Food Security and Livelihood Officer

About the Organization

Positive Action for Development (PAD) is an indigenous, non-governmental, non-profit, secular, and legally registered Ethiopian Civil Society Organization (Registration No. 2330). PAD is committed to promoting a just, compassionate, and inclusive society where all people can thrive. Guided by the values of optimism, integrity, kindness, excellence, and impactful action, PAD works to provide effective humanitarian and development support to communities in need.

Job Summary

The Food Security and Livelihood Officer will lead the implementation of Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) activities under the new project, "Integrated life-saving assistance for IDPs and vulnerable host communities: A strategic area-based initiative in the Amhara Region covering Raya Kobo and Habru woredas and Debre Birhan and Sekota towns."

The position will focus on supporting vulnerable IDPs in Debre Birhan through market-oriented livelihood development, technical/vocational training, entrepreneurship, productive asset/start-up support, enterprise development, mentoring, and market linkages.

Key Responsibilities

Market and Livelihood Assessment

• Conduct market, livelihood, and feasibility assessments to identify viable employment and income-generating opportunities.
• Assess market demand, supply chains, competition, prices, customer preferences, available resources, business risks, and employment opportunities.
• Identify suitable and sustainable livelihood pathways and recommend activities based on market evidence.
• Establish linkages with relevant markets, employers, suppliers, service providers, and private-sector actors.

Beneficiary Profiling and Skills Assessment

• Support transparent identification, registration, screening, and verification of livelihood beneficiaries.
• Conduct beneficiary profiling covering livelihood history, skills, experience, interests, vulnerability, employment potential, and household capacity.
• Conduct skills and capacity assessments and identify training and business support needs.
• Ensure meaningful inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities, female-headed households, and other vulnerable groups.
• Match beneficiaries with appropriate livelihood pathways based on their skills, interests, capacity, and market opportunities.

Business Plan Development and Review

• Facilitate development of simple, practical, market-oriented business and livelihood plans with beneficiaries.
• Review business plans for market demand, competition, technical feasibility, start-up and operating costs, productive assets, pricing, revenue, profitability, cash flow, risks, and sustainability.
• Provide technical recommendations and revise plans where necessary.
• Ensure livelihood start-up support and productive assets are aligned with approved business plans.

Technical/Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training

• Coordinate and support market-oriented technical and vocational training for selected beneficiaries.
• Work with training providers to ensure training responds to identified market opportunities and beneficiary needs.
• Facilitate entrepreneurship/basic business management training covering business planning, costing, pricing, financial management, record keeping, marketing, customer relations, and business sustainability.
• Monitor training quality, participation, learning, and practical application.

Livelihood Start-up and Enterprise Support

• Facilitate provision of productive assets, start-up inputs, and other livelihood support in accordance with approved business plans.
• Support beneficiaries to establish or strengthen individual and group-based IGAs and enterprises.
• Verify the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of productive assets and inputs.
• Maintain proper beneficiary and enterprise documentation and follow up on utilization of support.

Technical Mentoring and Coaching

• Provide regular technical mentoring and coaching to supported beneficiaries and enterprises.
• Monitor production/service quality, business operations, sales, income, asset utilization, and emerging challenges.
• Provide practical guidance on production, business management, costing, pricing, marketing, customer relations, financial records, and enterprise growth.
• Develop and implement follow-up and mentoring plans and provide corrective or specialized support where required.
• Promote enterprise sustainability, profitability, and growth.

Market, Employment and Financial Linkages

• Facilitate linkages with buyers, suppliers, employers, financial institutions, MFIs, SACCOs, and relevant service providers.
• Support employment and self-employment opportunities through job matching and market connections.
• Promote responsible access to financial services without exposing beneficiaries to inappropriate debt risks.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning

• Prepare activity plans and monitor implementation against project targets and indicators.
• Conduct regular field monitoring and follow-up of supported beneficiaries and enterprises.
• Support post-distribution/post-support monitoring and assess asset utilization, enterprise operation, income generation, and challenges.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare timely technical and donor reports.
• Document lessons learned, good practices, success stories, and recommendations for adaptive programming.

Coordination and Representation

• Coordinate closely with Woreda/City Labour and Skills, Agriculture, Trade, Women and Social Affairs offices and other relevant government institutions.
• Establish working relationships with training institutions, private-sector actors, employers, financial institutions, and community structures.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings and technical discussions.

