Technical Advisor (Economic Cooperation and Privat Sector Development)

Job Description

GIZ- Internal/External Vacancy Announcement ‘#156/2023’

Strengthening Rural Value Chains in Ethiopia (SRVC)

 The Government of Ethiopia has established four pilot integrated agro-industrial parks (Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and Sidama) (IAIPs) by directing seed funds to support infrastructure development and monitoring progress through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Office of the Prime Minister.

These IAIPs represent part of a larger socio-economic policy on accelerated development and poverty reduction. They are primarily aimed at increasing export outputs and creating opportunities for hundreds of thousands of unskilled and semi-skilled people living in adjoining rural settlements, and urban-educated workforce. The IAIPs are at different stages of construction; two are inaugurated and operational although with limited capacity. Nonetheless, the parks suffer from various challenges which include lack of strong coordination structures; weak linkage of IAIP and rural transformation centers (RTCs) and the agricultural supply chain; and limited-service provision. To address these challenges, a coordinated approach has been put in place by Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Office of the Prime Minister to facilitate the implementation of current IAIP development projects at all levels.

The project Strengthening Rural Value Chains (SRVC) is a bilateral project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.  The project supports the Ethiopian government and private sector organizations to improve the income and employment situation of actors along agricultural value chains. Actors along the three value chains avocado, onion and soybean are supported to gain better access to inputs, services and markets. SRVC implements its project activities in selected woredas of Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama regions as well as for policy advice at regional and federal level.

Please note that the job title will be changed to “Economic Cooperation and Private Sector Development Advisor” during the recruitment process.

 Contract duration:          December 31, 2024

Responsibilities and Duties

 A. Responsibilities

• Support supply chain management from small-scale agricultural production and provide technical advice to the IAIP and the processing companies in close collaboration with the Sidama Bureau of Agriculture and other institutions.
• Support the development of high standards and their implementation concerning environment management, waste management, quality standards and food safety within Yirgalem IAIP
• Provide technical and management support to the SIPDCs (Sidama Industrial Park Development Corporation), incl.  to enhance investment opportunities within Yirgalem IAIP and the region 
• Development of marketing strategies for the companies and action plans to support the development of export promotion strategies
• Build capacity of stakeholders and Sidama IPDC (i.e. inter-departmental task force for facilitating agribusiness development), financial intermediaries, public-private collaboration platform stakeholders, and agribusiness entities
• Contribute to SRVC project implementation, knowledge management and M&E. Support events, such as multi-stakeholder platform meetings and Agro-Industry Consultation Days (A-ICDs)
• Provide policy advice on skills development measures for the agro-industrial sector at regional scale and support the development of measures to improve quality and relevance of training.

Job Requirement

Required qualifications, competences, and experience

 Qualifications

• Master’s degree from a recognized university in the field of Economics, Business Administration, Agri-business, Agriculture, Food and Agro-Processing, or other relevant fields.

Professional Experience:

• At least 10 years' experience in senior level management or technical advising position in agro- or food processing-industry or development.
• Fully fluent in Amharic and English language, both orally and in writing.

Other Knowledge, additional competencies

 Experience on working with agricultural processing companies, agri-businesses, commercial and smallholders’ farmers on value chain and supply chain development

• Knowledge of and experience in the agricultural sector in Sidama Region.
• Experience in quality management for agricultural products or for industrial end products
• Experience on design and development of product, research, marketing, project management and M&E
• Experience in supporting business development and product promotion in the agricultural sector.
• Experience on coordination of different stakeholders and development partners
• Experience in collaborating with government institutions or working on public-private cooperation would be desirable
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills