Senior Administrative / Logistic Officer at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ethiopia

JICA Project for Coffee Development Strategy Support in Ethiopia

 

 

Background

Ethiopia is the world’s fifth-largest coffee producer—after Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia—and Africa’s leading producer of Arabica coffee. In marketing year 2025/26, total production is forecast at approximately 694,000 metric tons (11.6 million 60-kg bags), harvested from around 790,000 hectares. Coffee is produced almost entirely by smallholder farmers, the majority of whom cultivate plots of less than two hectares, mostly without chemical inputs and grown organically under shade. The sector supports the livelihoods of approximately 15 million Ethiopians involved in coffee production and along the value chain. Coffee is the country’s principal export commodity, generating record export earnings of approximately USD 2.65 billion in fiscal year 2024/25 and accounting for around 30–35% of total export revenue.

Arabica coffee cultivation is limited to highland regions within the so-called “coffee belt.” Due to climate change, it is predicted that up to half of the area currently suitable for Arabica coffee cultivation may be lost by 2050—a concern referred to as the “Coffee 2050 Problem.” Warming trends and changing rainfall patterns have also led to the loss of biodiversity and threaten Ethiopia’s genetic resources for Arabica coffee. As the center of origin of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia holds an estimated 6,000–11,000 indigenous accessions and produces uniquely flavored coffee. The environmentally friendly production methods practiced by smallholder farmers are difficult to replicate in other countries and represent a distinctive strength of Ethiopian coffee.

In response to these climate-related challenges, the Government of Ethiopia has formulated the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy, the Green Legacy Initiative, and the 15-year Comprehensive Coffee Development Strategy (2019–2033), under which the country aims to become the world’s second-largest coffee producer and exporter and to reach annual export earnings of USD 4 billion by 2033. The coffee sector strategy focuses on increasing the production of export-standard coffee beans to enhance farmers’ livelihoods and resilience. Against this background, and in the context of recent regulatory developments such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Government of Ethiopia requested Japan—one of the world’s largest coffee-consuming countries—to support the formulation of a coffee development strategy through the dispatch of advisors well-versed in international coffee markets.

Within the Project, the systematic accumulation of cupping data and the analysis of Ethiopia’s coffee quality structure are positioned as the foundation for both quality improvement (“reducing negatives”) and breeding research related to climate change adaptation and flavor richness (“differentiating positives”). This “product-understanding-first” approach is intended to provide the basis for the medium- and long-term goals of genetic resource conservation and utilization, breeding research, and climate change adaptation.

Objective

The Senior Administrative / Logistic Officer hereinafter referred to as “the Staff”) shall provide continuous in-country support to the JICA expert team in implementing project activities. Specifically, the Staff shall serve as the principal liaison between the Project and Ethiopian counterpart institutions (including EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, MoA, JARC, and EBI), provide technical and operational support for the five project activities (A–E), support the operation of the Task Force, and ensure the continuity of project activities through the Task Force even during the absence of JICA experts.

Project Outputs (for reference)

The Staff’s duties contribute to the achievement of the following project outputs:

Output 1: A Task Force for the collection and sharing of information on coffee sector development in Ethiopia is established, and regular meetings are held.

Output 2: To contribute to a better understanding of the quality of Ethiopian coffee, a system is established for the systematic collection and organization of flavor characteristics and the actual conditions of coffee-producing regions.

Output 3: Training programs and other measures aimed at improving coffee productivity and quality are examined and implemented on a pilot basis.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project activities are, in principle, to be carried out primarily by Task Force members. JICA experts shall intervene only when there are difficulties—or a likelihood of difficulties—in implementation.

Under this principle and under the supervision of the JICA Expert, the Staff shall carry out the following duties:

Counterpart Liaison and Activity Coordination

• Serve as the day-to-day liaison between the JICA expert team and Ethiopian counterpart institutions (including EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, MoA, JARC, and EBI).
• Maintain regular communication with counterpart focal points and ensure smooth information flow between the JICA expert team and the Ethiopian side.
• Support the planning, scheduling, and facilitation of project meetings, joint working sessions, and counterpart consultations, including the handling of domestic logistics  required for such activities.
• Promptly report to the JICA expert team any significant delays or losses—or the likelihood thereof—in project activities.

Support for the Various Activities Led by Task Force Members

• Provide logistical support for the various activities carried out by Task Force members, including “Cupping Data Accumulation and Utilization Framework,” “Harmonization of Flavor Evaluation Criteria,” “Improvement of Genetic Resource Information Management,” “Economic Effect Verification,” and other related activities.

Support for Overseas Visits

• Support logistical coordination for the visit to Central America (El Salvador and Costa Rica) of EIAR/JARC researchers, including coordination with counterpart institutions on participant selection, as well as travel arrangements and visa procedures.
• Support overseas visits more generally, including pre-departure briefings and the preparation of post-visit reports.

Task Force Operation Support

• Support the preparation, facilitation, and minute-taking of regular Task Force meetings, including the handling of domestic logistics required for such activities.
• Follow up on action items from Task Force meetings and support information sharing among members.

Field Activities

• Arrange logistics for field activities, including local transportation, accommodation, and meetings with local authorities, cooperatives, and farmers.

4-6. General Duties

• Assist JICA Project Experts in administration, accounting and logistics of the Project.
• Prepare the monthly financial report with the format provided by JICA Project Experts.
• Assist JICA Project Experts and other project staffs in procurement of materials/equipment necessary for the project.
• Organize car arrangement and driver’s schedule according to the Project activities.
• Assist in documentation and filing of project-related documents.
• In cooperation with other project staff, provide translation and interpretation between Amharic and English in the course of project activities.
• In cooperation with other project staff, provide interpretation from Amharic to English at meetings attended by JICA experts.
• Handle the logistics of project meetings, counterpart consultations, Task Force meetings, workshops, and donor meetings.
• Handle logistics relating to the visits of JICA short-term experts (e.g., scheduling, transportation, meetings, field trips, appointments with concerned persons).
• Organize project-related data, documents, and information submitted by the Task Force and other project stakeholders, and maintain systematic project records.
• Submit quarterly work plans and progress reports to the JICA Expert every three months.
• Obtain prior approval from the JICA Expert for the implementation of activities and report outputs with supporting documents.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the JICA Expert.

5.  Required Qualifications

5-1. Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Agriculture, Plant Science, Food Science, Agricultural Economics, Biology, Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, Supply chain management and logistics or related field. A specialization in coffee, horticulture, or agricultural research is an advantage.

5-2. Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the Ethiopian coffee sector, agricultural research, or related fields.
• Practical experience working with EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, JARC, MoA, EBI, or other coffee-related research and administrative institutions is desirable.
• Experience with coffee quality assessment, cupping (Q-Grader certification is a plus), or laboratory work is desirable.
• Prior work experience on JICA-funded projects is required.
• Experience in financial and accounting management of JICA-funded projects is a further advantage.

5-3. Skills and Competencies

• Sound understanding of the Ethiopian coffee value chain, the existing G1–G5 grading system, and the institutional landscape of Ethiopia’s coffee sector.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s coffee policy framework, including the CRGE Strategy and the Comprehensive Coffee Development Strategy, is desirable.
• Familiarity with international regulatory and policy developments relevant to Ethiopian coffee, including the EUDR and the Nagoya Protocol (ABS), is desirable.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages spoken in coffee-producing regions (e.g., Afan Oromo) is an asset.
• Strong report writing, data organization, and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with the JICA expert team and Ethiopian counterparts.
• Ability to work independently between the short-term visits of JICA experts and to maintain project momentum and continuity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness and physical ability to undertake travel to coffee-producing regions.