Agriculture Lead, Food for Progress SunGold Project

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RTI International

RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

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About the Hiring Group

RTI’s Center for International Development implements large-scale, multidisciplinary projects across health, energy, agriculture, water, and education by leveraging RTI’s deep cross-institutional knowledge, proven solutions, and contextual expertise to increase global impact by improving lives, driving economic growth, and enhancing stability in fragile and developing geographies.

What You’ll Do

RTI is seeking Agriculture Lead candidates for a 5-year Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program in Ethiopia. This Food for Progress program will use a market-driven, U.S.-led value chain approach to transform Ethiopia’s sunflower sector and benefit U.S. businesses by addressing key productivity, market linkage, financing, and policy constraints identified by public and private actors. The program will focus on four broad activities that increase Ethiopian sunflower productivity, competitiveness, and value addition while reducing trade barriers for U.S. agribusiness. These activities include building the capacity of extension services; facilitating financial services, improving market access through contract farming; and promoting improved policies and regulatory frameworks.

The Jimma-based Agricultural Lead will directly oversee activities to increase sunflower productivity through expanded access to improved inputs, mechanization, extension services, and market linkage. The Agriculture Lead will also serve as a key liaison with producers and agriculture businesses in the production regions and will lead efforts to expand the sunflower sector in Ethiopia by pulling more producers and off-takers into the value chain and helping to sustain viable production through partnership with US companies and services.

The Agricultural Lead will coordinate value chain actors in selected sunflower growing woredas in Oromia, Center Southwest, and South Regions. The position will be based in Jimma with frequent travel to project woredas in the selected regions. This position reports to SunGold’s Deputy Chief of Party based in Addis Ababa and coordinates the day-to-day operations functions of the Finance and Admin Officer in Jimma, two Agriculture and Production Officers, one in Jimma and one in another field office. The Agriculture Lead will work closely with the Financial Services Lead on Activity 2 (Access to Finance) and Activity 3 (Market Access) components.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Technical

• Provide technical oversight and serve as a subject matter expert for sunflower value chain development activities.
• Supervise two SunGold Agriculture Production Officers, one in Jimma and one in another field office.
• Work closely with the Financial Services Lead and other SunGold staff to support implementation of SunGold’s activities.
• Contribute to the sunflower value chain and other analyses to identify opportunities and constraints in the sunflower market system.
• Facilitate linkages between input suppliers, farmers, cooperatives, processors, and traders together with the SunGold Agribusiness/Market Officers.
• Identify key woredas and farming clusters with high potential for sunflower production.
• Develop and maintain relationships with off-takers, agro-dealers, and other agribusinesses and engage them as stakeholders in the sunflower value chain developmental activities.
• In collaboration with producers and off-takers, establish appropriate production models (e.g., contract farming).
• With project partners, lead annual production planning and forecasting, and determine input requirements and timing of any imports as necessary.
• Develop tailored capacity development activities for value chain stakeholders focused on increasing hectarage under production, yield, and overall value chain productivity.
• In collaboration with extension agents, facilitate training for farmers on improved sunflower production practices, improved seeds, agronomic practices, and crop management techniques to increase productivity and quality.
• Plan and implement demonstration site establishments in commercial and/or smallholder farmers setting, in collaboration with project partners.
• Support digitization of the sunflower value chain working with project partners and key producers.
• Coordinate and work closely with federal government, research institutes, and regional level governmental bureaus for smooth and collaborative technical implementation of project activities.

Grants

• Develop Expression of Interest (EOI) and Request for Proposals (RFP) for Business Development Services firms, sunflower actors, or consultants as per the productivity and mechanization grant mechanism for technical assistance to agri-SMEs and farmers.
• Contribute to the evaluations of submitted EOIs and proposals by the preselected bidders.
• Monitor implementation of the (grant) agreements with BDS, sunflower actors, and consultants ensuring quality and timely contractual targets achievements, through deliverable reviews, e.g., reports, tools, products, and field monitoring visits.
• Ensure and support the implementation of technology adoption funds (grants) for partners within the region which includes, but is not limited to, productivity improvement efforts, access to finance, mechanization support, and supply chain development activities.
• Develop tools for the (grant) agreements for implementation and monitoring.

M&E

• Organize (pause and reflect or) exchange workshops with partners to draw lessons and document best practices.
• Collect, track, and create materials to disburse learned lessons from best practices of the project supported enterprises.
• Support project monitoring and evaluation efforts through routine data collection, cleaning, and verification; support M&E compliance among project partners and sub-grantees through regular follow-up; facilitate data collection for baseline, annual, midline, and endline evaluations/surveys in the field; collect feedback from project beneficiaries and stakeholders to inform learning and adaptation; and support the compilation and submission of monthly and quarterly progress reports.
• Track progress of project activities and indicators, prepare periodic technical and progress reports, and document lessons learned and best practices.

Communications

• Contribute to the development of communication materials, e.g., photos, stories, blogs.
• Develop draft annual workplan and budget for the Activity 1 (Agriculture Extension Agents and Services) and Activity 3 (Market Access) components.
• Responsible for data collection and submission to the main office, while ensuring compliance with established RTI and USDA policies and procedures.

Operations

• Work closely with the FAM of the Addis office on all activities related to finance, logistics, procurement, grant, and administration functions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, fleet and log sheet management, vendor identification, supporting procurement processes, logistical arrangements for training and workshops, and documentation of financial records.
• Oversight and support the Finance and Admin Officer in the Jimma office with operations functions.
• In collaboration with the Finance and Admin Officer, continually monitor field travel and day-to-day risk assessments. Overall security management takes care of staff and property and coordinates closely with the RTI security protocols.

What You’ll Need

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, and Agronomy or related fields and 8 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, and Agronomy or related fields and 6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional experience in agricultural value chain development and extension services.
• Experience in edible oils production, contract farming, demonstration plots, and improving market access for value chain actors.
• Experience in value chain promotion, adoption of technology, and improved farming practices in Ethiopia.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse partners such as agrodealers, financial institutions, research institutions, and private sector companies.
• Experience providing guidance to project partners and staff.
• Verbal and written fluency in English and Afaan Oromo.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently throughout Ethiopia to regional activity sites.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Prior experience with RTI and/or donor projects.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a team-oriented setting.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Experience managing operational functions.

Additional Information for the Candidate

• This position is open to Ethiopian Nationals only.
• Submit a 3-page CV and a 1-page cover letter only. You should not submit additional information, i.e., certificates, diplomas etc. at this stage.

As a global employer of choice, RTI is committed to belonging in the workplace and the communities and markets where we serve our mission. We value a variety of thoughts, cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives and welcome applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws or RTI policy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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