Field Agronomist

Field Agronomist with experience in agro-pastoral and low lands/ drought agricultural systems

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 field agronomist will be assigned for the implementation of project SAFE East Bale: Strengthening Agriculture, Food Security and WASH Services through Emergency Response funded by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The project aims to provide a rapid and effective humanitarian response for vulnerable drought-affected communities in East Bale, ensuring safe access to essential services, improving food security, access to water and sanitation, and strengthening early warning systems. He/She will organize and oversee the overall internal regular planning, follow-up, and implementation of the planned activities related to the agriculture and pastoralism activities that contribute to the food security and nutrition and livelihood improvement for the local communities.

Main Duties:

• Mobilize target communities for active participation in agricultural activities
• Organize and support the purchase and distribution of agri kit, drought-resistant seeds and tools and veterinary First Aid Kits for CASHWs
• Organize and support distribution of livestock treatment vouchers.
• 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
• Facilitate training sessions for farmers on innovative agricultural technologies, integrated soil fertility management, sustainable water conservation, and regenerative agriculture
• Support monitoring visits with the support of LVIA field officers and community facilitators to verify the impact of the implemented support and distributions.
• 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.

Duty Station: Ginnir, East Bale (working areas Dawe Katchen, Rayitu and Sewena woredas)

Availability: starting from 1st August, 2025

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

Salary: Gross salary between 75,000 birr – 100,000 birr based on experience and skills

Qualification and experience:

• Good understanding of emergency projects
• Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Sciences majoring in crops or veterinary science or Agricultural extension and other related fields with FSL subjects
• Minimum of three-years of working experience in similar position particularly in emergency project, agro-pastoral system 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 in low lands
• 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.