Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer Jobs in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer Jobs in Ethiopia

Job Id: 199939

Category: Media and Journalism, Communications, PR and Journalism
Location: Addis Ababa
Career Level: Senior Level (5+ years experience)
Employment Type: Full time
Salary: Competitive

Job Description

Vacancy Announcement

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency

Position: Senior Project Officer

Term of Employment: One Year

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa

Required Number: One

Salary & Benefits: Competitive

Application Deadline: March 08, 2019

Background

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector.

The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoALR), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects.

Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

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 team work 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, 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.

Purpose of the Position

The ATA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MoANR), the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), and Ethio Telecom launched an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Short Message Service (SMS) system, the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline, to disseminate agronomic best practice advice to farmers/ development agents (DAs) year round.

The 8028 Farmers’ Hotline was first piloted in February 2014, in 21 woredas (districts) in the four main regions Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR and Tigray for approximately five months.

Following the pilot, the ATA, in collaboration with its partners, expanded the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline nationwide. To date, the system has handled more than 30 million calls from 4 million registered callers.

Users of the system can call into and receive information on a wide range of agricultural activities on all major cereal, pulses and high-value crops. Keypad menu options allow farmers and Development Agents to select their particular areas.

Currently, the ATA has integrated a Helpdesk mechanism into the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline. This Helpdesk will enable smallholders and DAs to call into the system and ask specific agriculture related questions and have experts in their woredas answer these questions.

The role of the Regional 8028 Farmers’ Hotline Project Senior Officer (SPO) is to manage the implementation of the project comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign.

The SPO will work with 8028 Farmers’ Hotline Project SPO and the ATA’s Communication team to ensure its communications objectives are met.

The SPO is also responsible with creating awareness at the various bureaus and offices of agriculture and ensuring that RBoA’s are effectively leveraging the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline.

This position will officially report to the ICT Team Lead. The position will be a 12-month contract, starting with a six-month probationary period.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Work with 8028 Farmers’ Hotline Senior Project Officer, Communication team, and consultants/vendors to manage implement the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline comprehensive marketing and outreach strategy nationwide

Develop consistent and appropriate communications materials (reports, brochures, newsletters, press releases and presentations) for various target audiences, including ATA’s partners, government institutions, media agencies, and the public.

Help organize events, such as project launches, field days, and press conferences, for priority projects or on an ad hoc basis.

Build and maintain relationships with communications/public relations teams at key partner institutions.

Identify additional approaches to create awareness and train/inform smallholders and DAs about the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline at the region, zone, and specifically with farmers and DAs at the woredas level.

Collect feedback from subject matter specialists and smallholders on how the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline can be updated to improve their experiences.

Write, edit and proofread Amharic documents, as needed.

Work with Regional ATA offices, Bureaus of Agriculture, Woreda offices of Agriculture to identify and motivate and skilled woreda agronomist, crop protection, and subject matter specialists to support future expansion of the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline Helpdesk

Support the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline team analyze the 8028 Farmers’ Hotline Helpdesk results and share with ATA SMT and relevant stakeholders

Liaise with a wide range of stakeholders to promote and popularize 8028 Farmers’ Hotline

Occasionally, support the ICT Team Lead and other ICT Project Officers on project related activities

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Job Requirements

Required qualifications and experience

BA/BSc or diploma in Accounting

6-10 years of experience for diploma holders and 3-5 years of experience with fist degree.

Relevant work experience as Documentation Assistant Officer, Accountant or Cashier- Accountant or similar field

Previous experience in NGO’s, Donor/GOV’t Bilateral/Multilateral Organizations is an asset

Computer knowledge in MS Office (Excel, Word, particularly QuickBooks etc.)

Knowledge of local laws

Willingness in working long hours and ability to work with other teams

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Proficient in written/spoken English and Amharic languages

Strong team player with multi-tasking and prioritization skills

Strong attention to details, confidentiality and accuracy

How to Apply

Application Instructions

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 at http://apply.ata.gov.et

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.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

NB. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Senior Project Officer Jobs in Ethiopia