Location: Jimma, Oromia
Deadline: Oct 1, 2023
Job Description
ABOUT DIGITAL GREEN
Digital Green is an international non-government organization that empowers smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by harnessing the collective power of technology and grassroots-level partnerships. We join forces with governments, private agencies, CSOs and, most importantly, rural communities themselves to co-create digital solutions that help smallholder farmers increase productivity and income. In Ethiopia, Digital Green is working in five regions in introducing and scaling video-extension approaches, supporting farmer organizations to use their collective power for improved income opportunities and leveraging data to provide location specific agricultural advisories to farmers. Digital Green works in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Bureaus of Agriculture and Natural Resource.
For more information, please visit Digital Green’s website: www.digitalgreen.org. Rigorous data analysis and farmer feedback continually challenge our assumptions and identify new ways that technology coupled with local knowledge can push the needle on agriculture, food and nutrition security.
Digital Green is entering an exciting phase of development as it expands to additional digital solutions, agricultural commodities and geographies. As part of this expansion, Digital Green is building a team of exceptional individuals with a passion for finding solutions to pressing development problems. This is an exciting opportunity to join Digital Green’s growing team in Ethiopia, supporting our ongoing and new programs.
Job Summary
The Agribusiness Officer, reporting to the project Manager, will play a crucial role in implementing and coordinating initiatives aimed at improving the lives of smallholder coffee-producing farmers in Jimma Zone. The main focus of this position will be to support the project’s outcomes related to increased access to credit for input purchase and the creation of diversified livelihood options for women and men farmers. The Agribusiness Officer will work closely with local partners, agricultural extension staff, and farmers to ensure the successful implementation of program objectives and targets.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with local partners, agricultural extension staff, and farmers to develop and execute initiatives that enhance the incomes of coffee farmers in Jimma Zone.
- Provide guidance and support to local intermediaries, including training and capacity building, to ensure effective implementation of program activities.
- Identify key actors in the agricultural inputs supply chain and work closely with them to facilitate access to agricultural inputs and agri-tools.
- Facilitate access to input credits for coffee farmers, working closely with financial institutions and the input suppliers.
- Take lead in the training of youth and women livelihood groups on technical aspects of self Help Group (SHG) and Honey Producer Group(HPG) implementation, small scale business management and development and marketing and value addition
- Collaborate with field coordinators in each woreda to ensure effective coordination and implementation of program activities.
- Assess the success of pilot initiatives related to increased access to credit for input purchase and make recommendations on scaling up activities if successful.
- Link farmers to market players including input providers, post-harvest equipment, suppliers and market information providers and buyers.
- Manage data related to agribusiness activities, including monitoring and evaluation data, to track progress and inform decision-making.
- Provide support to the project manager as necessary
Compensation
- Digital Green is a great place to work and prides itself on a competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Digital Green is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
- All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Job Requirements
Qualifications and Experiences
- Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree or in agriculture, agribusiness, rural development or related field.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in donor networking, project design and in writing grant proposals and donor reports
- Proven experience in project management, preferably in the agricultural sector.
- Strong knowledge of coffee farming practices and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
- Experience in working with local partners, agricultural extension staff, and farmers in a collaborative manner.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively train and build capacity of local intermediaries and farmer groups.
- Strong organizational and data management skills, with the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Fluency in Afaan Oromo, Amharic and English
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a strong commitment to achieving program objectives.
- Willingness to travel within the project woredas as required.
To be successful as a member of the Digital Green team, you will also:
- Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization.
- Be an innovative and creative thinker – you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so.
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness.
- Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction.
- Work well independently as well as part of a team
How to Apply
If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to Digital Green mission and vision, please send your application through the application link: https://digitalgreen.applytojob.com/apply/U9lGIKSvxd/Agribusiness-Officer
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply.
Timeline for application is until October 1,2023.