Technical Advisor II - Agriculture Production and Marketing

About CRS

The Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) is an emergency food assistance program targeting transitory food insecure households through a project participant targeting process led by the Government of Ethiopias (GoE) Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). JEOP provides emergency assistance to protect their lives and livelihood where recurrent drought affected in significant harvest loss, livestock death and price increase of essentials. The consortium is led by CRS and includes consortium partners, CARE, Food for the Hungry, Relief Society of Tigray (REST), World Vision and Organization for Relief and Development in Amhara (ORDA). CRS also works thorough local implementing partners Hararghe and Meki Catholic Secretariat (HCS and MCS).

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title: Technical Advisor II - Agriculture Production and Marketing

Band: 10

Required number: One

Department: RFSA- Agriculture & Economic Livelihoods

Employment Term: Definite Term (i.e. till September 2026)

Reports To: Program Manager II - Economic

Country/Location: CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Deadline: March 22, 2024

Job Summary:

As a member of the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA)/Ifaa project team ,You will provide technical advice, guidance, and supportto a wide range of agriculture Production (Food system), Market system Development(MSD)and private sector engagement (PSE) design and implementation issues with a focus on RFSA/Ifaa in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, USAID/BHA guidelines, and industry best practicesto regional and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive, and innovative CRS RFSA/IFAA programming is across the globe.

The incumbent will establish and maintain positive and complementary working relationships across a wide range of contributing implementing partners and GoE stakeholders. The incumbent will be responsible for increasing production and productivity, quantity, quality, and competitiveness of the producers Marketing groups (PMGs) of crop, supporting the formation and functioning of lead farmers/lead herders extension approach to promote good agricultural practices, formation of producers marketing groups and private service provider engagement and supporting access to sustainable livelihood pathways. The incumbent will employ a climate smart approach to agro-enterprise, pursuing livelihood activities that promote soil regeneration, crop diversification and other practices that minimize land degradation. The incumbent will support rural businesses and livelihood groups to strengthen linkages, improve their products/services, processes, add new functions, and enter new market channels. The incumbent will have a strong background in agricultural production specially crop production, Market system Development and value chain and market system assessments, rural market linkages, private sector engagement, livelihood income generation and capacity building.

The incumbent must be well-versed in the PSNP methodology, in particular the holistic approach of PSNP V, aimed at increasing resilience of its beneficiaries and linking livelihoods with public works.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in RFSA/Ifaa that effectively engage Ifaa partners, USAID/BHA, and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, Youth, protection mainstreaming, SBC, disaster risk reduction and Early warning information.
• Provide agriculture production (food system), MSD and Private sector engagement (PSE) technical solutions to regional and CP teams, RFSA/Ifaa teams remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to regional and CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities in CRS RFSA/Ifaa agriculture production, MSD, and PSE. Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS approach.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in agriculture production, MSD and PSE programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning of RFSA/Ifaa through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with USAID/BHA, peer organizations (RFSA awardees), agricultural research, university including Haramaya and private/public agricultural input suppliers. Participate in forums in the area of agriculture production/food system, MSD and PSE to collect and share best practices and promote CRS RFSA/Ifaa Work
• Serve as expert in market systems and value chain constraints analysis, assessing threats, strengths, opportunities and threats to the value chain, and in particular to participating value chain clients especially women. Develop within the value chain new partnerships capable of resolving and supporting on-going constraints analysis.
• Facilitate improvements in the stakeholders markets engagements, convene collaborative partnerships with key market actors, finance providers and promote systemic change enabling the use of a market systems lens to anticipate market trends and risks.
• Work with public institutions and research institutions, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, business community to build sector-wide, mutual benefits on the value chain levels, including reduction of transaction costs, reduced waste, reduction in risk, and to increase market opportunities, i.e., volume and/or profit.
• Collaborate with CRS implementing partners in supporting peer-based farmer to farmer approach entailing demonstration plots and learning sessions in climate-smart approaches.
• Assist with the hiring, orientation, and training of key CRS RFSA and implementing partner staff to build a technically strong, well supported, motivated team.
• Provide direction and technical advice to agriculture and marketing staff and daily support in project implementation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the COP, DCOP and Economic Livelihoods Program Manager

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in agriculture (Crop production, Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural value chain and management related required.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in agriculture production and value chain management/MSD.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in agriculture specially in agro pastoral and pastoral areas, Market system development and value chain management. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in agriculture, MSD, PSE including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Required Foreign Language: English and Amharic, Afaan Oromo.

Travel - include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience with USAID project implementation
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

Personal Accountability Consistently takes responsibility for ones own actions.

Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.

Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.

Collaborates with Others Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.

Open to Learn Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

Lead Change Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.

Develops and Recognizes Others Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.

Strategic Mindset Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal

External

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.