Position: Senior Project Officer I – Crop Agribusiness
Term of Employment: One year with possibility of extension
Duty Station(s): Assosa, Ethiopia
Required Number: One
Application Deadline: October 8, 2025
Job Description
BACKGROUND:
The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI’s work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating. Platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions.
The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
Our Culture
We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great teamwork to achieve excellent results.
At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution to changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training, and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.
Position Summary
The Crop Agribusiness Senior Project Officer (SPO) I is responsible for the successful implementation of the Crop Commercialization Program of Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) II program initiatives in the Benishangul Gumuz region. The Crop Agribusiness SPO I is responsible for coordinating and implementation of crop (grain and horticulture) related interventions in the Agricultural Commercialization Cluster (ACC) II program. S/he will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating of all activities connected to Farmers Production and Agribusiness Companies (FPACs) and marketing activities of the program as well as providing advice and consultation on all business skill and marketing management activities throughout all ACC II program in the region. Also, he/she is responsible for compiling, analysing, reporting and assume potential risks for effective project implementation. The job holder will report directly to the regional program manager.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Outcome 1: Work on facilitation, coordination, and management of value chain forums/multistakeholder meetings; market linkage forums/ business to business/B2B meetings; and contract market agreements to meet the agri-business needs (25%).
- Provide high level technical/expertise support to the crop value chain activities in the region.
- Actively engage in the Development Strategy for crop Farmers Production Cluster and detailed implementation plan
- Identify main actors (smallholder and commercial producer, private and cooperative aggregators, processing plants, buyer institutions) and service providers (government offices, NGOs, financial institutions, etc) as main attendants for prospected platforms across VC of the prioritized commodities.
- Develop agendas with consultation of main and service provider stakeholders
- Ensure effective operational planning of interventions and activities, budgeting, reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Facilitate, coordinate, and manage periodic VCA, B2B and marketing meetings/forums
- Ensure execution of contract farming and contract market linkages between agriculturalist and institutional/individual buyers
- Support market structure and/or facilities investment works for timely completion
Work closely with implementing partners and build their capacity in value chains and market systems development related interventions. - Ensure CCI (Gender, CSA, and Nutrition) properly mainstreamed in the project interventions
- Facilitate inclusive and sustainable linkages between agricultural input businessmen, input suppliers, and value chain actors, driving systemic change to ensure the scalability and long-term viability of agricultural input supply systems in the region.
- Establish and strengthen networks between MSEs and major input suppliers by promoting market linkages and cultivating long-term, sustainable business relationships to support enterprise growth and income generation.
Outcome 2: Stakeholder engagement (15%).
- Work with regional implementation partners to resolve strategic and operational issues on agribusiness, market, and agro-processing that arise throughout the project’s lifetime
- Liaison bureaux in the preparation of annual ACC program marketing plan and for an efficient marketing implementation.
- Provide technical support on the development and revision of tools applicable for FPCs/ACC marketing.
- Support the establishment and strengthening of a Value Chain platform which involves value chain actors and promote an integrated and inclusive model of the value chain
- Support for the establishment and operationalization of guidelines for VC and market linkage guidance to have smooth relationships among actors and smooth flow of
- produces across the VC in each prioritized commodity.
- Foster backward and forward market linkages between value chain actors and strengthen private sector involvement in the value chain.
- Provide content direction and input to other members of the ACC and other project teams.
- Support effective cross-sector and public-private stakeholders’ coordination and problem-solving issues in all input and credit administration, production and marketing components of VCs of the prioritized commodities in the region.
- Proven record in smoothly working with multiple community leaders, stakeholders, and Donor Partners
- Good experience in facilitating stakeholder forums, business and market linkages, working with sectoral associations, and strengthening of MSEs and private traders.
Experience in providing business development service support and mentoring of agri-SMEs
Outcome 3: Conduct assessments, developing, and leading the implementation of solutions to solve technical and operational challenges (20%).
- Introduce new technologies and participatory planning of marketing activities, improved market information and targeted business development services
- Identify concrete commercial opportunities and conduct market analysis for priority commodity value chain
- Collaborate with the regional relevant teams to map and develop market linkages
Evaluate investment needs to upgrade production and processing, accessing output finance, improving marketing practices, upgrading aggregation and agro processing. - Conduct assessment of limiting factors across the value chain and propose mitigation measures.
- Identify potential risks that could affect the overall performance of the project and develop mitigation measures for resolutions
Outcome 4: Conduct capacity building activities and follow up support to ensure the creation of human capital capable of executing the ACC program activities at the region (15%).
