Food System Transformation Officer [Hawassa and oromia]

ABOUT RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI)

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years of experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, an independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

ABOUT SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio 

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya. 

ABOUT FIRST CONSULT 

First Consult is a leading economic development consulting firm implementing projects in Ethiopia. Founded in 2006, First Consult (FC) has grown to design and implement projects across the agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. Our multidisciplinary teams combine a capacity to execute with clarity of the local context. As a result, we have delivered at-scale real impact in terms of jobs & wealth creation, business formation & growth, and investment attraction & mobilization.

ABOUT THE PROJECT/PROGRAM 

The purpose of the USAID Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system.  ETA will also increase incomes gained from agriculture by as much as 40 percent over the next five years. To achieve its goals ETA must collaborate intensively with other USAID-funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Regional Food Systems Transformation officer, based at the assigned regional office, is responsible to the development of local food systems transformation approaches and programs that result in more resilient food systems that work for people in the region. S/he will manage our Food Processing Practice and collaborate closely with our practice leaders in agriculture, regenerative business and entrepreneurship as well as regional directors, program development managers and project teams. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Assist in devising a strategy and a flexible approach to delivering food systems transformation that integrates know-how from all of our areas of excellence.

• Support studies and analyses, such as (illustrative): Mapping business and commercial opportunities for SMEs in post-harvest loss mitigation, transport and safety and processing with emphasis on nutritious VCs (including livestock and poultry). 

• Conducting SME-focused constraints analysis to prioritize support for women and youth-led entrepreneurs who are engaged in the food system.

• Support digital agriculture and online platform using food systems lens.

• Collaborate with the nutrition manager, senior livestock market system manager, senior crop market system manager and food environment manager for project successful implementation. 

• Business Development Services: Facilitate the strengthening of local BDS services – including incubation and acceleration, and in some instances directly fill gaps in service provision, to improve the competitiveness, efficiency, resilience, and productivity of SMEs in the targeted nutritious value chains. 

• Specific BDS services may include access to market information and linkages, market research, marketing healthy foods, financial management, and business support to facilitate innovation, bargaining power, and market access, for example, logistics. This should stimulate catalytic entrepreneurship as envisaged in the Ethiopia Food Systems Position Paper with an emphasis on specialization and commercialization that take advantage of local conditions and market opportunities.

• Financial Services: Increase access to finance for SMEs and producers in targeted nutritious value chains through improved investment readiness, and financial literacy, facilitating linkages to financial and investment services and advising financial service providers on how they can improve their services and products.

• Market Linkages: Facilitate access to market linkages to facilitate catalytic entrepreneurship and firm growth and increase employment.

• Expanding access to employment/workforce services to strengthen business performance within key nutritious food value chains and create employment opportunities for women and youth.

• Performs additional duties as assigned by Area Program Manager.

REPORTING 

The Regional Food Systems Transformation Officer report directly to the Area Program Manager of the respective region.

REQUIRED SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

• A Master’s degree (or higher) in economics, business, and/or other closely related fields from a recognized University/College 

• Minimum of 5-8 years of experience with USAID compliance and reporting requirements;

• In-depth familiarity with, understanding of, and ability to successfully navigate within the Ethiopian context preferred;

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capacities – ability to identify issues with contractual implications, ensure consistent donor reporting and support teams in providing appropriate analyses of activities.

• Good interpersonal skills and a good team player

• Ability to work independently and shoulder delegated authority

• Strong technical and analytic capacities and sound judgment

• Professional fluency in English (both spoken and written) and strong command of Amharic is required, additional local language is a plus;

• Excellent computer skills; Good proficiency in Microsoft Office 

How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY

First Consult invites all well-qualified candidates to apply. Competent candidates should submit their one-page cover letter and updated CVs only to: jobs@firstconsultet.com before August 31, 2024. Candidates MUST refer to the position title " Food System Transformation Officer – [Respective Region]" in the subject line of their email and applications.