Agribusiness Officer – HUNDEE-Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative
Agriculture, Business and Administration, Social Sciences and Community
HUNDEE-Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative
Established in 1995, HUNDEE is a local non-governmental organization based on the philosophy that poor rural communities should be responsible for their own development. HUNDEE acts as a facilitator in this process. HUNDEE’s major programs include community organizing, cereal bank promotion and networks, civic education, environmental rehabilitation, and women’s and older persons’ economic support. HUNDEE’s mission is to enable small farmers, women, older persons, youth and other marginalized groups to get organized around common issues of concern for livelihoods, and to revitalize proven community based traditional support system & institutions; to reduce vulnerability of target groups to transitory food shortage, to enable target groups to rehabilitate their degraded land; to empower women to attain economic and social rights, and eradicate all forms of violence and discrimination against them
Internal and External
Organizational Background
HUNDEE-Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative is a local NGO established in 1995. It has strong aspiration that equality and dignity of all human persons are respected and protected. This is clearly and adequately reflected in its organizational vision that is centered on “human dignity and prosperity.” What underpins this vision statement is that poverty is understood not only as material deprivation but also as power imbalance in social, economic and political spheres. Poverty affects women and men, boys and girls, but the impacts are different based on their sex, age, social and economic status, literacy and disability. Our strategy focuses on the outcome areas of: (1) Food Security and Agriculture Development Program; (2) Community Mobilization and Citizens Engagement Program; (3) Child, Youth and Women Development Program; (4) Livelihoods, Resilience Building and Humanitarian Response Program; and (5) Health, WaSH and Nutrition Program. Currently, we operate in Oromia National Regional State of twelve zones and working with a diverse base of donors that includes the German Agro Action (GAA), Kerk in Actie (KiA)/Cordaid, USAID/ISHDO, Cafod/Sciaf/Trocaire (CST), Kindernothilfe (KNH), World Bank /MA, Dan Church Aid (DCA), CGWE, UN/OCHA, Christian Aid Ethiopia (CAE), Mercy Corps, Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI)/ Caster Card Foundation and other foundations. HUNDEE has been working secured funding support from USAID under the lead of Mercy Corp for the implementation of a project Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) that will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and support these households in moving above the graduation threshold.
Project Summary
The USAID-funded Highland Resilience Activity (HRA) – will contribute to the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) 5’s “Big Push” initiative and has the overarching goal of strengthening resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s Highlands, resulting in 120,000 PSNP households reaching the graduation threshold. HRA will support these households in moving above the graduation threshold and to where they no longer require social safety net programming for household food security and have the capabilities and assets to withstand regular and predictable shocks. The Activity will achieve this goal by directly supporting households in increasing their on-farm, off-farm, and employment incomes while facilitating improvements in the market systems required to increase demand for goods and services in PSNP communities. HRA is a five-year program that starts in January 2024.
Job Summary
Under the direction and management support from the zonal project coordinator and Project technical team, the Agribusiness officer is responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the agribusiness activity, Agribusiness officer including targeted woredas under West or East Harerghe Zones. They ensure all project initiatives are implemented to achieve maximum impact as per program and project objectives while remaining on schedule and budget. The Agribusiness officer directly plan, implement, coordinate and follow-up agribusiness activities at zonal & woreda field-level. S/he will work with the implementing partner, doner organization, field level technical team and stakeholders to ensure that HRA project objectives are implemented effectively through each objective. Their close working relationships with all technical units ensure program activities are carried out according to the highest standards and remain responsive and appropriate to the local context. The coordinator facilitates partnerships with other implementing partners and the private sector at Zonal and woreda level to ensure complementarity with existing activities, while ensuring the alignment of HRA implementation in line with the program’s overall approach. S/he maintains close coordination with the government offices, and PSNP program participants. to ensure implementation quality and accountability. S/he is also accountable for effective monitoring and evaluation of Zonal and woreda level “push” interventions and ensures timely and quality delivery of quarterly and annual project reports and documents the impact of HRA activities. Her/his close working relationships with all technical units ensure program activities are carried out according to the highest standards and remain responsive and appropriate to the local context.
