Solidaridad is an international civil society organization (CSO) with over 55 years of experience in developing solutions that create resilient communities and sustainable supply chains. We work across value chains to make sustainability the norm by supporting the transition to an inclusive economy that ensures sustainable livelihoods, fair wages, and production in balance with nature. Guided by our farmers-first approach, we champion sustainable land use, contribute to improved working conditions and livelihoods, and ensure food and nutrition security while strengthening producer organizations. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Solidaridad East and Central Africa has country offices and operations in Ethiopia, Kenya (Regional Office), Tanzania, and Uganda, and outreaches in Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Rwanda.
We bring together supply chain players and engage them with innovative solutions to enhance production and drive the transition to economies that maximize the benefits for all. Our efforts focus on strengthening local capacities in developing nations, supporting the creation of enabling environments for economies to thrive, and improving market access. Through our interventions, we also promote fair and transparent trade, uphold corporate social responsibility, and encourage ethical sourcing and conscious consumption.
Project Associate – Biochar Pilot Project Implementation
Duration: One Year
Reporting Line: Project Manager / Senior Project Officer
Location: Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (Field-based)
Organizational position
The Project Associate works with the Project officers, senior project officers and project Mangers
Roles and Responsibilities
- Feedstock Management: Identify, secure, and assess sustainable agri-waste (coffee husks, maize, soy, forestry thinnings) ensuring its relevance and importance for the project at smallholders household level and other relevant sources.
- Production & Installation: Oversee the commissioning, installation, and leveling of low-to-mid-tech pyrolysis units( Kontiki Kins) within selected farms.
- Applications/Pyrolysis Oversight: Monitor thermochemical decomposition by controlling reactor temperatures and gas flow under oxygen-limited conditions to ensure efficiency and safety with collaboration of the academia, smallholder farmers and other relevant stakeholders.
- Technical Training & ToT: Lead training for 20 farmer groups( 320 members) on production and conduct “Training of Trainers” (ToT) regarding biochar uptake for coffee plots and its applications.
- Farmer Implementation: Manage the active production and application plans for 320 farmers, ensuring biochar is correctly integrated into their specific fields.
- Field Science & Trials: Design and manage control/test plots to measure biochar’s impact on crop yields, plant health, and soil moisture retention (hydrology) during dry periods.
- Quality Control & Lab Liaison: Coordinate with academia and research centers labs to test biochar for pH, carbon content, and etc , ensuring it meets standards for safe soil amendment.
- Asset & Maintenance Management: Responsible for the upkeep, routine inspection, and repair of kilns and other materials to minimize downtime and protect project tools.
- Data Collection & KPI Reporting: Collect and report field data on biochar-blend volumes, labor hours, fuel consumption, and farmer adoption rates for quarterly reviews.
- Logistics & Sourcing: Coordinate the complex transport of bulky biomass, Kontiki kilns and other relevant inputs to the site and the efficient distribution of finished biochar to end-users.
- Stakeholder & Regulatory Alignment: Act as the primary liaison between Solidaridad, the regional government and local farmer groups, and authorities to secure and complete project agreements, land-use permits and ensure technical milestone delivery and coordination from the regional to local/kebele levels.
- Budgeting & Scalability Analysis: Track all project expenditures against the pilot budget and evaluate data to determine the economic feasibility of expanding to a full-scale commercial operation.
- Donor Narrative Reporting: Drafting comprehensive monthly and quarterly narrative reports for Solidaridad and donors, detailing progress against project milestones, challenges faced, and mitigation strategies.
- Financial Accountability & Audit Support: Collaborating with the finance team to align field expenditures with donor-approved budgets, providing the necessary documentation for annual audits and financial reviews.
- Impact Storytelling & Case Studies: Developing quantitative and qualitative reports that highlight farmer success stories and “lessons learned” to demonstrate the social and environmental value of the project to stakeholders.
- Execute a quality-checking mechanism for information received from the projects teams and partners (including CSOs), to ensure high level of accuracy and clarity in data collection and reporting.
- Collaborate with regional project teams, and assist them in successful implementation.
Data collection, verification and supporting in report writing for all country programs.
Key Qualifications
Knowledge and experience
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience: Minimum of 2–5 years of field experience in agricultural project implementation, preferably focusing on soil health, climate-smart agriculture, or biochar.
- Technical Skills: Practical knowledge of biochar production techniques and organic fertilizer application.
- Contextual Knowledge: Deep understanding of the coffee value chain and the socio-economic landscape of the Jimma Zone/Oromia region.
Specific job requirements
- Language: Proficiency in English and Oromiffa
- Field Coordination: Strong ability to mobilize smallholder farmers and manage community-based training.
- Reporting: Ability to produce clear, data-driven technical reports against established KPIs.
- Self-Motivation: Ability to work independently in remote field locations with minimal supervision.
- Travel: Willingness to travel and live in specific project sites extensively within the coffee-growing areas of the Jimma region.
- Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others.
- Strong analytical and field coordination skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and managerial capacity.
- Strong leadership, strategic planning and management skills with an ability to work in a multicultural setting.
- Self-motivation, creativity and an ability to perform without close supervision.
- Capable of working in a dynamic, inter-cultural and multi-stakeholder setting.
- Excellent communication skills with ability to produce professional reports in English language.
Salary: Commensurate with experience
How to Apply
Interested and Qualified applicants may Apply through Solidaridad ECA Career Website: https://solidaridadnetworkeca.bamboohr.com/careers/74.
Deadline for submission: May 20, 2026
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or any other protected characteristic. Applicants from marginalised and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.