Senior Policy Advisor (Project Coordinator) – Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA)

Agriculture, Research and Development

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA)

BACKGROUND:

The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Agency does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. The Agency reports to a Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister and whose co-chair is the Minister of Agriculture. 

The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different groups:  Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization, Rural Finance & Agro-Processing Value Addition; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Services, Market Infrastructure, Commercial & Contract Farming, Domestic and Export Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation & Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE; and Enhanced Implementation Capacity which includes ICT, Private Sector, and Organizational and Human Capacity. Across the programs, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results. 

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector.  We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals. 

Terms of Reference

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION INSTITUTE 

Position: Senior Policy Advisor (Project Coordinator)

Term of Employment: Short Term (six months)

Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa  

Required Number: 1

Salary & Benefits: Negotiable

Application Deadline: April 14, 2022

Background: 

 The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Institute does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks. 

ATI has an exceptional team of highly competent and committed staff with proven track records of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great results as an individual and as a member of a team. 

ATI provides a unique platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our teams with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.

Position Summary: 

 The Senior Policy Advisor (Project Coordinator) coordinates the development of implementation framework for the revised ARD policy, setting up detailed work plan for obtaining all the necessary stakeholder engagement and implementing the draft policy; results framework for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the overall policy revision as well as identification of areas that require studies/analyses and development of analytical plan and terms of reference for each policy thematic area.

The position works with ATI and MoA Management Team, to provide thought partnership, guidance and support for the approval of the draft revised policy, how policymakers can be most effectively engaged, and the specific policy and economic analysis required to draft and approve the associated policy instruments.

The Ministry of Agriculture has initiated a revision of the ARD policy in line with the country’s broad economic reform program. The drafting process has engaged government institutions and experts from across the sector. Major policy departures and revision ideas have been outlined with a clear policy direction and they will be presented to senior government leadership including the Macro Economic Committee and the Cabinet of Ministers. As the draft has reached a stage where it requires detailed analysis and stakeholder linkage and coordination to translate the policy directions into policy instruments, the Ministry of Agriculture has delegated the Agriculture Transformation Institute (ATI) to drive the revision effort on its behalf.

To support this objective, ATI has set up the policy coordinator role to provide technical and strategic coordination to effectively align and ensure synergies among the various streams of work and engagements that support the ARD policy revision and reform process. The ATI will be at the center of the ARD policy reform serving as a secretariat to ensure timely and effective implementation.

The Advisor will need to maintain strong relationships and lead discussions with senior policymakers across government, as well as relevant development actors and private sector partners to plan for monitoring, coordination, and long-term implementation support for the ARD policy reform.

Accountability:

The Senior Policy Advisor (Project Coordinator) is accountable for ensuring:

• Implementation framework development for ARD policy issues that are identified for revision
• Results framework for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the overall policy revision is prepared and submitted
• Analytical plan and terms of reference for policy thematic areas that require studies/analyses is prepared and submitted
• Action plan for engagement with policy implementing public institutions is prepared and submitted to and endorsed by the MoA and communicated to all such institutions
• Regular and other reports on the implementation of revised and new policy issues are prepared and submitted to MoA/ATI on time

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and participate in joint planning and alignment workshops with partners focused on policy instrument development for prioritized policy thematic areas
• With support from the relevant Senior Director, coordinate the analytical works required to develop the policy instruments
• Collaborate with the Analytics team in the ATI on the development of the Analytical approach to policy-focused work, including prioritization of policy analyses, preferred analytical approaches and tools, engagement model with clients, local partners and senior policymakers, standard output formats, and other areas
• Join analytical case teams to take on policy-focused work, including problem structuring, data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis, leading stakeholder engagement, drafting policy documents (i.e. proclamations, regulations, guidelines, directives), and presenting to senior policymakers
• Provide expert guidance and advisory support to other Analytical case teams where lighter support such as validation of methodology, modeling approach, assumptions or outputs is required
• Develop the approach to contract out policy analysis to partner institutions and service providers, locally and internationally, and oversee quality control of the deliverables
• Share or present studies to policymakers and at existing policy forums or by organizing roundtables
• Establish and maintain strong relationships and with support from the relevant Senior Director in the ATI, lead discussions with senior policymakers across government partners, as well as relevant development sector and private sector partners
• The position reports to the CEO of the ATI.
• Take other assignments as appropriate and assigned by the supervisor.

• Ph.D. in Public Policy, Economics or closely related fields from a reputable University is required.
• At least 8 years of relevant and combined experience is required in structuring and managing policy analysis within the government, at a research or think-tank organization.
• Significant experience and proven success in leading and delivering high-impact, challenging policy-related analysis, stakeholder consultation, and engagement with policymakers are required.
• A strong passion for transforming agriculture and improving the lives of smallholder farmers and pastoralists is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to develop credible, evidence-based policy advice and effectively liaise with senior policymakers, as well as development partners, non-governmental and private sector organizations
• Policy analysis experience in consulting or government setting, in areas such as program design and evaluation, cost-benefit analysis/investment cases, price stabilization and minimum support prices for agricultural commodities, investment incentives and private sector development, design/enhancement of regulatory processes and enforcement.
• Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of stakeholders in a cross-cultural environment (fluency in English is essential)
• Highly collaborative management style and demonstrated success in managing and developing high-performance policy staff and teams
• Strong understanding of the country’s broad economic reform program, the rationale and what it will mean for agriculture and rural development
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service.

Lien