Job Description
JOB TITLE: Community Development Officer (CDO)
REPORTS TO: Program Manager
REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
DURATION & HOURS: One year with a possibility of extension
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE |
The role of the community development officer is to provide overall technical leadership in the areas of urban agriculture and vegetable crop production for the G4F projects and over all Farm Africa portfolio. This includes in the planning and implementation of all measures related to Horticulture development where Farm Africa engaged to run different activities in urban agriculture project in innovative way. The post holder will provide technical advice on vegetable production, protection, improved horticulture production practices, promotion of small-scale irrigation scheme combined with best agronomic practices and promote high value crops that provide quick and high return. She/he will coordinate farm demonstration site establishment following the Farmer Field School approach and ensure that beneficiaries use improved agronomic techniques and technologies. In addition, the post holder will engage in community mobilization, group organization, motivate beneficiaries on activity implementation, conduct hands on training on urban agriculture to project clients and prepare training materials on urban greening and farming documentation of best practices, learnings and lessons in the areas of climate-smart crop production and productivity. Moreover, she/he will involve and contribute in designing of new projects in the areas of Urban agriculture and horticulture production.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
Key areas of responsibilities are:
- Advise on the cultivation of vegetables, fruit trees and fodder crops with context specific thinking (area plot, size and climate)
- Work closely with the private firm assigned for design ,lay out and construction urban agriculture models in the project implementation site
- Design and assist in implementing demonstration plots for innovative vegetable production & agronomic practices;
- Provide technical support to the post-harvest handling and marketing of vegetable products;
- Working together with G4F program team and Farm Africa technical team to support smallholder farmers and poor HH to produce better
- Taking part in supervision of works related to vegetable production and protection.
- Ensure that all agricultural activities are contributing towards the development of sustainable agriculture.
- Lead studies, assessments, documentation of best practices/lessons and activities related to urban agriculture.
- Advice project teams on best practices to ensure quality outcomes for all urban agriculture production activities.
- Work with the project and program team and technical expertise to develop and refine tools and systems in relation to horticulture production, agronomic practices, UA and related.
- Work with project stakeholders to ensure they are inclusive in urban farming approaches that support small holder farmers.
- Work with the PM, the programme’s MEL Expert and Farm Africa’s Quality and Impact team, to ensure the programme’s M&E system properly monitors and evaluates Agricultural objectives.
- Work with Farm Africa MEL team in establishing baselines and follow-up of project indicators.
- Together with project staffs prepare work plans and budget in line with project proposal.
- Collaborating with the project staffs, provide technical support and liaise with the staffs of relevant government partners and research organizations in the areas of urban agriculture.
- Actively participate in regular planning, monitoring and evaluation of project progress.
- Ensure that voluntary farmers & beneficiaries are targeted in the implementation of activities.
- Develop training manuals and other knowledge products relevant to UA
- Coordinate and run training on improved agronomic practices in collaboration with Farm Africa and partners staff.
- Provide training on climate smart vegetable production for project beneficiaries including sensitizing of climate change and its adaptation.
- Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact with the community representatives.
- Submit weekly/bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and bi-annual as well as field reports to the Program Manager.
- Establish and maintain good working relationship with GO and NGO and community members.
- Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples, to ensure on going organizational and personal development and learning
These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.
Job Requirements
PERSON SPECIFICATION |
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Essential |
Desirable |
Education, qualifications & other knowledge |
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MSc/BSc in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, disciplines |
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Knowledge of the horticulture, development & policy environment in Ethiopia |
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Knowledge of horticulture, productivity, small scale irrigation-based farming, organic farming ,financial inclusion and urban agriculture practices |
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Knowledge of gender and social inclusiveness
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Experience |
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At least five years of practical work experience in the field of Horticulture production, small scale irrigation, UA ,nursery management and related. | Previous NGO work experience in rural/urban development, |
Good Experience in urban agriculture development particularly in diversified livelihood and participatory research approaches. | Experience with international organization, public sector institutions and/or funding agencies |
Practical experience in providing training on vegetable production and protection to staffs and hands on experience on providing practical training for smallholder farmers. Experience working with the private firm | Application of crop modelling and analysis software such as CropWat and AquaCrop. |
Experience of project planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. | |
Skills & abilities |
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Excellent ability to develop and translate plans into cost-effective operations and activities in line with identified and available resources. |
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Very good English and Amharic language skills (written and spoken) |
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Computer literacy, crop-related computer software applications, excellent record keeping and report writing |
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills |
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Good team building skills and the ability to work in a multi partner approach |
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Training need assessment and training facilitation |
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Willingness to frequently travel to project site and communicate beneficiaries on regular bases , ability to work with minimum supervision |
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Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals and values of Farm Africa |
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Good community level facilitation and coordination skills |
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Our Values
Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.
EXPERT: Expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.
GROUNDED: Our teams and partners work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.
IMPACTFUL: We deliver long lasting change for farmers, their families, and the environments they live in.
BOLD: We model innovative approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.
How to Apply
Those who meet the above requirements should submit their short CV (maximum of 4 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 1 page) addressing ethrecruitment@farmafrica.org with the subject Community Development Officer (CDO) by 31 October 2021.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Farm Africa is an equal opportunity employer and promotes gender equity. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Farm Africa does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. (E.g. Application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees).