Job Description

Title: Economic Recovery Specialist – Agribusiness and Value Chain Development

Location:  Dolo Ado

Employment Category:  G2

Salary Range: As per the organization scale

Reporting To:  Economic Recovery Manager

Contract Duration:  1 Year

Posting date: July 31, 2024

Required Employee: 1                    

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. DRC Ethiopia began operations in 2009 and has been responding to the needs of refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities ever since.  DRC Ethiopia currently has programs implemented through five area offices (AO) in Gambella, Tigray, Somali (Jijiga & Dollo Ado) and Afar regions, as well as its country office (CO) in Addis Ababa.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The EcRec Specialist (Agri Business development and Value Chaine) is responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring activities related to agricultural value chains and marketing initiatives. The role holder is expected to have experience of working closely with Agricultural input supplying cooperatives and Agro-dealers and able to create linkage and integration between Agri input suppliers and the small holder farmers. Moreover, the Agri Business development and Value chain Specialist is expected to improve the market system and linkage of the small holder farmers (targets of the project) with the local and surrounding business. Experience of working with Agricultural cooperatives, private investors and market actors is very essential for the position. The post holder is expected to develop a Cleare crop, vegetable and livestock value chain system respecting the principles and gridlines of the value chain approach. Creating improved linkage with Agricultural and livestock research centre to introduce new and productive varieties produced through the research centre and ensuring linkage with the target clients of the project to take responsibilities of seed multiplication for the research centres and create business tie among the partners are the other qualification required from the post holders.

Main Responsibilities:

Programme Management (technical) , Development, Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Developing, implementing, and managing projects and activities aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains and improving rural livelihoods.
• Encourage and support the local input supplying cooperatives and Agencies to ensure availability of quality Agricultural inputs in the local market.
• Establish, strengthen and support Agricultural and livestock input suppliers and Agro-dealers in the operational areas.
• Create linkage between small holder farmers and Agro-dealers, cooperatives and research centers to ensure appropriate supply of quality Agricultural inputs for the target clients of the project.
• Develop clear value chain system of Crop, Vegetable and Livestock and link with cooperatives and Private business sector of the region.
• Create market linkage, market information system, and product delivery system for the small holder farmers to improve the profitability of their production.
• Support and facilitate the establishment of local input suppliers through enhanced access and quality assurance and linkage with agro-pastoralist communities.
• Support the development of a work plan, activities, targets, budget, and standards for measuring progress and results and determine the processes, tools, and methoAfargies to be used to ensure effective and efficient program implementation and operations
• Participate and give technical inputs on VSLA and financial inclusion in the design and preparation of the new EcReC proposal.
• Serving as the technical lead for designing, implementing and monitoring all value chain and marketing activities.
• Conduct market assessments and screenings to identify high-potential market actors and business opportunities.
• Facilitating linkages between farmer groups and financial service providers, microfinance institutions, and cooperatives to improve access to credit.
• Organize exchange visits, and business exhibitions to promote product marketing.
• Regularly monitoring project progress and preparing detailed annual work plans and progress reports on the livelihood diversification, market-based approach, and value chain component.
• Map the value chain including key actors, product flows, infrastructure, financial institutions, and supporting organizations.
• Conduct value chain assessments to identify gaps and develop recommendations for improvement.
• Provide technical Support for animal health services providers and facilitate training in collaboration with local government veterinary service providers.  
• Engage in regular field visits to assess the activity's implementation progress, give technical advises/mentor, and provide feedback(s) for further improvement.
• Closely work with supervisor and MEAL team during the development of monitoring tools/measuring indicators, milestones development, and monitoring/ reporting of output and outcome in his/her area assigned.
• Supervising and monitoring the implementation of value chain activities to improve productivity, processing, and input-output market enhancement.
• Continuously collect data and information from the field for effective monitoring and evaluation of value chain and marketing activities, compile and submit regular updates/reports (weekly, monthly and quarterly)

Capacity development

•  Provide training and technical support to beneficiaries on business development, value addition, and marketing. 
• Developing and delivering capacity-building activities in areas like agribusiness, value chain, and marketing development. 
• Conduct training on animal health and basic veterinary care for animal health technicians and parapets  in collaboration with government stakeholders,

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement  

• Coordinating and collaborating with local partners such as private enterprises, community-based organizations and NGOs working on Crop, vegetable, and livestock value chains and market-based approaches. 

Experiences and Qualifications

Personal/Professional Skills:

• A strong team worker;
• Aptitude to work in difficult conditions and stressful situations;
• Excellent internal and external communication and coordination capabilities and excellent team building and coordination skills;
• Continuous Learning; a colleague who promotes continuous learning for self and others;
• Creativity and Initiative; someone that actively seeks new ways of improving programs, services and partnerships;
• Performance Management; a person who identify ways and implement actions to improve performance of self and others;
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision; 

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master

DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.  
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.  
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.  

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• BSc or MSC Degree in agribusiness development, agricultural economics, Cooperative management, finance and development economics, and rural development with relevant training in value chain, market-based approach and business management.
• Good understanding of the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• At least 3 years of working experience mainly in supporting privet sector lead business enterprises in pastoral/ agro-pastoral settings, providing business development supports, institutions and stakeholders.
• Experience in project management, budget administration, and donor reporting, and also Fluency in the English language and computer literate

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• BSc or MSC Degree in agribusiness development, agriculture, and rural development with relevant training in value chain, market-based approach and business management.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Full professional proficiency in English.

Skills Required

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