Accountability, Protection and Inclusion

• Ensure FSL activities comply with PAD's principles on Accountability to Affected People (AAP), PSEA, safeguarding, protection, gender, disability inclusion, and conflict sensitivity.
• Promote transparent and inclusive beneficiary selection and accessible feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Identify and mitigate protection and inclusion risks throughout implementation.

Other Duties

• Perform other FSL-related duties assigned by the supervisor and contribute to PAD's overall project objectives.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Agricultural Development, Economics, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies, or a related field. A Master's degree is an advantage.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in FSL, livelihoods, economic recovery, IGA, market-based programming, rural development, humanitarian, or development programs, with demonstrated experience in:
  • Market and livelihood/feasibility assessments;
  • Beneficiary profiling and skills/capacity assessments;
  • Livelihood pathway identification;
  • Business plan development and review;
  • Entrepreneurship and basic business management training;
  • Technical mentoring and enterprise coaching;
  • Productive asset/start-up support;
  • Market, employment, and financial-service linkages;
  • Working with IDPs, vulnerable households, women, youth, and persons with disabilities;
  • NGO/INGO or donor-funded projects and coordination with government and private-sector stakeholders.

Number required: 1 (one) at Waghimira Zones of the Amhara Regional State.

Duty Station: Wag Hamra Zone, in Sekota town with regular field travel required

Language: Proficiency in English and the local language(s) of the region is required.

Employment Type: Contractual, project-based position subject to project funding and duration

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

Required Skills and Competencies

Skills:

• Strong market analysis and livelihood programming skills;
• Ability to develop and critically review business plans;
• Strong entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and coaching skills;
• Good understanding of costing, pricing, profitability, cash flow, and business sustainability;
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills;
• Good computer skills, particularly MS Office and data management;
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, and travel frequently to field locations;
• Commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, accountability, and humanitarian principles.

Other Considerations:

• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations, including remote areas.
• Commitment to upholding humanitarian values and the organization's mission.

Competencies

• Action facilitations
• Communications
• Ethics & Values
• Teamwork
• Behavioral Flexibility
• Client Orientation
• Initiative
• Interpersonal Relations
• Reasonable Judgment

Required Skills

• Agricultural Economics, Plant Science
• Economics, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Development Management, Development Studies

Desired Skills

• Disaster Risk Reduction, Food Security, Economics, International Development

Equal Employment Opportunity

PAD promotes fairness, equity, and diversity in the workplace. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or other personal status.

Hiring decisions are made solely based on skills, experience, and suitability for the role. PAD is committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where all staff can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and grow professionally.

Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

PAD maintains zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, exploitation, or misuse of power. All staff, volunteers, and partners are expected to follow PAD's policies and uphold our values at all times. All successful candidates will undergo background checks and must adhere to PAD's code of conduct and safeguarding principles.

Recruitment Flexibility

PAD reserves the right to:

1. Recruit more than the required candidates from this announcement.
2. Keep qualified applicants in our database for future similar roles.

Important Notice on Recruitment Fraud

If you encounter any misconduct, fraud, or corruption related to PAD's recruitment process or operations, please report immediately via:

• Email: safeguarding@padethiopia.org
• Link: https://one-pad.org/guest_new/public_add_issue
• Toll-free Hotline: 9135

PAD treats all reports confidentially and takes them seriously, ensuring appropriate action is taken.

How to Apply

Application Process

Candidates interested in the position should submit:

• CV with relevant documents (education certificates, experience, etc.). Combine all documents into a single file.
• Motivation/Cover Letter – including current salary and salary expectations is recommended.

Submission Instructions

• All applications should be submitted by email using job@padethiopia.org
• Applications must specify the location and position. Applications that do not mention the location and position, or lack clear position details, may not be considered.

Selection Process

• Only selected candidates will be contacted.
• Fair and transparent evaluation based on qualifications, experience, and competencies, written and interview exam results.
• Hiring decisions aligned with PAD's values of equity, integrity, and professionalism.
• Applicants who do not follow the procedures will be disqualified immediately.
• This job description provides a general overview and may change based on organizational needs.

Contact for additional Information

• Email: job@padethiopia.org
• Website: www.padethiopia.org
• Phone: 094877677 or 0936342656

PAD is committed to upholding zero-tolerance policies against all forms of abuse and exploitation while actively protecting the rights and well-being of individuals.