ECA Support Consultant 64 views

Background information on the Project

The Land Investment for Transformation Programme (LIFT) is a DFID-funded programme that aims to increase incomes of the poor by providing Second-Level Land Certification (SLLC), improving the Rural Land Administration System (RLAS), and developing the rural land sector through a market systems development component (dubbed Economic Empowerment Unit, EEU).

The EEU Component of the programme aims to ensure that farmers are able to maximise benefits from SLLC through a number of complimentary interventions in three sectors: rural land rental, access to finance, and environment and conservation agriculture (ECA).

To improve the functioning of the agricultural sector, the main EEU intervention aims to improve the access to clean, improved inputs to rural farmers. LIFT EEU works through input suppliers and agri-retailers at the woreda level, facilitating commercial relationships between the two to ensure the products meet end beneficiaries at a fair price. LIFT EEU has signed cost-sharing grant agreements with the input suppliers to reduce the risks of setting up the distribution network in remote areas to incentivise them to enter new regions that they would normally not operate in. As part of the grant, input suppliers have to implement various activities (including training agri-retailers and farmers about the right application of their products), submit quarterly reports and report on transaction data (number of units sold). During the implementation phase, various grant partners (input suppliers) have been facing significant challenges to deliver reports on time and the quality needed.

 As LIFT is nearing its completion date in July 2021 we are also aiming to undertaking a number of assessments into existing market gaps. The main aim is to identify the challenges that LIFT EEU not managed to address to date. Particular areas to address include:

  • Contract farming models and whether there is an opportunity to link SLLC land-holders to agro-industrial parks.
  • Developing an agent model with unemployed youth to promote agricultural machinery at Kebele level.
  • Finalising an on-going assignment regarding licensing requirements of input retail businesses

 Objective of the Services

The consultancy will focus on providing backstopping support to the LIFT EEU team in the implementation of all Conservation and Environment Agriculture interventions, particularly managing on-going grants, as well as leading on future assessments around existing market gaps.

 Scope of work of the Services

  • Lead on conducting assessments on new potential interventions in the agriculture sector, including the possibility to develop an agent model with unemployed youth to promote agricultural machinery at Kebele level.  The assessments will include developing an intervention which outlines key findings and rates the potential for this to be considered under LIFT’s current mandate. It should also put forward recommendations as to how LIFT can take this forward or whether this should be a task for the follow on project.
  • Provide guidance and hands on support in the management of active ECA grants, including reviewing grantee reports and providing comments to improve the quality of reporting.
  • Attend meetings/discussions with grantees and record agreed action points in writing. The action points/agreements made during the meeting (verbal and written) need to be shared with the grantees to ensure all parties agree and are clear on next steps.
  • Conduct field visits as and when required to engage with agri-input suppliers and retailers to assess progress and provide recommendations to improve quality of implementation of grant agreements.
  • Working with the grants manager to maintain the grants tracker and share it with the relevant LIFT team members. Flag potential areas of concern and propose mitigation strategies.
  • Support the updating of all monitoring systems to ensure that impact is adequately captured and reported by the programme.
  • Participate in weekly LIFT meetings to discuss progress of grantees, challenges and delays, and update the grants tracker.
  • Provide ad-hoc support as required for other interventions as instructed by the EEU Coordinator.

Reporting and relationships

The Consultant will report to the EEU (M4P) Coordinator. He/she will be expected to work closely with the team to ensure complementarity of interventions and knowledge as well as with cross-cutting functions.

 Duration

This is a full time role until 31st July 2021.

Start date: Able to start as soon as possible

Job Requirements

Desired competencies

The desired candidate will be entrepreneurial, creative, analytical, a team-player, a good listener and thoughtful communicator. He/she will be able to lead others, have strong interest in the agricultural sector and agri-business, enjoy travelling to rural areas, understand the big picture but also work-out the details. The individual will need to be highly motivated, systematic and methodical and, above all, have a great curiosity for how to make things better, especially to economically empower women.

 Qualifications and experience

  • Minimum bachelor’s degree. An advanced degree in business and/or economics is an advantage.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience working in the agriculture sector, preferably agri value chains and market linkages
  • Excellent analytical skills.
  • Strong communications skills, in particular the ability to communicate effectively with government institutions, agri businesses and cooperatives.
  • Strong command of English and Amharic, preferable also other Ethiopian languages.

How to Apply

 Interested and qualified applicant should apply through the email below with with their CV and cover letter

[email protected]

More Information

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