Senior Cooperative Advisor Lobby and Advocacy Expert

About Agriterra

Agriterra is the world’s leading not-for-profit agri-agency from-and-for agricultural cooperatives and farmer organisations. Our mission is to strengthen organised farmers in developing and emerging countries, given the importance of effectively organised farmers to sustainably address food security, economic development, climate adaptation and mitigation. We are financed and work via donor granted projects and programmes. These long-lasting strategic partnerships with a variety of donors are key for us in our day-today work. For more information, visit our website www.agriterra.org.

In Ethiopia, Agriterra has been active since 2015. It supports cooperatives in the dairy, coffee, cereal, and horticulture value chains in different parts of the country.

About the project

BRIDGE+ is a five year programme (from November 2023 to December 2028) implemented by a consortium of partners composed of SNV Netherlands Development Organization (lead) and Wageningen University (WUR) and Agriterra, with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN).

The overall objective of the BRIDGE+ programme is to contribute to a functioning dairy Value Chain that creates inclusive and sustainable benefits for all its participants, including wider society, with particular focus on smallholder farmers within the mixed farming system. To attain this objective, the project will operate at three levels: (1) smallholder farmers: increase benefits from dairy farming; (2) dairy value chain: improving functioning and food safety; and (3) at sector level: strengthening institutional structure.

In BRIDGE+ Agriterra will focus on building the capacities of dairy cooperative societies to deal with the changing market dynamics (including resilience) through reinforcing their governance structures, management and services.

About the job

Agriterra is seeking a Senior Cooperative Advisor to support its BRIDGE+ project, focusing on business advisory services and lobby and advocacy. In this role, you will provide expert advice, coordinate advisory trajectories with cooperatives, and act as a broker in business deals to strengthen cooperative organizations. You will develop and maintain a strong network of cooperatives, financial institutions, traders, and service providers in the dairy value chain. Your responsibilities include initiating and guiding change processes, lobbying, mediating, supporting negotiations, and structuring business deals.

In addition to advisory services, you will lead Agriterra’s lobby and advocacy agenda within BRIDGE+, developing plans aligned with the SNV BRIDGE+ policy team and in collaboration with the Agriterra BRIDGE+ project lead. Working with Cooperative Advisors, you will assess ongoing activities, identify key lobbying topics, and prioritize impactful advocacy trajectories. As the Lobby and Advocacy Expert, you will coordinate efforts with farmers’ organizations and dairy cooperatives, conducting research, writing policy papers, organizing workshops, and advising stakeholders. You will collaborate with Agriterra Cooperative Advisors and receive strategic backstopping from the project lead.

Your work will drive measurable policy impact, ensuring policy note targets are met and effectively implemented. Leveraging your network of cooperatives, government bodies, NGOs, donors, and financial institutions, you will push for tangible improvements that benefit smallholder farmers.

This role demands strategic leadership, networking skills, and a results-driven approach to business advisory and advocacy in Ethiopia’s cooperative sector.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Business advisory service

• Support the Agriterra BRIDGE+ Project Lead in implementing the localization strategy.
• Provide business development advice and facilitate change management to help dairy cooperatives and unions unlock their growth potential.
• Enhance the attractiveness of dairy cooperatives to professionals and stakeholders by engaging local and international partners.
• Collaborate with government institutions and stakeholders to drive sector-wide transformation.
• Assist cooperatives and key actors in developing and implementing sustainable business strategies.

Lobby Advocacy:

• Work closely with SNV BRIDGE+ project colleagues responsible for policy components, supporting sector-wide policy discussions and advocacy.
• Lead the lobby and advocacy agenda for the Agriterra BRIDGE+ project cooperative development componet.
• Develop a comprehensive lobby and advocacy plan aligned with project objectives.
• Co-develop policy papers in collaboration with farmers’ organizations, associations and dairy cooperatives.
• Conduct an inventory of ongoing activities to identify key lobby and advocacy issues.
• Initiate a scan of potential topics for impactful advocacy interventions.
• Identify high-potential lobby and advocacy trajectories with Cooperatives and other suitable lobby farmer organizations to drive policy influence.
• Provide close monitoring, advisory support, and practical assistance for the implementation of lobby and advocacy strategies by partner organizations and cooperative advisors.
• Organize workshops, training sessions, and consultation meetings to engage stakeholders.
• Conduct desk and field research to support evidence-based advocacy.
• Ensure tangible results in policy changes and donor proposals, tracking progress and impact.
• Develop and manage a network of key stakeholders to strengthen lobby efforts in Ethiopia.

What we have to offer!

• An international, collegial, ambitious, and impact-oriented work environment.
• Developmental opportunities including an education fund.
• In this position you get the responsibility but also the freedom to use your skills in order to operate in dynamic international markets and see and realize opportunities.
• Whenever necessary, you will work in collaboration with other Agriterra and SNV BRIDGE+ staff.
• Agriterra is offering a full-time position till December 31, 2025 with the possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.
• Additional benefits respecting the country’s legislation and Agriterra’s HR policies and frameworks
• Wonderful workplace & great colleagues!

Job Requirements

Qualification:

• Master’s degree in the field of development, political science entrepreneurship, agribusiness, business administration, agricultural economics, or similar (master’s degree is preferred).

Experience and skills

• 10 years of experience in rural development and 7 years in business development, market development, and private sector engagement.
• Strong understanding of the dairy value chain and the agriculture sector in Ethiopia.
• Knowledge of the Ethiopian policy environment in agriculture and dairy.
• Excellent networking, communication, writing, reporting, and presentation skills. Fluent in English (speaking and writing).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with organizational and persuasion skills to motivate teams.
• Business-minded, proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable to shifting demands and deadlines.
• Results-driven, service-oriented, and skilled in advisory and training.
• Hands-on approach with the ability to deliver high-quality policy papers in fluent English.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills.
• Independent worker, willing to travel frequently to rural areas.