- Provide guidance to Woreda experts and DAs and implementation partners in the implementation of marketing and value chain intervention activities
- Identify business skill gaps of main actor and service provider stakeholders in each VC of prioritized commodities
- Conduct awareness creation on contract farming and contract marketing for key implementors
- Facilitate and provide ToT training for stakeholders (concepts, principles, analyses, guidance, upgrading and financing) and on agri-businesses (commercialization, effective aggregation, value addition, quality assurance/effective product management and output placement) to effectively execute the ACC program.
- Facilitate and provide special training on export marketing for export commodities.
Strengthen business relations capacity of FPCs with potential buyers. - Identify systemic and operational issues affecting the market linkage and value chain implementation and provide systematic intervention support
- Provide technical support to model FPC member for the preparation of their business plans and facilitation of linkages with potential buyers
Outcome 5: Documentation of efficient methodologies & tools, and development of a network of partners and service providers (15%)
- Document minutes, meeting agendas and pictures for each VCA meetings and contract agreements
- Compile experiences of each meeting and agreement events to main stakeholders as lesson learnt.
- Make the learnings publicly available through different communication outlets
Develop an interactive website/App for Agribusiness for knowledge and best practices sharing - Develop network with partner and service providers for project efficacy and efficiency
Outcome 6: Responsible for compiling and submitting data and reports to ensure alignment on project implementation and identify potential risks that could affect the overall performance of the project (10%). - Prepare standard VC meetings and market linkage forums minutes and periodic (weekly, monthly and quarterly) reporting templates aligned with regional, and HO demands for both regional and upward reports.
- Ensure alignment on the plan, effective coordination of relevant stakeholders to address critical issues along the value chain and monitor progresses on agreed actions.
- Prepare and submit high standard aggregated biweekly, quarterly, annual and on demand performance reports to regional program manager.
- The job holder is responsible also for additional interventions assigned by his/her immediate supervisor.
Required Qualification, Competencies and Experience
- Minimum master’s degree in Agronomy, agriculture, crop production, horticulture, Agribusiness, Agricultural economics, and other relevant fields
- Experience: At least 6 years of experience directly related to agricultural sciences, private sector engagement, or related fields.
Behavioural competencies: - Result /outcome oriented – Focus on VCA development and marketing tasks
- Teamwork – Believes in a teamwork and organize the regional teams’ needs.
- Passion for rural development – Have a great passion working with farmers
- Strategic thinking – Align with the stakeholders’ visions.
- Networking – Creating a network in his /her functions with all actors
- Communication Skill – Conversant with regional working language(s); Good oral and
- written communication skills, with highly collaborative working style.
- Problem-solving skill – Good analytical, problem solving and reporting skills
- Change Management and adaptability – Good understanding of stakeholders’ vision;
- Ability to scan domestic and international market systems.
- Decision making – Ability to identify key problems and taking timely decision; Good analytical skill and taking calculated risks; Ability and willingness to take responsibilities (in terms of overlapping assignments that may happen occasionally).
- Confidentiality – The principle of keeping secure and secret from others information given by organization.
- Personal values – Strong integrity, honesty, and desire to serve.
Technical competencies: - Agribusiness experience and skill – Adopt and implement best experiences on product aggregation, value addition, marketing, etc.
- Planning, implementing, and monitoring – Planning, implementation, and monitoring ACC project tasks.
- Stakeholders’ Management – Knowledge and understanding of various regional-level and federal-level institutions; extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders; Outstanding inter-personal and stakeholder management skills; ability to communicate consistently, clearly, and effectively to influence a range of stakeholders in a cross-cultural environment; Good experience of working in regional, and civil society or private sectors; Good in identification, analysis, planning and management skill of stakeholders
- Knowledge and experience on Value Chain Management – Market-led value chain development and value chain principles, analysis, guidance, management and upgrading chains.
- Knowledge and skill on agricultural marketing – Excellent experience in contract farming, market linkage, value addition and business development skill especially in agricultural sector.
- Professional skill – Ability to work with minimal supervision; demonstrated track record of organization, multi-tasking, and time management skills; and ability to work within multi-cultural environment.
- Resource Management – Ability to identify all necessary resources; Manage resources efficiently.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS (LANGUAGES, LICENSING OR CERTIFICATIONS)
· Competent in utilizing essential computer applications.
· Proficiency in oral and written English, and Amharic languages
· Having a certificate in project management is an added advantage
HOW TO APPLY
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to: https://apply.ati.gov.et. It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.
Women are highly encouraged to apply
NB. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.