Farm Africa was founded in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Ethiopia since 1988. We drive agricultural and environmental change to improve lives. Our strategy comprises three pillars such as agricultural expertise, management and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity.

We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private sector to innovate, learn, and BER best practices for the maximum impact of our projects.

REPORTS TO: Project Coordinator

LOCATION: Bale Robe with frequent travel to project intervention sites

BACKGROUND

The purpose of Project Technical Expert (PTE) will work closely with the project advisor (senior post-harvest and marketing advisor), BER Phase-II Project coordinator, M and E officer, and woredas technical teams. The PTE is contributing to ensuring the BER Phase II programme and MCFEA project are delivered to the highest standard of donor requirements and compliance including the regulation of the Ethiopian government.

The position holder will have significant responsibilities in supporting a project coordinator and other program staff to develop annual budgets and activity plans in line with donor contracts and Farm Africa’s internal financial policies and procedures. PTE will be specifically responsible to manage activities and budgets funded by Mitsubishi. The PTE is responsible to prepare progress reports for donors and the government as per scheduled reporting time. He/she will assist in planning and organizing quarterly projects/programme review meetings as well as the annual Project Progress Review (PPR).

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Mitsubishi company has provided a matching fund through the MCFEA project to the BER II project which is implemented by European Union (EU). The Co-funding budget is mainly channeled towards the implementation of woodlot development and coffee plantation outside the forest area. The purpose why this position is created is that the position holder will be fully responsible for managing co-funding activities and the respective budget. Moreover, the position holder will be the part of BER II project field team and responsible to fully engage in implementation of BER II programme.

KEY RESPONISBILITES

• Fully responsible to follow-up implementation of activities and budget utilization funded by the Mitsubishi company
• Work with the finance team and review monthly budget monitoring reports and submit them to the PM /PC
• Work with the project team and government counterparts to achieve the project outputs/outcomes with the desired standards
• Ensure adequate consultation and participation of woreda and kebele level stakeholders ensuring active participation of women.
• Regularly undertake MCFEA & BER-II project implementation progress tracking and identify any bottlenecks hindering implementation paces to provide enough technical support to Woreda-level project officers to implement the activities.
• Work closely with the BER Phase-II team and provide technical support for the implementation of field-level project activities (Agriculture, NRM, and livelihood development thematic areas)
• Work closely with PCs & woreda level officers and facilitate the design and implementation of CBO-specific forest management plans in agreement with the community and local government parties
• Provide hands-on support to PCs to ensure approved projects are delivered according to the contractual requirements of donors or other stakeholders.
• Participate in monitoring of project implementation with team members and other partners and give heads up on a regular basis to the MEL officer
• Feed into the monitoring and evaluation process and plans to ensure these will be very effective in assessing and recording progress and results in innovative work areas
• Prepare periodical project activity report and share it with the PC/PM/PA
• Support in compiling plans and reports as well as woreda-level field visit reports.
• Attend various meetings as assigned by the Program Manager or project coordinator
• Assist in project data collection and management of projects database.
• Work with the finance team and the programme team in ensuring the preparation and submission of accurate forecasting and review of monthly budget monitoring review (BMR),
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager, programme manager
• These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related duties as required.

Job Requirements

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

Essential

• BSc degree in Agronomy, Developmental Studies, NRM, Livelihood Development and related disciplines
• Good understanding in project management, coffee development, agronomy, and natural resources management
• Excellent in written and spoken English and Afan Oromo

Desirable :

• A background of agribusiness, economics, value chain
•   Speaking Amharic

Experience

Essential

• Four years of work experience in the areas of coffee development, natural resources management, and agronomy preferably with NGOs
• Practical experience of working with different stakeholders and community
• Experience in project planning, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation

Desirable : Experience in private sectors engagement programmes

Skills & abilities

Essential

• Has a relaxed and open working style, works well individually as well as in a team; reliable at all times; proactive and innovative
• Relationship building and management
• Network management and networking
• Highly literate and eloquent
• Teamwork skills and the ability to work in a multi-partner approach
• Skills in gender-based analysis and approaches
• Able to multitask and works well under pressure; negotiates and meets deadlines
• A commitment to excellent support internally and to partner organizations and stakeholders; has a positive attitude and always looks for solutions to problems and challenges
• Excellent communicator – written and spoken
• Good computer skills

Desirable : Effective presentations