Deadline: Dec 28, 2023
Job Description
Project Background
Policy LINK will strengthen the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural transformation process and contribute effectively and collectively to improved, broad-based food security policy outcomes.
Specifically, the program aims to strengthen food security policy systems by investing in and reinforcing productive human and social capital and developing strategic partnerships that help bring these innovations and capacity investments to scale to achieve a critical mass of local actors with the ability and opportunity to effect positive policy change through collective action.
Policy LINK’s general approach is grounded in facilitative leadership and collaborative governance, which emphasize engaging stakeholders from civil society and public and private sectors in consensus-oriented decision making, collaborative problem solving, and adaptive learning.
Policy LINK in Ethiopia
C4FS is a five-year activity with the overall objective of supporting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and other policy system actors in their aspiration to develop an inclusive policy development process. Specifically, the activity will facilitate the transition towards a policy development paradigm driven by multiple stakeholders. A significant part of C4FS programming will be dedicated to supporting the coordination amongst actors working on resilience-building.
Ultimately, the activity seeks to build the capacities actors and institutions involved in general food systems policy and resilience building to work collaboratively; these actors include academia, financial institutions, the judiciary, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector representatives from the national, regional, and local levels.
This approach is underpinned by Policy LINK’s overarching theory of change focused on increasing human and social capital, engaging policy system actors in collaborative processes, and developing mechanisms for collaborative governance and dynamic learning systems and platforms to sustain collective action.
As part of its work, C4FS will build and strengthen the backbone system for the coordination of development programming among actors involved in Resilience-building in selected regions (Afar, Oromia, Somali and South Ethiopia). These efforts are intended to support the sequencing, layering and integration of activities amongst multiple actors to enhance their collective impact. C4FS will therefore not directly implement resilience programs but support the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands to build collaboration and collective action amongst multiple stakeholders implementing Resilience building activities in selected lowland areas.
Position Objectives
In Tigray, the Regional Program Coordinator works within an activity team to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture at the regional level to create and lead a more inclusive policy implementation framework. Towards this endeavor, the Regional Program Coordinator will support stakeholder engagement and policy dialogues, leadership capacity building for policy makers and policy implementers, and inclusive knowledge management and evidence generation systems.
In Afar and South Ethiopia, the Regional Program Coordinator works within an activity team to strengthen the coordination capacity of the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands and the Ministry of Agriculture to organize, convene, and facilitate coordination meetings and foster collaboration among stakeholders that results in sequencing, layering, and integration for collective impact at the woreda level.
In Somali region, the Regional Program Coordinator works within an activity team to support both policy systems strengthening and resilience activities. In this regard, the Regional Program Coordinator candidate will support stakeholder consultations and policy dialogues, leadership capacity building, inclusive knowledge management and evidence generation systems as well as coordination, collaboration, and communication within a multistakeholder environment.
S/he is expected to embody Policy LINK’s core purpose and principles, and ensure all decision-making is rooted in the purpose and principles. S/he will contribute to a learning environment in which personal and team growth is supported, with a shared understanding that the “team” always comes before the “individual.”
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Regional Program Coordinator is expected to work in activity teams and in particular support the Regional Program Manager to implement and track progress on the annual work plan.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
- Actively engage in, and contribute to the preparation of regional annual work plan
- Support the execution, monitoring, and follow up of program activities to ensure tasks and deliverables are accomplished per the activity description, work plan, budget, principles and procedures, and other compliance requirements.
- Collaborate with Operations and Finance team to organize and facilitate stakeholder engagement activities such as workshops, trainings, seminars, and dialogues. Tasks may include ensuring venue, required equipment, materials, managing RSVPs, and travels arrangements.
- Support and maintain effective networking, communication, and relationships with regional stakeholders on matters regarding program activity, expectations, logistics, deliverables, timelines, and compliance requirements.
- Ensure activity team minutes, reports, resolutions, and action plans are compiled, shared and actions followed up.
- Ensure proper documentation of relevant program activities, data and records, including accurate compilation of activity descriptions, work plans, tools, minutes, conference reports, M&E reports, and other activity records and materials required for MEL, financial and program compliance.
- In collaboration with the Regional Program Manager, collect event and activity related monitoring data (such as participant records) and share date with MEL team. Provide quality assurance for event and activity specific data (cleaning, verifying) before sharing with MEL team.
- Cultivate and maintain meaningful relationships with stakeholders.
Reporting and Supervision
- The Regional Program Coordinator will report to the Regional Program Manager for the assigned region. The Regional Program Coordinator will not have any direct reports.
Performance Criteria
- C4FS is a performance-based activity, highly dependent on individuals and team core competencies. Each staff member will participate in an annual evaluation and receive feedback.
No. of positions Two (1 for each region)
Location: Jijiga (Somali), Semera (Afar)
Contract Name: USAID/Feed the Future Policy LINK Ethiopia – Champions for Food Security (C4FS) Activity
Status: Long Term Technical Assistance
Start Date: ASAP
Supervisor: Regional Program Manager for assigned region
Grade 7
Job Requirements
Required Qualifications
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Rural Development, Development Studies, Economics from a recognized university
- Minimum 6 years of work experience in management of/ technical assistance agricultural development, livelihood, and food security program, preferably in international development organizations or private companies
- Good understanding of policy systems and programs, resilience, value chain and market-based approaches in the agriculture and food security sectors in Ethiopia
- Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups within the agriculture sector and in the region of assignment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting coordination and collaboration within a multistakeholder setting.
- Demonstrated experience working with regional governments in Afar, South Ethiopia, Somali, or Tigray.
- Prior work experience on donor-funded agriculture and food security programs (USAID preferred).
- Experience in providing procurement and consultant management support to donor-funded programs (USAID preferred).
- Demonstrated monitoring, data collection, and report writing skills and experience.
- Attention to detail, ability to balance competing priorities and duties.
- Ability to respond effectively to time sensitive demands and inquiries.
- Proficiency using Microsoft office suite, and other relevant software.
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills.
- Strong stakeholder management experience.
- Sensitive to teamwork, and diversity.
- Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Professional fluency in English and working language(s) of the region of assignment.
How to Apply
Please submit applications electronically via this website: https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/y6dwmcqs8i/index
Application Deadline: 28th December 2023 Candidates will be required to answer certain qualifying questions before uploading their CVs and cover letters to the application form for consideration.
Only candidates who are shortlisted for interviews will be contacted. No email enquiries please.