FARM Project Manager -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Description

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government Institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions to be the leading center of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.

The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Sidama, South-West, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results. 

At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector.  We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

 POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Manager is responsible for the implementation of the FARM project and the achievement of its planned results to a high level of quality and in a timely manner. To achieve this, he/she will supervise, guide, manage, coach and monitor the FARM project PMU members He is also responsible for coordinating short-term contracting.

The Project Manager is expected to take an overarching coordinating role ensuring all aspects of the Project progress in accordance with the approved project proposal and international best practices. He/she will provide oversight across all management and implementation tasks.

He/she will liaise closely with ATI management as well as with the AFD office for Ethiopia, particularly the AFD project management officer (TA in support of the FARM project). He/she will report to ACC Senior Director directly and to the Crop commercialization Director, Natural Resource Development and Climate Program Director, and Livestock Commercialization Director in a matrix.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Implementing the FARM project with proper communication with donors and stakeholders.
• Coordinate project implementation and achieve planned results to international quality standards, including logistics, procurement, political, bottlenecks in implementation, project management compliance, etc
• Supervise and manage project personnel, including the preparation of annual work plans and budgets, establishing performance objectives and standards, and ensuring timely and appropriate feedback, guidance, and support for optimum performance.
• Provide technical and strategic advice to all members of the PMU and facilitate capacity building when needed.
• Oversee the monitoring of project progress and the evaluation of results.
• Take part in E&S team recruitment and mobilization, and ensure that the Environmental and Social Management Plan and the Gender Action Plan are adhered to during the project implementation.
• Monitor project risks, supervise the implementation of risk mitigation measures, and update the risk and mitigation measures yearly.
• Identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation, organize and oversee short term missions.
• Oversee administrative and financial management, including procurement of goods and services, budget and expenditure analysis or contractual management.
• Review/approve FARM staff leaves, FARM project plan, performance goals/targets, budgets, reports, procurement, travel, etc.
• Liaise and coordinate with all project stakeholders and in particular coordinate beneficiary targeting with the PSNP, coordinate ATI, ARBoA and ARARI action (and any other operating institution), report to ATI, AFD and the EU.
• Coordinate the drafting of all project related reports in a timely manner (annual, semi-annual or quarterly progress and operational reports, as per requirements), including reporting to the Steering committee on ESMF and GAP implementation status and Complaint and resolution status.
• Ensure coordination and harmonization of FARM project activities with those of government authorities and other Development Partners active in Northern Ethiopia
• Build partnerships whenever relevant and possible.
• Support the establishment and facilitate strategic dialogue between AFD, project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, in project´s areas of work, particularly seed value chain development and agroecology.
• Facilitate knowledge management, particularly in terms of lessons learned and best practices which may feed a dialogue with government authorities and other DPs as well as contribute to future interventions and policy making.
• Identify needs and oversee the design and elaboration of project related communication and capitalization material.
• Develop a strategy or plan for outreach and advocacy of the FARM portfolio. Organize and prepare stakeholder meetings; workshops and related activities and prepare materials as needed to expand the outreach and advocacy.

Required qualifications, competencies, and experience:

• Master’s degree or above in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Science, Rural Development, project management and Natural Resource Management.
• AT least 10-years relevant experience in implementing at least partly large-scale projects/programs at the regional or national level. Of which five (5) years’ leadership experience in leading the implementation of development-oriented projects/programs in international organizations.
• Experience leading multi-dimensional teams and complex work programs.
• Analytical skills, including livelihood and farming system analysis.
• Training or demonstrated experience of the agricultural economy.
• Knowledge of the Ethiopian economy with knowledge of the Northern Ethiopia context a very strong asset.
• Experience in crop and livestock value chains, particularly seed (formal and informal), support or management would be a strong asset.
• Experience in agroecology would be a strong asset.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s agricultural research system is an asset.
• Experience in Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) establishment is an asset.
• Inclination towards participatory management (at team and beneficiary level), capacity to implement and experience of participatory planning methods.
• Desire of improving the lives of smallholder farmers.
• Leadership, autonomy and integrity.
• Strong capacity to facilitate team work.
• Conflict management capacity.
• Willingness to undertake frequent field visits.
• Strong Communication skills (writing, speaking, composing, presenting, etc).
• Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic.
• Computer literacy.

HOW TO APPLY

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et

It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.

Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.