Advisor to the Regional President on Agricultural transformation Road Map implementation

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The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), formerly known as the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA), is a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia's agriculture sector, which is a key contributor to the country's GDP, exports, and workforce. The ATI's work is centred on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers (SHFs) across the country for improved income, inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainability. The ATI works to transform the agriculture sector in Ethiopia by conducting policy and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support and capacity building, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects and designing and directly leading several innovative/pilot interventions.

The Institute joins forces with various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners, to support the implementation of agricultural development programs and initiatives. In addition, the ATI collaborates with national and international partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning opportunities. The Institute plays a crucial role in generating and disseminating information to support evidence-based decision-making in Ethiopia's agricultural sector.

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.

Position Summary

The Advisor to the President's Office directly reports to the President with a primary responsibility of providing advice and implementing a portfolio of technical leadership initiatives towards increasing efficiency in management, external relations, internal systems and processes while striving for operational excellence in agricultural transformation council projects and programs as well as initiatives related to agricultural sector policies and strategies. The Advisor shall collaborate and closely work with the President's Office, agricultural transformation council members reporting to the President and South Agricultural Transformation Centre (SATC/ATI).

The Advisor is expected to strengthen collaboration among region, zonal, woreda and development partners in the region contributing to agricultural transformation of the region. The Advisor is expected to be passionate about her/his work on improving the agricultural transformation road map. S/he must possess deep understanding of the Ethiopian/Regional agricultural systems. The Advisor must have extensive knowledge of the Ethiopian agricultural policy, strategies, programs and initiatives. The Advisor will coordinate and oversee implementation of the major activities of the Office of Agricultural Transformation Council and other functional units of the President's Office while integrating prioritized activities with regional bureaus/especially council member offices.

S/he will also work closely with lead executive offices of the President's Office, Bureau of Agriculture, Bureau of Trade, Bureau of Investment, Bureau of Plan Commission, Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Water & Irrigation, Bureau of Road and Transportation and all relevant institutions in the region. S/he will advise the Regional President on policies, strategies, programs and initiatives implemented across all the production systems. The Advisor will compile and provide the President's Office all the necessary documents and information in various forms as an input for making evidence-based decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide coordination for all agricultural transformation council members and stakeholders for planning, coordination and implementation of the agricultural transformation road map deliverables of the council.
• Coordinate and organize events and meetings of the transformation council members, technical teams, and engage with the regional agriculture transformation strategy, bureaus and affiliated institutions.
• Develop and/or leverage the network with international like-minded organizations to explore opportunities focusing on experience sharing, leadership development, etc.
• Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the transformation councils and affiliated institutions.
• Identify policy gaps and support the development of policies and strategies related to crop development, horticulture development, land use, livestock development, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, HR development, rural development and rural transformation, market development, etc.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of programs and initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
• Support resource mobilization, organize and system development for agricultural transformation strategy initiatives.
• Coordinate and bring together the resources and capabilities of the region and outside the region.
• Present study findings, policy briefs, recommendations and others to agricultural transformation council members and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the implementation of the road map projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with national strategies and goals.
• Identify capacity gaps within the sector and support the implementation of training programs to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to ensure inclusive and evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensure value for money is achieved and drive impact in the agriculture sector.
• Follow up timely reporting of the departments to the President's Office and SATC/ATI.
• Support the initiation and execution of capacity development initiatives for affiliated institutions and regional bureau of agriculture/livestock and fisheries to enhance transformational mindset and technical competencies.
• Support agricultural reform initiatives and any other assignments given by the President's Office.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, Skills, Training, and Experience

• Minimum MSc (PhD degree preferred) in Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Agribusiness, Economics, or related fields.
• Minimum 12 years for master's and 6 years for PhD professional experience, out of which 6 years should be in leadership and managerial positions.
• Deep familiarity and understanding of Ethiopian agriculture and rural development.
• Excellent understanding of relevant major macro-economic and micro-economic policy reforms related to the agricultural sector and ability to make maximum efforts for its implementation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills including thorough knowledge and understanding of various regional level and federal level institutions; coordinating multi-stakeholder processes, extensive experience in facilitating dialogue with relevant public and private stakeholders.
• Experience preferably involving government ministries, development partners, and civil society.
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service.
• Ability and willingness to shoulder responsibilities under hectic conditions (in terms of overlapping assignments that may happen occasionally).
• High sense of responsiveness and ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability and results.
• Experience in working with multi-cultural teams preferred.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills, including experience in producing policy reports and presenting to high-level audiences.
• Fluency in English and Amharic required.

How to Apply

We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to: https://apply.ati.gov.et. It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter. Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Contact email: recruitment@ati.gov.et

NB. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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