Project Officer _ Coffee

Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia | One-year contract (renewable subject to performance and funding)

About the Role

Solidaridad East & Central Africa is seeking a Project Officer – Coffee Projects to coordinate field-level implementation of coffee projects in Jimma Zone, Oromia Region. The successful candidate will work with smallholder farmers, cooperatives, washing stations, government offices and commercial partners to deliver approved project activities, strengthen farmer services and ensure reliable field data and reporting. The role is field-based and requires frequent travel across assigned coffee-producing Woredas.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day field implementation in line with approved workplans, budgets, timelines, donor requirements and quality standards.
• Engage and coordinate with farmers, primary cooperatives, washing stations, local government offices, sector platforms and commercial partners.
• Support farmer awareness, registration and onboarding to the Farm Card and related digital traceability systems.
• Coordinate collection and verification of farmer, farm, supply-chain, EUDR geolocation and polygon-mapping data, ensuring records are complete and accurate.
• Coordinate farmer income and cost-of-production surveys, support farmer participation and explain personalised QR-coded farm reports.
• Deliver gender-responsive and inclusive activities, promote women’s participation and follow safeguarding and referral procedures.
• Support cooperative and washing-station capacity building on data management, sustainability requirements and relevant EUDR/CSDDD procedures.
• Support market-linkage activities with commercial partners and exporter networks through timely coordination and accurate field information.
• Collect and submit quality project monitoring data, activity reports, farmer feedback, lessons and evidence of results.
• Maintain accurate records and comply with data protection, safeguarding, health and safety, donor and organisational requirements; promptly escalate risks and concerns.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agronomy, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Sustainable Agriculture, ICT for Agriculture, Rural Development or a related field.
• Three to five years of progressive experience in field-level project implementation or management in Ethiopia; experience in coffee value chains, smallholder traceability or sustainability compliance is preferred.
• Good understanding of Ethiopia’s coffee sector, cooperative structures and relevant government and sector stakeholders. Familiarity with ECX structures, cooperative laws and land administration frameworks is an advantage.
• Experience working with civil society organisations, development partners, corporate donors, private-sector actors or local government agricultural and cooperative offices.
• Knowledge of EUDR and CSDDD requirements, or the ability to learn and apply relevant technical guidance.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic is required. Professional proficiency in Afaan Oromo is highly desirable.
• Experience using mobile data collection tools such as ODK or KoboToolbox, GIS mapping tools, databases and digital field applications is an advantage.

Key Competencies

Strong project coordination and delivery; digital literacy and data quality management; analytical, documentation and reporting skills; stakeholder engagement and facilitation; gender equality and social inclusion awareness; clear communication and teamwork; adaptability and resilience in field environments; integrity, confidentiality and responsible data management.

Reporting Line and Working Conditions

The Project Officer will report to the Project Manager and/or Country Manager, as determined by the approved project structure, and will work closely with project, MEAL, programme, finance and operations colleagues. The position is field-based and involves frequent travel to remote coffee-producing communities in the assigned project areas.