BAs will lead Farm College activities in his/her assigned areas. S/he may also be required to support cooperative capacity building efforts as well as data collection and analysis related to market systems, upon request.
Establish Honey Farm College and Contract Farming Scheme
§ Recruit youth Farmer Trainers; train Farmer Trainers, prioritizing gender balance and gender awareness
§ Support the development/adaptation of training materials
§ Form Farmer Groups, demonstration sites and establish training schedule, reporting
Visit beekeepers & Manage Farmer Trainers
§ Pick farmers at random and provide on farm advice in order to reinforce the adoption of Backyard beekeeping best practices to make the backyard honey production a sustainable business.
§ Support survey implementation, as required by M&E team
§ Gather feedback and ideas for improvement from farmers
§ Provide modeling training for FT’s on beekeeping modules on the demonstration sites
§ Observe trainings when FTs deliver the training to farmers, provide guidance, and feedback as needed.
§ Collect official voucher receipts for transport and accommodation
§ Submit these documents to the SBA/Project Manager in a timely fashion
§ Receive and review FT weekly work plan with dates; Collect weekly on farm visit plans and data from FT’s
§ With team of FTs, hold debriefing on the success & challenges of on farm visit survey
§ Supervise teach-backs and give feedback
§ Ensure all FT’s are on the right track regarding their target and quality of the job they do
§ Provide feedback, coaching and development activities related to performance management, following HR guidelines
Strengthen participating cooperatives
§ Support the strengthening of cooperatives’ capacity around governance, operations, planning and financial management, including business plans, operational planning, honey quality management, post-harvest handling and staff training, with a particular focus on advancing gender equity
Manage Stakeholder Relationships
§ Create and maintain a good working relationship with stakeholders in assigned areas
§ Convene meetings with Agricultural Development/Livestock and administration offices of the appropriate Wereda once every quarter, together with project colleagues
§ Meet with Kebele leaders and Cooperative to give progress report every quarter
Report, Communicate and Share Learnings
§ Submit BA weekly work plan, detailing when BA will attend trainings
§ Submit weekly field reports via tablet system to the SBA/PM; support impact monitoring and evaluation activities;
§ Participate in regular team training activities to build own training skills, including monthly team meetings and quarterly regional meetings in person;
§ Perform other duties as assigned by the SBA/PM
· At minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience — ideally including some private sector experience— in one or more of the following areas: agriculture, preferably on apiculture, cooperative management a plus, SME development, training or extension,;
· A true passion for and commitment to fighting poverty and economically empowering poor smallholder beekeepers/farmers, especially women; Committed to quality and achieving impact; motivated; high level of integrity and honesty
· Experience working in rural areas of Ethiopia; Willingness to be based in assigned remote locations and willingness to spend significant time in rural areas;
· Demonstrated strong stakeholder relationship management skills; Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills as well as negotiation and problem solving skills;
· Strong planning skills and experience working to strict time-guidelines yet flexible, with an ability to adjust to rapidly changing circumstances
· In addition to Tigrigna and Amharic, demonstrated English oral & written presentation capabilities
· Computer literacy, including Word and Excel
· Commitment to advancing gender equity
· Innovative mindset; learning attitude
I. Preferred Qualifications and Capabilities
· Fluency in Tigrigna language besides Amharic
· Practical experience implementing smallholder contract farming projects in Ethiopia
· Knowledge of, familiarity and experience working with private sector companies in Ethiopia
· Have motorcycle driving license and willingness to drive a motorcycle;
· Practical experience working with bees and handling bee colonies, such as colony inspection and working with different beehive types; Practical experience in colony management following the seasonal dynamics of the colony
· Experience managing and leading others