Green and Circular Economy Advisor

Brief Description of the Project

Contract duration-31/12/2027

Duty station- Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is undergoing a major economic shift away from a state-led economic model towards a more liberal, market-based one. This transformation is driven by Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda 2.0 (HGER 2.0) and accompanying macroeconomic reforms initiated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which aim to promote private sector-led economic growth, achieve macroeconomic stabilization, and initiate structural transformations. This includes the liberalization of key sectors, the promotion of foreign investment, and the integration of Ethiopia into the global economy.

The project “Private Sector Development in Ethiopia” (PSD-E), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Government and co-financed by the European Union and the Netherlands, contributes to Ethiopia’s reform efforts to promote private sector-led economic transformation. The project specifically aims to strengthen the Ethiopian private sector to become more competitive and resilient. This is achieved by strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of local transformative companies with high growth potential and scalable business models, start-ups in the growth phase, and other MSMEs – especially those acting as service providers, suppliers, or customers of transformative companies. In addition, the project supports financial institutions and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) to improve access to finance, as well as the Ministry of Revenue (MoR) and the Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC) to enhance selected customs and tax procedures. Furthermore, the project strengthens the resilience of, in particular, women-led MSMEs in (post-)conflict regions by improving their business performance and creditworthiness.

Intervention Area

The relevant intervention area for this position is to support a portfolio of transformative companies operating in the Green and Circular Economy field, particularly those operating in or actively implementing solutions in areas such as renewable energy, green chemicals, e-mobility/EV technologies, sustainable packaging, and industrial recycling and material recovery.

In addition to firm-level support, the position contributes to the development and implementation of sector- and market-level solutions aimed at strengthening value chains, improving coordination among market actors, and generating systemic impact within the Green and Circular Economy.

Transformative companies are defined as ambitious companies with strong growth potential and scalable business models that contribute to job creation at scale, increased local value addition, stronger and more sustainable supply chains, and greater participation in local, regional, and international markets. In addition, these companies are expected to act as transformative development partners, generating broader development impacts beyond their own operations, including positive spillovers for other market actors and contributions to sector-wide transformations.

To support the above-described intervention areas, the PSD-E project is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and proactive Green and Circular Economy Advisor (m/f) with in-depth technical expertise in the relevant sectors as well as project management experience in international development cooperation, preferably within GIZ

Advisory Service:

• Provide direct technical advisory support to selected companies, e.g. in resource efficiency, cleaner production, renewable energy integration, sustainable packaging, circular business models, and recycling or material recovery processes.
• Support companies in improving their operational performance, product quality, and competitiveness through the adoption of resource-efficient solutions.
• Support the development and implementation of market-oriented solutions, including scalable approaches that enable replication within value chains.
• Facilitate linkages between companies and relevant ecosystem actors, including other companies in this field, investors, and industry associations.

Project Management and Coordination

• Coordinate the implementation of tailored technical assistance packages for each company
• Recruit and technically steer national and international consultants/consultancies or financing/grant agreements supporting the selected companies
• Coordinate the design and implementation of joint initiatives with selected companies that generate wider development impact, including spillovers and contributions to sector-wide transformation.
• Monitor, document, and report on implementation progress and results in line with project requirements.
• Work closely with other project components and relevant GIZ programmes
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant private sector actors, associations, government institutions, and development partners to foster collaboration and systemic impact within the Green and Circular Economy sectors.
• Contribute to cross-cutting tasks, including knowledge management, communication and visibility and event organization.
• Where appropriate and reasonable, the position holder shall perform tasks outside the scope of the job description.

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in environmental management, sustainable business management, sustainable resource management, or a closely related field; a focus on green or circular economy is an advantage.
• Minimum of six years of relevant professional experience in private sector development, including work in green and/or circular economy-related sectors.
• Minimum of three years of experience in project management or technical advisory roles within international development cooperation, preferably with GIZ.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency, green chemicals, e-mobility, sustainable packaging, recycling, material recovery, or waste management.
• Strong understanding of market systems, value chains, and private sector dynamics in Ethiopia.
• Experience in designing and implementing technical advisory support for companies, as well as managing and steering external consultants (incl. ToRs, contracting, and quality assurance).
• Excellent IT (particularly MS Office) and presentation skills; experience with SAP/S4HANA is an advantage.

Soft skills:

• Proactive and self-reliant working style
• Strong results orientation and problem-solving ability
• Ability to prioritize, structure tasks, and work under pressure
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset and willingness to support colleagues

Language Proficiency:

• Excellent command of English and Amharic, both written and spoken