance the implementation of agricultural Risk Management system.


• Prepare appropriate training materials, organize capacity building trainings and discussion forums for key stakeholders, as deemed necessary, to enable sustainable ARM system development.


• Facilitate knowledge and experience exchanges among service providers, both Public and Private,  in the risk management field and the small holder farmer beneficiaries.


• Work with the Director and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Program team so that the ATA Agricultural Risk Management initiatives are used as a platform for project-based learning.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree level of education in areas rural development, agricultural economics, environment and climate, and other related fields.


• At least 6 years (for Master degree holders) or 8 years (for Bachelor degree holders) of work experience in the areas related to agriculture and risk management.


• Deep understanding of Ethiopian agriculture, with a broad perspective on agricultural value chains and an intimate knowledge of how public, private and informal actors operate within the system.


• Experience in climate, economic and policy  and other agricultural risk factors mapping and analysis.


• Experience in conducting risk vulnerability assessment with gender perspective.


• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities.


• Experience with program design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation.


• Knowledge and experience in agricultural risk insurance systems.


• Practical experience in piloting and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level.


• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results.


• Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people.


• Excellent analytical skills.


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


• Fluency in Amharic and English language are essential and knowledge of additional Ethiopian language is desired.

Closing date: Feb 25, 2016