One Acre Fund supplies smallholder farmers with the financing and training they need to grow more food and earn more money. Instead of giving handouts, we invest in farmers to generate a permanent gain in farm income. We supply a complete service bundle of seeds and fertilizer, financing, training, and market facilitation— and we deliver these services within walking distance of more than 1 million rural farmers we serve.

About The Role

The (National) Partnerships Associate will be an essential part of our team in one of One Acre Fund’s fastest growing country programs. The Ethiopia program is poised to serve over 100,000 farmers in 2021, grow 10 million trees and launch the seed multiplication program. In 2025, we plan to serve over 500,000 farmers and grow 35 million trees.We are seeking someone to work across a variety of government and other partners in Addis Ababa to develop a network, evidence base and strategy that helps One Acre Fund reach its program goals, including multiplication of the highest quality seed in the world and improvement of the tree seedling market ecosystem. You will report to the country director.

Responsibilities

• Develop One Acre Fund’s network of contacts and partners at the national level, represent us and build champions for our work and ideas.
• Identify national policy, advocacy and partnership opportunities to advance One Acre Fund’s programs and mission.
• Research policies and write evidence-based policy briefs to advance One Acre Fund System Change program goals.
• Secure commercial registration and business licensing on behalf of the organization.
• Monitor and communicate changes in regulations, policies and reporting requirements that affect our work, and ensure we comply with the national laws of Ethiopia.
• Stay fluent in our evolving programs and contribute to strategic and operational decision-making.

Career Growth and DevelopmentWe have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• 5+ years of experience in dynamic creative organization(s).
• Good knowledge of government systems, protocol and policy in Ethiopia and a track record of achieving results within the system are required.
• Lead projects and proactively find solutions to any challenges that arise.
• Strategic verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Identify problems, brainstorm and analyze potential answers and implement the best solutions.
• Prior experience working with rural development programs.
• Experience building support and negotiating with government stakeholders on behalf of their employer to further organizational goals.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Language: English and Amharic required.