Vacancy Announcement
ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY
Position: Senior Project Officer- Investment Conversion, Private Sector in Agriculture (PSA)
Term of Employment: One year with possible extension
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
Required Number: One
Salary & Benefits: Competitive
Application Deadline: March 27, 2016
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 a Transformation Council chaired by the Prime Minister and whose co-chair is the Minister of Agriculture.
The programmatic focus of the Agency responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Transformation Council. Within the Agency, issues are divided into four different groups: Production and Productivity which includes Inputs and Crop Protection, Livestock, Research and Extension, Mechanization, Rural Finance & Agro-Processing Value Addition; Agribusiness and Markets including Market Services, Market Infrastructure, Commercial & Contract Farming, Domestic and Export Market Development, and Cooperatives Development; Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Agricultural Growth including Sustainable Irrigation & Watershed Management, Sustainable Land Management, Gender Equality and Nutrition, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Planning and MLE; and Enhanced Implementation Capacity which includes ICT, Private Sector, and Organizational and Human Capacity. 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 employees with highly competent and 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:
Private sector partners are expected to play an increasing role in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. This private sector participation will become even more critical in the years to come, as Ethiopian agriculture strives to move from subsistence based, low-input/low-output farming, to a model that is more market-oriented and integrated into the global food system. To effectively engage private investors and corporations in the Ethiopian agriculture sector, the ATA has recently established a Private Sector in Agriculture (PSA) Program area, whose main aim is to connect smallholder farmers with commercial, market-focused supply chains to increase incomes and improve livelihoods.
The Senior Project Officer – Investment Conversion (SPO) will be primarily responsible for identifying and implementing Transformational Agenda Deliverables that address challenges to converting agribusiness investor interests and opportunities into tangible, operationalized investments on the ground. The SPO will take a highly consultative approach, working with key stakeholders in the private sector, government, and development sector. The approach will be to engage early and in a meaningful way with serious investors to understand their interests and concerns, work alongside these organizations to identify promising opportunities for investment, clarify the nature of these opportunities (for example, expected requirements, financial and social returns), and help to navigate the local agriculture sector environment. This position will officially report to the Director of Private Sector in Agriculture.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
o Conduct research and targeted analyses around promising agribusiness investment opportunities and provide technical assistance to serious investors on their market orientation and business planning
o Proactively identify local and international agribusiness investors and link them with greenfield investment opportunities or domestic partners for brownfield investments, where relevant
o Work with agribusiness investors to problem-solve in real-time to overcome key challenges in operationalizing investments
o Identify issues and risks related to investment conversion in a timely manner and suggest appropriate mitigation measures/ recourse
o Build ongoing relationships and track interested investors via the Investor Relationship Management (IRM) tool
o Establish an investment monitoring system for converted investments
o Actively promote Ethiopia as an investment destination for agriculture related opportunities
o Prepare and utilize investment promotion tool kits and case specific user checklist manuals for investors
o Disseminate key information on investment opportunities and proactively engage in promotional events and targeting of desirable agricultural investors
o Support investors’ efforts to comply with Responsible Business Conduct rules