Senior Coffee Expert (100%)

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Caritas Switzerland (CACH) has been working in Ethiopia for 50 years. Currently, CACH cooperates with four partners in Ethiopia. CACH has successfully registered as an International Non-Governmental Organization in Ethiopia, enabling it to operate at the project implementation level. CACH's main areas of focus are Climate, Income, Migration, and Humanitarian Aid. CACH’s current working areas are in Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray, where it supports and implements approximately ten projects.

Summary of Duties

The Senior Coffee Expert will play a pivotal role in supporting coffee-growing communities through sustainable practices and capacity building. Reporting to and working closely with the Senior Project Manager/Field Coordinator, the expert will provide technical support in the implementation all coffee-related components as well has activities that combine coffee and household resilience. The Senior Coffee Expert will focus on practical aspects of coffee production, including quality control and strengthening relationships with farmers in the field. In this role, the expert will engage with farmers to enhance coffee quality, develop training programs on best cultivation and processing methods, and ensure adherence to quality standards. Additionally, the Senior Coffee Expert will support other project activities as needed, contributing to improving livelihoods, facilitating market access for local cooperatives, and advocating for policies that promote ethical sourcing and sustainability. This role combines expertise in coffee production with a commitment to humanitarian efforts, aiming to uplift communities and create a lasting positive impact.

Expected Key Results

• Sustainable coffee production and processing practices are adopted, leading to enhanced coffee quality among partner farms.
• Evidence of improvement is shown through higher cupping scores and positive market feedback.
• Effective training programs increase farmers' knowledge and skills.
• Improved cultivation and processing practices result from these training initiatives.
• Project components are designed and implemented to improve the livelihoods of coffee-growing communities.
• Local cooperatives gain greater market access, leading to increased sales.
• Opportunities in fair-trade and organic markets are leveraged for better profitability.
• Targeted projects result in measurable improvements in the livelihoods of coffee-growing communities.
• Success is tracked through specific, quantifiable metrics.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Key Responsibilities

• Visit coffee farms to evaluate production practices, quality, and adherence to process standards.
• Provide technical assistance and recommendations to coffee producers to improve crop yield, quality, and sustainability.
• Monitor and assess coffee quality throughout the production process, from cherry selection to processing and drying.
• Assist in training farmers and field staff on best practices in coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing techniques aligned with certification requirements.
• Document changes in production quality, best practices, and lessons learned, and share them with the project management team; provide regular feedback to producers.
• Encourage farmers to adapt coffee production processes to comply with relevant regulations and certifications (e.g., organic, Fair Trade based on practices from the Bale Wild Project).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with coffee growers, cooperatives, unions, and other stakeholders.
• Act as a liaison between producers/producer organizations, unions, government, and project management, addressing any concerns and facilitating effective communication.
• Collect and analyse data related to coffee production, quality, and environmental impact.
• Prepare reports and provide insights to guide decision-making and strategy development.
• Assist and facilitate market linkages between producers and unions.

Prepare and Keep the Database of Beneficiaries Up to Date

• Inform the beneficiaries of the registration procedure.
• Provide input and update beneficiary data.
• Prepare lists and distribution cards.

Implement and Follow Up the Activities

• Implement the planned coffee activities.
• Regularly determine and update the material needs for the activities.
• Calculate the necessary quantities of materials and equipment and prepare the orders.
• Contribute to the training of the project beneficiaries.
• Set up and organize monitoring systems.
• Ensure regularity and punctuality of monitoring, supervision, and reporting.
• Intervene in case of disputes.
• Write daily updates, weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports; provide input for donor reports.
• Ensure that logistics and financial needs are met.
• Write activity reports, monthly minutes, and other necessary reports.
• Make recommendations for improving the project based on activity results.
• Propose new directions for future activities.

Sustain Internal and External Coordination

• Represent Caritas at all relevant technical external task forces, working groups, seminars, or other meetings/forums identified and approved by the Head, using these meetings to negotiate strategic and advocacy positions.
• Explain the project’s activities and objectives to partners and the community.
• Participate in internal and external coordination meetings.
• Act as a link between the organization and the beneficiaries, and between the organization and partners.
• Handle other responsibilities and tasks as assigned by line managers.

Facilitate Community Participation and Coordinate with Government Staff During Project Interventions

• Integrate and coordinate the work of the community and local partners.
• Supervise team members.
• Provide the team with technical support.
• Handle other responsibilities and tasks as assigned by line managers.

Other and Special Tasks

• Stay up to date with internal, donor, and government standards and tools.
• Work collaboratively with all departments and units.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the assignment.

The ideal candidate represents the majority of the below mentioned areas:

• BA/MA’s degree in related field (Agriculture with focus Coffee; Food Value Chains; Business & Entrepreneurship) 
• General Senior Expert Coffee Profile
• Specific expertise: Coffee sector; coffee value chain and market development; MSD; private sector engagement; excellent coordination skills
• Ability and readiness to drive a motorcycle (driving licence required)
• Oromiffa speaking and at good command of English and Amharic (oral and written) 

How To Apply

Applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) as PDF including at least three work references. Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. 

Application in any other format (word, JPG etc) will be automatically rejected.  At this stage no other documents are required to be submitted.

Applicants Must Fill out the information and send the PDF cover letter and CV through the link: (https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/qoE1xToy)

Deadline for application is September 25, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are highly encouraged.