Job Responsibilities Program Management
- Leads and coordinates agribusiness activity quality and effective program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of HRA’s interventions at Zonal & woreda-level under supervision of zonal Coordinator & regional staffs,
- Where appropriate, provide oversight and accountability for quality l program implementation for “push” interventions at the Zonal and woreda level Effectively coordinate with other implementing partners to tailor and facilitate the design and delivery of interventions tailored to woreda and zonal context.
- Regularly provide communication on project progress as per program’s communication protocols, including through weekly updates to Zonal & Regional Coordinators/team; provide regular updates on context, project progress, effectiveness of project approaches, and partnerships.
- Prepare quarterly and monthly plans, aligned with the allocated budget and programming targets.
- Participate in zone and regional coordination meetings and ensure documentation and delivery of action points.
- Ensure timely and quality delivery of quarterly and annual project reports internally to HRA MEL/CLA team.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Adhere to program learning systems and strengthen the effort to document the impact of HRA activities.
- Facilitates and helps update the setting of targets for program implementation based on context.
- Closely works with the Zonal, woreda and Regional M&E team to continuously monitor, ensure implementation quality, and support an accountability system in the field.
- Ensure the Zonal & Woreda programming targets and approach are being met, by implementing activities in accordance with the agreed work plans and timelines, and report discrepancies and changes to the zonal project coordinator.
- Partners learning opportunities from similar projects in the Zone.
Finance, Administration, Logistics and Procurement
- Closely work with zonal & regional finance staff, in budget development, spending, and forecasting
- Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at zonal level.
- Ensure timely revision of zonal & woreda procurement plans and review procurement status weekly to closely monitor and accelerate procurement processes when needed.
- Regularly visits to zonal & woreda for field support.
- Encourages team leadership with regular management meetings, promoting a participatory approach and proactive problem-solving.
- Ensures zonal & woreda administration, Development Agents, and beneficiary communities are actively engaged in program planning, implementation, and monitoring
Partnership and Representation
- Facilitate partnerships with – and community program vision and approach – all HRA stakeholders at woreda and zonal-level, including government representatives, partner programs, and private sector actors.
- Represent HRA at zonal of operation on government and non-government coordination meetings.
- Facilitates government monitoring and evaluation missions at the Woreda and zonal level.
- Work with zonal & Woreda government stakeholders in periodic reviews, evaluations, and joint monitoring
- Ensure timeliness of government reporting as per government guidelines and HRA partner directives
- Partner and coordinate with zonal & Woreda stakeholders, government partners, and HRA-implementing NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the nearby zonal & Woredas to ensure collaboration and synergy.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
- HRA team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
Reports Directly To: HUNDEE Zonal project Cordinator/Regional team regional
Works Directly With : Zonal HRA project team, Mercy Corps project team, Partners, consortium team and HUNDEE Program team
Terms of employment: One year contract, with possibility of renewal depending on merit and job continuity
No. required: 2 (two); 1- West Harergehe (chiro) & 1 East Harergahe (Dire Dewa/Harere)
Gender: Both male and female are invited, and women are highly encouraged to apply
Required education and qualification
- BSc/BA or MSc/ MA degree in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Cooperative, Developmental Studies, Business Administration/Management, Leadership, Economics, or other Social Science from recognized universities or colleges.
Work Experience
- Minimum of 6/4 years proven work experience, of which 4/2 in a supervisory position respectively, NGO experience with strong exposure to USAID funded projects (i.e. PSNP Program) is preferable,
- At least 3 years in a middle or senior-level technical expertise position
- Previous experience working under complex project or consortiums an added advantage.
- Excellent communicator in English with demonstrated excellent report writing and speaking skills, knowledge of local languages – Afaan Oromo (greatly advantageous).
- Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
- two years’ experience managing teams, strategic planning, and implementing programs.
- Proven experience developing effective and diverse teams in dynamic contexts.
- Experience or working in the Oromia region with strong contextual knowledge of cultures, especially Harerghe Community.
- Ability and willingness to travel to areas with fragile security situations.
Skill and Personal Qualities
- Required Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal and report writing skills, technical competence and ability to manage complex working environment;
- Proven knowledge of working with Microsoft packages, and ability to prepare various reports in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and etc.
Language Ability
- Proficiency in Afaan Oromo, Amharic and English languages is mandatory
Negotiable subject to organizational salary scale and project budget
