Agronomist expert

Agronomist expert with experience in regenerative agriculture, agroecology and agri-value chain development

Lay Volunteers International Association (LVIA) NGO is an Italian association that deals with institutional solidarity and cooperation committed to fostering ways of local and global change to overcome extreme poverty, reinforce equitable and sustainable development, and enhance dialogue.

Project Description:

The Agronomist expert will be assigned for the implementation of project Multi-sectoral and integrated rural development intervention in the Oromia Region to counter irregular migration in Ethiopia (CUP F41D24000140008) funded by Italian Ministry of Interior (Viminale). The project aimed at enhancing vocational training in agriculture to provide new employment opportunities for young people in the rural areas of Bale and Arsi, as a viable and sustainable alternative to irregular migration; The project intervenes in four areas, adopting an integrated and holistic approach: 1) Strengthening cooperatives and smallholder farmers in their capacity to contribute to food and nutrition security, with a special focus on sustainable and low environmental impact, 2) Improvement of the TVET vocational training system, 3) Expansion of business incubation and advisory service, 4) Community awareness-raising on the risks of irregular migration. He/She will organize and oversee the overall internal regular planning, follow-up, and implementation of the planned activities related to the agriculture activities that contribute to the improvement of local agricultural productions and income generation for the small farmers and unemployed youths.

Main Duties:

• Mobilize target communities for active participation in agricultural activities
• Organize training in agroecological approach, promotion of integrated soil management, water conservative management, regenerative agriculture.
• Organize training in seed production, storage and post harvest losses reduction
• Provide technical support and advice to farmers, farmers groups, and cooperatives
• Deliver agricultural extension services to optimize the production and handling of local crops and commodities
• Support the analysis of solar irrigation system feasibility with LVIA engineer/solar expert
• Support the technical analysis for small DLS potato storage in collaboration with LVIA engineer
• Support and advice new agricultural business activities promoted by incubation service
• Support monitoring visits with the support of LVIA field officers and community facilitators to verify the impact of the implemented support.
• Support LVIA and partner staff in the field by facilitating the exchange of information and results among the working group.
• Collaborate with local authorities connected with agriculture and pastoralism.
• Actively participate in meetings, organize joint field visits, and submit timely reports
• Prepare periodical report, technical assessment and coordinate the data collection for the monitoring of the implemented activities and project progress
• Perform additional position-related tasks assigned by the Project Manager/Area Coordinator or MEAL.
• Develop actionable plans for agro-based interventions based on study findings.
• Keep linkage to LVIA and producer’s cooperatives in target woredas

Duty Station: Asela, Arsi Zone (working areas Tiyo and Lemu Bilbilo woredas)

Availability: starting from 21st July, 2025

Type of employment: 1 year contract with the possibility of extension.

Salary: Gross salary between 85,000 birr – 105,000 birr based on experience and skills, plus organization benefit

Qualification and experience:

• Good understanding of emergency projects
• Bachelor Degree or MSC Degree in Agricultural Sciences majoring in crops or veterinary science or Agricultural extension and other related fields with FSL subjects
• Minimum of five-years of working experience in similar position particularly in Oromia (Arsi Zone context) and with NGO
• Excellent communication, organization and prioritization skills and the ability to multi-task and support and/or fill multiple positions at one time
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members
• Good experience of working culture of the project sites, or other similar areas
• Demonstrate capacity to interact and cooperate with a wide range of public and private sector representatives including local communities, partners, authorities and different project stakeholders
• Good computer literate especially in Microsoft office (Word, Excel, power point), data collection using Kobo,
• Highly organized, efficient, and able to meet key deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including fluency in English; with competency in field data collection, monitoring, analysis and reporting
• Highly developed inter-personal skills/inter-cultural sensitivity;
• Ability to work under pressure in harsh environment;
• Languages: English and Oromifaa fluently spoken and written.