Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Director, Agricultural Mechanization Knowledge Center (KC)
Term of Employment: Fixed
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
Required Number: One
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: October 16, 2017
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 the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and is Secretary to the Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different pillars: Crops & Natural Resources which includes Inputs and Plant Protection, Livestock, Soil Health & Fertility, Irrigation and Drainage, and Mechanization; Cross Cutting Initiatives, which includes Inclusive Growth, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Planning and MLE; Livestock, which includes Animal Health and Genetic Improvement and Feed & Feeding; and Agribusiness and Markets, which includes Market Development, Rural Finance, ICT, and Private Sector. In addition, the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters Initiative is another critical focus area for the Agency. 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.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Agricultural Mechanization knowledge center is a leadership position within the ATA. It is a center of excellence for generating strategic, high value, applied studies, analysis and knowledge to support identification, prioritization, planning, design and implementation of Transformation Agenda deliverables of the Agricultural Mechanization sector. Specifically, the Knowledge Center will focus on:
· Stakeholder mapping and analysis of the mechanization sector,
· Annual stakeholder workshop to identify priority analytical work for the year to address questions / issues related systemic bottlenecks and Transformation Agenda deliverables
· Directly undertake short-duration, high-impact analytical studies with clear impact for decision-making, such as international and domestic case studies, policy analysis note, sector survey, etc. including data collection and stakeholder engagement required
· Oversee larger analytical studies commissioned to external partners and service providers
· Regularly engage with key government partners and provide strategic and analytical thought partnership as well as policy advice on critical issues
· Participate in annual planning of GTP II Transformation Agenda deliverables, and planning of GTP III deliverables in the agricultural mechanization sector
· Support design of ATA projects related to the agricultural mechanization sector
· Provide technical support to projects in the program area, the Federal ACC Team or Regional Offices, where there are no other dedicated staff with the requisite expertise
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:· Conduct or oversee completion of key analytical studies and workshops with stakeholders to propose concrete solutions for prioritized systemic bottlenecks of the sector, including policy, regulatory and institutional issues
· Contribute to annual planning of GTP II Transformation Agenda deliverables, and planning of GTP III deliverables in the sector and ensures systemic issues of the sector are being identified and prioritized
· Lead and coordinate efforts in sector-wide stakeholder mapping and analysis
· Engage with key government partners and provide strategic and analytical thought partnership as well as policy advice on critical issues
· Facilitate and coordinate high-quality, results-focused and genuinely collaborative multi-stakeholder engagement with key Federal, Regional, private Sector, Non-Profit and Bilateral partners to produce impactful approaches, guidelines and modalities to address key policy level and implementation issues of the sector.
· Manage and coordinate ATA projects under the program area, providing high-caliber team management, coaching and support to ensure a high performance team
· Propose specific projects that can drive tangible results and impact
· Facilitate networking and flow of information to enhance implementation of programs/projects
· Provide technical support to the Federal ACC Team or Regional Offices
· Prepare and manage Program work plan and budget; obtain approvals from senior-level ATA management and monitor budget utilization against allocation
· Contribute to the development of an institutionalized knowledge base for the ATA
· Regularly report to the Senior Director of Crops and Natural Resource Management on progress, challenges and constraints of the work
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
An extensive network, with relationships with the key players in the sector, both locally and internationally,
Excellent analytical, and data gathering skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Amharic are essential.