Multiple job openings @ Farm Africa

Job Description:

End Hunger.Grow Farming
Farm Africa
Vacancy Announcement

Farm Africa is an international non-governmental organization working to end hunger and bring prosperity to rural Africa. We work to increase the incomes and improve food security of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and forest dwellers in East Africa.

Farm Africa Ethiopia has recently been awarded a grant for the Building resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) Programme. BRACED is a three-year project operating in Afar, SNNPR and Somali regions.

BRACED will test innovative market-based approaches to improve the resilience of economic, ecological and social systems in the Ethiopian lowlands. These approaches will open opportunities for vulnerable pastoral/agro-pastoral households; business and communities in rural and peri-urban areas to better manage risk and resources, and successfully transform their livelihoods. BRACED will leverage and engage private investors in addressing climate risks, modeling approaches for environmental and socially responsible investment. It will also promote inclusive financial models and economic opportunities adaptable to climate extremes, and stimulate appropriate diversification of economic activity among the most vulnerable, through public and private sector partnerships. BRACED will support the following key areas:

• Insurance providing technical support in design, pricing, marketing and community outreach
• Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAS)
• Supporting Microfinance Institutions and commercial and public banks to incorporate climate risk into portfolio risk management and develop context-appropriate credit products
• Strengthening Rapid-Onset Emergency Early Warming frameworks through contingency funding
• Supporting financial institutions to expand mobile banking to remote areas
• Strengthening climate information by funding weather station infrastructure
• Participatory Rangeland Management / Participatory NRM support
• Building Local Government municipality capacity for green towns and cities

The BRACED projects is currently recruiting highly motivated persons to fill the following positions:

Team Leader (Afar Semera & SNNPR Jinka) – The Team Leader is responsible for leading BRACED projects implementation in Afar / SNNPR region undertaking project management, planning, implementation, financial management, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, outputs and impacts. Responsibilities involve ensuring that all projects relevant stakeholders at the project area are full engaged.

The Team Leader will divide his/her time between team leadership and management, supporting staff to ensure best practice in implementation and that piloted approaches are tested, monitored and evaluated.

Given that BRACED will pilot innovative financing approaches and tools the Project Team Leader will significantly contribute to buildingevidence base in the region.  A lead role will be taken in ensuring data collection, analysis and reporting to develop learning outcomes. Support will be provided to internal and external knowledge management and communications.

A lead role will be taken in relationship management, coordinating and liaising as appropriate with project partners both in Government and the Private Sector.

This will involve:

• Contributing to national and regional networks and interest groups relevant to the project and input into policy and thematic debates
• Facilitate key partnerships around finance and innovative market approaches at a regional level with public, private, academic and NGO sector players to advance project delivery

 The post holder will also monitor and investigate new ideas and trends in market oriented approaches taking place at a regional level and disseminate them within the Project and Farm Africa.
 

NRM Specialist (Afar Zone 1 & Semera) -  The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist will be based at Semera, Afar, to work under the direction and guidance of the Afar Project Coordinator.

The purpose of the NRM Specialist is to support BRACED program quality and impact through provision of technical assistance and advice in the areas of information systems, participatory rangeland management, watershed management, sustainable community water management systems in pastoral and peri urban areas and livestock productivity improvement (including forage development) and small business group development.

The NRM specialist works closely with the project team to achieve program synergy. S/he provides capacity building and technical assistance to:

1. BRACED partners in NRM aspects of implementing project interventions; and 
2. Encourage active participation of and networking between individuals and communities in recognizing NRM problems, identifying solutions and implementing project activities related to the identified solutions. The post holder will also build capacities of communities and institutions in sustainable NRM.

S/he will work closely with community facilitators, community leaders, committees and local government development agents. S/he takes part in community meetings for information gathering, exchange and carries out participatory planning supporting field implementation. S/he is responsible for the advice and promotion linking innovative market and finance based solutions to sustainable NRM. As part of this, s/he will ensure the establishment and effective maintenance of linkage between all relevant partners. 

Small Medium Enterprise and Financial Service Specialist (Afar Zone)

1. The Purpose of the SME Finance Specialist is to support BRACED program quality and impact through provision of technical assistance and advice in the areas of SME and Financial Service development. This is anticipated as including development of innovative insurance products, mobile banking, support to MFIs and supporting VSLAs.

The SME Finance Specialist will work closely with the project team to achieve program synergy. S/he will provide relevant capacity building and technical assistance to (i) BRACED partners in implementing project interventions; and (ii) encourage active participation of and networking between individuals and communities in recognizing market and finance problems, identifying solutions and implementing project activities related to the identified solutions. The post holder will also build capacities of communities and institutions in markets and finance.

