Director- Natural Resources and Climate

Job Description

Position:                           Director- Natural Resources and Climate

Term of Employment:   One year with a possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:         one

Application Deadline:    September 28, 2023

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government Institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATI envisions to be the leading center of innovative solutions for the transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture by 2030.

The Institute focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate the development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Sidama, South-West, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

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 teamwork to achieve excellent results. 

At ATI, 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.

 Program and position summary

 The NRM and climate program is part of the agricultural commercialization cluster initiative, which is a market-driven value chain (VC) development approach to improve the livelihood of smallholder through an inclusive and environmentally sustainable approach. The NRM and climate program is responsible for mapping out and addressing the key bottlenecks in natural resource management and climate change, particularly the soil, water, agro-forestry and organic farming. The Director of NRM and climate programs has a deep understanding and familiarity with NRM and climate sector and coordinates effective implementation of NRM and climate programs and projects. The Director manages program and project team well, collaborates with other teams and makes evidence-based decisions. The Director of NRM and climate program works with key stakeholders in addressing prioritized systemic constraints in NRM and climate interventions including federal level institutions, regional bureaus, research centres, cooperatives, farmers unions, soil laboratories, soil and water related service providers, organic and inorganic fertilizer producers or traders, agri-businesses, and others and develop linkages to farmers to increase small holder farmer income. The director of NRM and climate will report to ACC SD and has the following duties and responsibilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the leader of the NRM and climate Program, with responsibility for the overall direction and management of the Program.
•  Accountable for planning and delivery of all projects and interventions in the program focusing on environmental sustainability.
•  Engage stakeholders across the priority NRM and climate interventions (government, private sector, non-governmental organizations, universities, research canters, cooperatives, farmers unions, farmers, donors, etc.) to identify and prioritize actions to improve all components of key areas in the NRM and climate.
•  Integrate the NRM and climate program interventions with other ATI programs to achieve synergies and outcomes that impact the broader agricultural system and project sustainability.
•  Work with stakeholders to design and then implement high-priority interventions to bring about sustainable management and use of natural resources lasting transformation of the smallholder while adapting or mitigating climate change.
• Identify capacity gaps of the project team that hinder effective implementation of prioritized interventions and design and develop approaches for improving capabilities as required.
•  Proactively identify gaps in prioritized NRM and climate and initiate the development of NRM and climate programs and projects and provide technical support.
•  Provide advisory service and technical support for preparation and implementation of NRM and climate related activities implemented by other programs at ATI.
•  Coordinate with federal and regional ACC Directors for planning and execution of all relevant activities in NRM and climate.
• Lead progress review of prioritized projects and interventions across NRM and climate program
• Review/approve program teams leave, plan, performance goals/targets, budgets, reports, procurement, travel, etc.
• Support the SD and other stakeholders to mobilize needed financial, human, or organizational resources for implementation of prioritized projects and interventions.
• Ensure the delivery of the ACC program outcome #4, targets, and KPIs effectively and efficiently.
• Manage and lead problem-solving sessions, provide high caliber support to project team members and ensure team alignment, coordination, and build high performance culture and delivery on priority objectives.
• Supervise and manage project personnel, including the preparation of annual work plans and budgets, establishing performance objectives and standards, and ensuring timely and appropriate feedback, guidance, and support for optimum performance.
• Provide technical and strategic advice to all members of the program and facilitate capacity building when needed.
•  Oversee the monitoring of project progress and the evaluation of results.
• Monitor project risks, supervise implementation of risk mitigation measures, and update the risk and mitigation measures yearly.
• Identify needs for external technical support for effective implementation, organize and oversee short-term missions.
• Oversee administrative and financial management, including procurement of goods and services, budget and expenditure analysis or contractual management.
• Coordinate the drafting of all project-related reports in a timely manner (annual, semi-annual or quarterly progress and operational reports, as per requirements).
• Build partnerships whenever relevant and possible.
• Facilitate knowledge management, particularly in terms of lessons learned and best practices which may feed a dialogue with government authorities and other DPs as well as contribute to future interventions and policy making.
• Responsible for any additional interventions and projects as assigned by ACC SD.

Job Requirement

• Insightful thinking for proactive, evidence-based decision-making.

• Excellent track record of working relationship and stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional and federal level institutions. 

• Extensive experience in organizing and facilitating dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders. 

• Strong management skills for optimal allocation of resources for making progress against the plans and KPIs.

• Understanding and experience in developing NRM and climate interventions, particularly in Ethiopia and in developing countries, and addressing obstacles that hinder the strengthening of key components including the adoption of natural resource management practices, new climate-smart agricultural technologies, and practices by smallholder.

• Practical experience in implementing high-level interventions to address systemic bottlenecks of NRM and climate-smart agriculture at the local level.

• Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities. Experience in creating public-private partnerships in NRM and climate programs.

• Demonstrable track record of success with program and project design, performance management, learning systems, and monitoring & evaluation.

• Experience in leading and contributing to successful designing and implementation of donor-funded projects.

• Experience leading multi-dimensional teams and complex work programs.

• Experience in crop - NRM and climate- Natural resource -Agribusiness value chains and MSME’s

• Inclination towards participatory management (at team and beneficiary level), capacity to implement, and experience of participatory planning methods.

• Desire of improving the lives of smallholder farmers. Leadership, autonomy, and integrity.
• Strong capacity to facilitate teamwork.
• Conflict management capacity.

• Willingness to undertake frequent field visits.

• Strong Communication skills (writing, speaking, composing, presenting, etc).

• Proficiency in oral and written English and Amharic. Other local language is a plus.