Agribusiness Development Expert 133 views

Background of the Organization

Wako Gutu Foundation (WGF) is non- governmental development organization established with overall objective of promoting inclusion of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the development process and ensuring that the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities are sufficiently benefiting from the development gains realized in the country. The foundation was established by the community leaders in the lowland areas of Bale zone in memory of General Wako Gutu, a person who witnessed a lifetime commitment for promoting social and economic welfare of pastoral communities in Ethiopia. It has been registered as Ethiopian resident charity organization by Agency for Civil Society Organizations bearing a registration number 0457. Its registration has been renewed in February 2016 for three consecutive years by the same authority.
To this end, Wako Gutu Foundation planned to recruit energetic and skillful applicants for the position of Agricultural Extension Worker.

 General Assignments / Scope of the Role:

The Agribusiness Development Expert is responsible to develop and implement a social marketing intervention for agriculture, adapted to the specific context and constraints of Berbere District. He/she will support the achievement of the innovation project agricultural production, and marketing objectives, principally through leading the project’s capacity building strategy with farm innovative agents and farmers in the project implementation areas; developing strategies and activities that lead to increased and improved linkages between farmer groups, business service providers such as micro-finance institutions, multipurpose cooperatives, private agro input suppliers and government; and managing the monitoring and evaluating the social marketing strategy.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a social marketing strategy in line with the project objectives and tailored to local needs and constraints, to support and link key agents of the market and promote the technical innovation package to create a sustainable business model.
• Formulate detailed work plans to implement activities which address identified sustainable agriculture development needs of project participants, families and communities
• Mapping of potential actors of the agricultural market targeted by the project, such as, local suppliers for agricultural inputs and other material (e.g. irrigation, etc), micro finance institutions, multipurpose cooperative, governmental institutions related to the activity, existing farmers groups, Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA), women’s Self Help Groups, etc.
• Develop family business plan, approve and lead with in consultation of respective woreda government stakeholder offices.
• Develop social marketing and agribusiness development training manuals.
• Provide intensive training, regular on the job coaching and constructive supervision, for targeted farmer beneficiaries on social marketing, entrepreneurship communication and sales techniques. When needed, tailored training sessions in order to close the gender gaps.
• Identify private agro input suppliers and link the farmers with market and facilitate delivery contracts with private agro input suppliers to make accessible farm inputs.
• In close coordination with the Area Project Coordinator, s/he will facilitate farmer’s access to farm inputs for smallholder farmers.
• Ensuring that the project beneficiaries, Women Economic Groups, youth, cooperatives, irrigation users and associations have the knowledge and skills to develop and run successful business.
• Reporting on follow up, trainings, support provided to groups, monitoring and evaluation activities, farm productivity and other multiple local agricultural activities.
• Ensure farmers are followed up regularly and re-training programs in sustainable agribusiness development are implemented.
• Facilitate in house and on field peer farmers learning platforms on the agribusiness development activities.
• Assess and identify business opportunities and spots for the target beneficiaries, actors, cooperatives, youth, Women Economic Groups, irrigation users and small holder farmers in the district.
• Prepare functional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work with selected farm innovative agents, farm input suppliers and financial institutions in support of smallholder farmer groups.
• Document the process and the learning from the social marketing component in addition to success stories and case studies
• Collecting data for continuous updates.
• Actively contribute to grant proposal development as required.
• Ensure good networking and collaboration relationships with government and other development partners in the project area.
•  Ensure timely tasks delivery with attention to the quality.

Organization: Wako Gutu Foundation

Duty Station: Bale Zone, Berbere District

Reports to: Area Project Coordinator

Employment Type: One year contract period with possibility of extension

Number of the vacant post: 1 (One)       

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Bachelor degree in Agricultural economics, Economics, Agribusiness, Cooperative Management or related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in development, agribusiness, social marketing, and/or innovations for innovation resilient building project.
• Experience in Human-Centered Design (HCD) and/or other qualitative and participatory learning tools and formative research experience in capacity strengthening on technical aspects of agribusiness/social marketing.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated skills in agriculture and social enterprises
• Strong communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
• Ability to work and travel within the Implementation area
• Knowledge and skills of business/business oriented mindset
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• Experience in community development and NGO work.
• Must have a valid riding permit and ability to ride a motorbike for long distances
• Excellent communication (written and oral), reporting and presentation skills
• Able to work well with government and other development partners
• Excellent organizing, negotiation, influencing and advisory/coaching skills
• Ability to manage conflict and deal positively with setbacks
• Have empathy with Wako Gutu Foundation and core values
• An initiator and self-driven
• Flexible approach to take on additional responsibilities as assigned/delegated
• Proficiency in Afaan Oromo is a must; understanding local dialect and experience in working with pastoral and agro-pastoral communities are advantageous.
• Proficiency in both writing and speaking English language is also a must and knowledge of other languages is advantageous
• Skill in promoting and coordination of agribusiness development activities
• Basic computer skills; such as Microsoft word, Power point, Excel and etc.