S/he will work closely with community facilitators, community leaders, committees and local government development agents. S/he takes part in community meetings for information gathering, exchange and carries out participatory planning supporting field implementation. S/he is responsible for advice around innovative market and finance based solutions and hot to link these sustainable NRM. As part of this s/he will work to ensure the establishment of effective linkage between all relevant partners.
 

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Addis Ababa with frequent travel to Afar and SNNPR)- This position oversees and champions the development of a collaborative and outcome-driven monitoring and evaluation and learning culture throughout the project lifetime.

The position holder will contribute to the development of an effective result-based M&E system, ensuring that knowledge generation, management and use is effectively built into the whole project cycle. The position holder will play a major role in project monitoring, periodic data collection and analysis, devise mechanisms and lead the process for effective dissemination, utilization and documentation of learning. S/he actively takes part in the design as well as execution of baseline, midterm evaluation and final evaluation of the aforementioned project. In addition, s/he works very closely with Farm Africa Programme quality team and LTS International Ltd, which is a collaborative partner to support monitoring, and evaluation of the project.
 

Community Facilitators (Afar Zone 1 & 3 and SNNPR Jinka)- The community Facilitator will provide liaison and linkage between the BRACED program and community in order to facilitate the full participation of the community. The main functions will be to arrange community meetings, assist in ensuring that information about programe activities and approaches reaches all members of the community, ensure the effective implementation of community level activities and support the reed back of learning, monitoring and evaluation results. The role provides organizational support playing facilitation role in communities. The post holder will support the delivery of technical information and best practice supporting awareness and linkage. An active role will be played in:

• Encouraging active participation and networking between individuals and communities in recognizing problems, identifying solutions, and implementing project activities related to the identified solutions
• Establishing and maintaining close working relationships with communities and community organizations
• Building capacities of communities and relevant institutions

 S/he will work closely with Kebele, Private Sector Organizations, community leaders, communities and local government development agents. S/he will take part in community meetings for information gathering and exchange and carries out participatory planning and support and field implementation
 

Partnership Advisor (Addis Ababa with frequent travel to Afar, Somali & SNNPR)- Working closely with the overall Project Manager and Deputy project Manager the Partnership Officer will lead the development of partnerships for all projects components. The post holder will be responsible for maintaining effective partnerships at all levels (Community, Kebele, Woreda, Zonal, Regional and National) and will lead a team of three regional level liaison officers.

A lead role will be taken in partnership development with project partners both in Government and the Private Sector. This will involve facilitating key partnerships around finance and innovative market approaches at a regional level with public, private, academic and NGO sector players to advance project delivery.

The Partnership Officer will ensure partnerships proceed effectively. The post holder will work to ensure partnerships function as intended at all levels. To do this will require regular pro-active engagement with partners to ensure arrangements function as intended.

Particular attention to the community level will be required with feeding back information to partners on what is happening.
 

Senior Finance Officer (Addis Ababa with some travel to Afar and SNNPR) Responsible for all financial support in respect in respect of the BRACED project including, but not limited to, input into the development of budget, ensuring compliance with grant conditions relating to finance, financial analysis, ongoing budget management, supporting budget holders with provision of advice and reports, development of budgets and forecasts and monitoring of on-going spend. S/he will also be responsible for building the capacity of the relevant project accountants.

Project Accountant (Afar Semera & SNNPR Jinka)- The purpose of the Project Accountant is to ensure the smooth running of the project office through strong management of cash, stores, vehicle arrangement, communication and handle financial activities and logistics

 

Project Liaison Facilitator (Afar Awash 7)- Working closely with the Regional Project manager/ coordinator the Liaison Officer will be responsible for maintain effective partnerships for all projects components in the region.

A key task will be in developing and maintain partnerships both in Government and the Private Sector. This will involve facilitating effective working relationships around finance and innovative market approaches with public, private, academic and NGO sector players to advance project delivery.

The liaison Officer will work to ensure partnerships proceed effectively. To do this will require regular pro-active engagement with partners to ensure arrangements function as intended.

Particular attention to the community level will be required with feeding back information to partners on what is happening.

How To Apply:

If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, salary history and one-page application letter with the reference the post title being in the subject line to:

E-mail: farmco.ethiopia@ethionet.et
Farm Africa: P.o.Box.: 5746
Addis Ababa; Ethiopia
 
Or submit it in person by 23^rd January 2015. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
Farm Africa is and equal opportunity employer.