Agri-Food Specialist

Position Title: Agri-Food Specialist
Reports to: Chief Program Officer
Employment Type: Full-time

Organizational Background

JaRco Consulting is a leading international consulting firm based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). We work across diverse technical sectors including agriculture, livelihoods, health, nutrition, gender, and capacity development. Our clients include international donors, NGOs, UN agencies, and private sector actors. We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Business Development Manager to help drive strategic growth and support the design of high-quality, competitive proposals.

Position summary

The Agri-Food Specialist will provide technical expertise and leadership on agriculture and agri-food systems within JaRco’s portfolio. The role will support evaluation, research, and learning on how agri-food systems contribute to youth employment, enterprise development, gender equity, and climate resilience across East Africa.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead technical inputs on agriculture and food systems in program design, strategic reviews, and evaluations.
• Analyze trends in agricultural markets, value chains, and employment opportunities for young people, particularly women.
• Provide technical oversight for studies on apiculture, horticulture, livestock, and other agri-food sub-sectors.
• Advise on climate-smart and resilient agricultural practices relevant to youth livelihoods.
• Contribute to the development and review of program Theories of Change (ToC) and MEL frameworks with an agri-food systems lens.
• Support the synthesis of evidence from strategic reviews, impact monitoring, and evaluations to generate practical recommendations for partners and policymakers.
• Strengthen JaRco’s capacity in agri-food research through mentoring of junior staff and collaboration with consortium partners.
• Engage with implementing partners, private sector actors, and government stakeholders to contextualize findings and ensure uptake of recommendations.

Qualifications & Experience:

• PhD degree in Agriculture, Agri-Food Systems, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or related field (PhD preferred).
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in agricultural development, food systems, or related research in East Africa.
• Demonstrated expertise in market systems, value chains, and employment opportunities in agriculture.
• Knowledge of climate change adaptation, gender-transformative approaches, and inclusive youth employment strategies.
• Strong experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) in agricultural programs.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a consortium and across diverse stakeholders.