Agriculture Officer

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations.

Program Summary

Mercy Corps Ethiopia currently secured USAID/BHA funded multisectoral response program entitled ‘Humanitarian Assistance for Conflict-Affected Populations (HACAP)” in Oromia, Afar and Somali regions. The goal of the proposed program is to increase access to Life-saving Services for Conflict-affected IDPs, Returnees, and Vulnerable Populations through provision of integrated Multi-Sectoral Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), Health, Nutrition, Agriculture, Protection, and Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) support in seven Woredas of the three regions.

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Agriculture Specialist, the agriculture officer will be responsible for leading timely and quality implementation of Agriculture (Crop and Vegetable) production activities in HACAP program, which is under operation in Adadle, Berano, and Abakorow Woredas of the Somali Region, and in Gumi Eldalo and Liben Woredas of the Oromia Region. She/he will work to ensure program achievement and contribute to enhancing agricultural productivity in the areas including crop and vegetable production.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Provided technical facilitation support around responsibilities for agriculture activities in crop and vegetable production and productivity activities to ensure the planned activists are implemented timely and with required deliverable quality.
• Facilitate capacity building efforts for market actors (i.e. private, public) on the MSD approaches, identification of the market system opportunities/constraints through conducting continues system analysis and access to agricultural inputs, support the delivery of market feed/fodder, agricultural inputs through market actors to targeted communities.
• Engage in regular field visits to assess the activities implementation progress, give technical advises/mentor, and provide feedback(s) for further improvement.
• Closely work with supervisor and M&E team during the development of monitoring
• tools/measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcome in his/her area assigned.
• Ensures the program properly captures, documented, and updated relevant information in crop and vegetable production activities of HACAP.
• In collaboration with project team, work to build and maintain close relationships with key government partners and local implementers.
• Represent Mercy Corps professionally in zonal and woreda level as to bring credit and to maintain its humanitarian and development mission.
• Compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly, and quarterly); and
• Other duties as assigned.

Team Management:

• Support and liaise with Agriculture Specialist and Livestock officer in managing the agricultural intervention of HACAP Program.
• Coordinate and work with other HACAP team members, Woreda level stakeholders, and Agricultural experts during the implementation of the program activities.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the
• realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute to the execution)
• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners, and program participants.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps and themselves.

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree BSc degree in the areas: General Agriculture, plant science, Crop production, Rural Development, and other related subjects.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in private sector and/or NGOs working focused on MSD (facilitation and providing technical support), agribusiness and/or financial services.
• Good understanding on the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Experiences in supporting privet sector lead business enterprises in pastoral/ agro-pastoral settings, providing business development supports, industries (public and private), institutions and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of participatory analyses, action, and results processing.
• Experience/exposures to the location/region he/she applied for.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, and speaking the local language is a plus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diverse candidates to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Ethics policies and reporting misconduct | Mercy Corps and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.  

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and   diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.” 

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 03 June 2024/ 4:00 PM