Community Development Officer (CDO) – Farm Africa

JOB TITLE: Community Development Officer (CDO)

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

 REPORTING TO POSTHOLDER: None

 LOCATION: Addis Ababa

DURATION & HOURS: One year with a possibility of extension

The role of the community development officer is to provide overall technical leadership in the areas of urban agriculture and vegetable crop production for the G4F projects and over all Farm Africa portfolio. This includes in the planning and implementation of all measures related to Horticulture development where Farm Africa engaged to run different activities in urban agriculture project in innovative way.  The post holder will provide technical advice on vegetable production, protection, improved horticulture production practices, promotion of small-scale irrigation scheme combined with best agronomic practices and promote high value crops that provide quick and high return. She/he will coordinate farm demonstration site establishment following the Farmer Field School approach and ensure that beneficiaries use improved agronomic techniques and technologies. In addition, the post holder will engage in community mobilization, group organization, motivate beneficiaries on activity implementation, conduct hands on training on urban agriculture to project clients and prepare training materials on urban greening and farming documentation of best practices, learnings and lessons in the areas of climate-smart crop production and productivity. Moreover, she/he will involve and contribute in designing of new projects in the areas of Urban agriculture and horticulture production.

Key areas of responsibilities are:

• Advise on the cultivation of vegetables, fruit trees and fodder crops with context specific thinking (area plot, size and climate)
• Work closely with the private firm assigned for design ,lay out and construction urban agriculture models in the project implementation site
• Design and assist in implementing demonstration plots for innovative vegetable production & agronomic practices;
• Provide technical support to the post-harvest handling and marketing of vegetable products;
• Working together with G4F program team and Farm Africa technical team to support smallholder farmers and poor HH to produce better
• Taking part in supervision of works related to vegetable production and protection.
• Ensure that all agricultural activities are contributing towards the development of sustainable agriculture.
• Lead studies, assessments, documentation of best practices/lessons and activities related to urban agriculture.
• Advice project teams on best practices to ensure quality outcomes for all urban agriculture production activities.
• Work with the project and program team and technical expertise to develop and refine tools and systems in relation to horticulture production, agronomic practices, UA and related.
• Work with project stakeholders to ensure they are inclusive in urban  farming approaches that support small holder farmers.
• Work with the PM, the programme’s MEL Expert and Farm Africa’s Quality and Impact team, to ensure the programme’s M&E system properly monitors and evaluates Agricultural objectives.
• Work with Farm Africa MEL team in establishing baselines and follow-up of project indicators.
• Together with project staffs prepare work plans and budget in line with project proposal.
• Collaborating with the project staffs, provide technical support and liaise with the staffs of relevant government partners and research organizations in the areas of urban agriculture.
• Actively participate in regular planning, monitoring and evaluation of project progress.
• Ensure that voluntary farmers & beneficiaries are targeted in the implementation of activities.
• Develop training manuals and other knowledge products relevant to UA
• Coordinate and run training on improved agronomic practices in collaboration with Farm Africa and partners staff.
• Provide training on climate smart vegetable production for project beneficiaries including sensitizing of climate change and its adaptation.
• Monitor and document the project progress, lessons, good experience and impact with the community representatives.
• Submit weekly/bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and bi-annual as well as field reports to the Program Manager.
• Establish and maintain good working relationship with GO and NGO and community members.
• Keep up to date with developments in the sector, including best practice examples, to ensure on going organizational and personal development and learning

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Our Values

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

EXPERT: Expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.

GROUNDED: Our teams and partners work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

IMPACTFUL: We deliver long lasting change for farmers, their families, and the environments they live in.

BOLD: We model innovative approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.