Agriculture and Livelihood Officer (with MEAL Responsibilities)

Background

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (HELVETAS), founded in 1955, is Swiss international development NGO. With about 300 projects worldwide, HELVETAS is present in 29 countries, helping over three million disadvantaged people each year. Our areas of work include skills, jobs, and income; water, food, and climate; and voice, inclusion, and cohesion. HELVETAS is also increasingly engaged in emergency relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation, as well as urban development. In Ethiopia it has been operating in Ethiopia since 2003 focusing on various areas, including rural infrastructure, natural resource management, support to CSO and local governments, skill development & education, and emergency response.

The main objective is to promote sustainable development and combat poverty. We prioritize local development, with a strong emphasis on skill development, access to quality services, resilience, inclusive economic development, and good governance & peace. As part of its recovery programme in Samre Seharti Abergelie Yechila districts of Tigray Region, HELEVTAS is implementing livelihood interventions that require close monitoring, evaluation, and learning mechanisms to ensure effectiveness and accountability

Purpose of the Position

The Agriculture and Livelihood Officer with MEAL responsibilities will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of agriculture and livelihoods interventions while ensuring robust MEAL systems are in place. The officer will ensure activities are aligned with project goals, contribute to evidence-based programming, and support adaptive learning for improved impact.

Key Responsibilities

A. Agriculture and Livelihoods Programming

• Plan, implement, and monitor agriculture and livelihood activities in collaboration with partners, communities, and stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to farmers’ groups, cooperatives, and other community-based livelihood actors.
• Promote climate-smart agriculture, income diversification, and market-oriented practices.
• Support value chain development, access to inputs, and extension services.
• Facilitate capacity building and training for beneficiaries and field staff on relevant agriculture/livelihood practices.
• Ensure gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches in all programming.
• Support the planning and execution of agriculture and livelihood activities at the community level.
• Train and support farmers, cooperatives, and livelihood groups on improved agricultural techniques, climate-smart practices, and income-generating activities.
• Promote market-based solutions and value chain development for agriculture and non-farm livelihoods.
• Facilitate access to inputs, extension services, and market linkages for project beneficiaries.
• Oversee the establishment of demonstration plots, seed banks, or other agricultural interventions.

B. Community Engagement and Capacity Building

• Mobilize and engage communities in needs assessments and participatory planning.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and exposure visits for farmers and beneficiaries.
• Support the formation and strengthening of farmer-based organizations, self-help groups, and saving/loan associations.

C. Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local authorities, partners, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders to ensure coordination and collaboration.
• Represent the organization at technical meetings, agricultural fairs, or field visits as needed.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
• Maintain records of activities and ensure timely submission of reports to supervisors and donors.

D. MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) and Reporting

• MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) and Reporting
• Collaborate with MEAL team in developing and implementing MEAL tools and systems for agriculture and livelihood activities and outputs tracking.
• Monitor and document field-level activities and outputs; collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data for project indicators
• Prepare regular activity and output reports, case studies, and success stories.
• Support assessments and evaluation activities; baseline studies, midline assessments, and endline evaluation, and contribute to donor and organizational reporting requirements
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to ensure feedback from target groups is collected and incorporated into program improvements.

Collaborate with the Project Manager and MEAL team in preparing timely and quality progress reports to donors, government and Helvetas Swiss Office.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Agronomy, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in implementing agriculture and livelihood programs.
• Proven experience in MEAL functions (data collection, analysis, reporting, and learning) within development or humanitarian programs.
• Strong knowledge of participatory approaches, farmer field schools, value chains, and climate-resilient agriculture.
• Experience with digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK) and data analysis software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Power BI).
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and report writing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken [local language] and English.

Key Competencies

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Commitment to community participation and accountability.
• Adaptability and willingness to work in remote areas.
• Team player with a proactive and collaborative approach.

Safeguarding & Compliance

The Officer will be expected to adhere to Helvetas’s policies on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Child Protection, Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, and Ethical Conduct. Compliance with donor requirements and MEAL best practices is mandatory.