Community Development Facilitator

• Project: TRANSFORM
• Reports to: Project Site Coordinator and Project Manager

Background

Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopia is an international NGO registered in Ethiopia since March 2021 with the FDRE Agency for Civil Society Organizations. The organization is established with the objectives of promoting a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems in Ethiopia. One of the projects implemented by SWR Ethiopia is Transform Soil Fertility Management in Ethiopia (TRANSFORM).

TRANSFORM is a consortium program led by IFDC with key consortium partners (Stichting Wageningen Research /SWR/ Wageningen Environmental Research /WENR/, World Soil Information /ISRIC/, SOS Sahel Ethiopia, Environment and Coffee Forest Forum /ECFF/), and preferred collaborating partners (MoA, EIAR and RARIS the Well In Action, TWA). The program implementation will last from January 2025 to December 2028.

As part of its intervention in three districts of Amhara, South Wollo Regional State, Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia is seeking for qualified and experienced candidates to apply for the position mentioned here under.

Job Purpose / Summary:

The Community Development Facilitator (CDF) is responsible for leading the implementation of the TRANSFORM program at woreda and kebele levels, in close collaboration with other SWR-Ethiopia staff. The role focuses on improving soil health and fertility management through integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) approaches to sustainably increase the productivity and resilience of small-scale food producers.

The CDF will facilitate community mobilization, coordinate with local extension agents and stakeholders, and promote inclusive, participatory, and bottom-up planning and learning processes. S/he is expected to support farmer empowerment and lead locally driven change at scale through the integration of research, extension, and community action.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Facilitate a bottom-up approach and use participatory tools to motivate farmers to engage in soil fertility management
• Provide technical support and advice to local Development Agents (DAs) and farmers on soil fertility management practices and fertilizers use
• Facilitate business incubation to facilitate organic inputs use and production (vermicomposting, compost, lime, bone char, etc.), with particular focus on youth job creation.
• Facilitate demand assessment for soil inputs in collaboration with DAs and woreda experts
• Actively engage and facilitate participatory action research
• Actively engage with the key stakeholders across the soil-landscape in soil health and fertility management, priority setting, planning, implementation and M&E
• Regularly report to the regional technical expert of TRANSFORM and the project coordinator on progress, challenges, and constraints of the work
• Support the program in relation to soil fertility and soil health technologies dissemination
• Support farm households to effectively integrate soil health and fertility practices on their farm and communities to restore degraded landscape
• Capacitate small-scale food producers in farmer-to-farmer training skills and
• Capacitate DAs and extension staff in participatory extension approaches, ISFM techniques, and the dissemination of soil fertility, acidity and salinity management technologies
• Closely work with and support communities and government partners to effectively plan and implement activities of the project as set out in the project document.
• Collaborate with the project partner organizations’ staff and other SWR-Ethiopia projects on their relevant field of activities, exchange visits, training, and studies.
• Together with the senior project staff prepare annual, quarterly and monthly physical and financial plans in line with the approved project document;
• Submit monthly, quarterly and annual technical and financial monitoring/progress reports to the regional technical expert and the project coordinator using the approved format.
• Ensure efficient implementation and expenditure of annual plans and budgets;
• Ensure the implementation of safe programs by being alert and responsive to safeguarding risks in project communities,
• Respect and promote the organization’s core values, principles, policies and procedures.
• Carry out other duties as assigned

Required qualifications, competencies, skills, training, and experience:

• BSc or MSc in Agricultural Science, Agricultural extension and Rural Development, and related fields of studies with minimum of 5 years (for BSc) or 3 years (for MSc) prior work experience respectively preferably in the NGO and Agricultural research Areas.
• Solid experience in facilitating, developing and supporting various soil health components.
• Experience in working with Agribusiness, private sector
• Experience in working with local communities and smallholder farmers, with excellent facilitation and communication skills
• The ability to excel in a fast-paced setting with flexibility and creativity, and with a focus on high performance.
• Knowledge and experience with participatory approaches and multi-stakeholder engagement facilitation skills, and ability to create and deliver compelling presentations.
• Ability to work independently and under tight deadlines.
• Skilled in computer usage and ICT tools
• Preferably to have Motorbike riding license & experience.
• Strong command of English language and fluency in Amharic.

Salary & Benefit Packages: As per the organization policy

Application Deadline: 15 consecutive days (May 6, 2026)