MEDA Overview

Mennonite Economic Development Associate (MEDA) is an international non-governmental organization incorporated in Canada and registered in Ethiopia.  MEDA is currently implementing the EMERTA project which stands for Ethiopians Motivating Enterprises to Rise in Trade and Agri-business and means ‘to leap to great heights’ in Amharic by focusing specifically on women.  The project is committed to increasing sustainable employment and income generation for women and men in Amhara region of Ethiopia in rice, vegetables and gemstones sectors.

Job Overview:

The Environmental Sustainability Specialist is responsible to oversee the implementation of the EMERTA project’s environmental sustainability strategy for the rice, vegetable and gemstone sectors.  The Specialist will simultaneously assess key environmental issues and challenges in the three sectors, as well as evaluate and monitor the implementation accordingly. The Environment Specialist will support project staff to build their capacity to integrate environmental considerations into their daily activities with the principle of “do no harm”. Furthermore, the Specialist will also be highly involved in designing and promoting environmentally friendly technologies and approaches throughout the project’s value chains.

MEDA seeks an outgoing, skilled candidate to temporarily lead its environmental sustainability activities for the period specified. The position is collaborative in nature; the incumbent will work closely with other EMERTA staff: the three Value Chain Specialists, Gender Specialist, Grant Specialist, Senior Research Specialist, Financial Services Specialists, Marketing Specialist and partners to conduct environmental assessment, provide and facilitate training and thus effect environmental management and sustainability. The Specialist will implement best practices, utilizing private sector approaches, to provide technical support to value chain clients with the goal of increasing environmental awareness and inclusion of women at all levels of the value chain.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Work with three of sectoral teams to implement appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies for the environmental challenges identified in each of the value chains.
• In partnership with the concerned public sector and private institutions, provide best practices to improve upon poor environmental management practices, and support strategic and sustainable interventions in the project areas. Establish relationships to better understand and support regional environmental initiatives.
• With the assistance of the headquarters environmental specialist and in collaboration with the Monitoring and Impact Measurement (MIM) team, monitor the project’s progress on environmental strategies and share the lessons learned with the broader project team, particularly for management, and more widely across MEDA.
• Collaborate on implementation of capacity building programs for project and partner staff, and targeted clients in the three value chains. Within the specified time frame, technically support in research and build capacities of MSMEs to research climate change-resilient initiatives and promotion of the outcomes.
• In collaboration with the Gender Specialist, ensure women’s access to environmentally friendly approaches, inputs and technologies to targeted clients (both MSMEs and producers) in three sectors and raise awareness on the roles that gender and environmental considerations play in successful business development.
• In coordination with Senior Marketing specialist, facilitate market linkages of the organic products through publishing promotional materials and conducting market linkage workshop.
• Support and actively engage in government and natural resources management efforts.
• Design and implement a safety training program for workers involved in the rice processing; and workers involved in lapidary and jewelry making.
• Conduct preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for innovation grant applications upon request from the team and make sure each applicant have sustainability plans.
• Ensure technologies recommended by each sector are environmentally friendly, economically viable, socially acceptable and sustainable.
• In collaboration with the sector team design and implement trainings on environmentally friendly occupational health and safety and waste disposal practices for lapidaries and rice processors; work on improvement of health and safety issues in for the three sectors.
• Review terms of references, proposals, contractual documents prepared by sectoral teams in all EMERTA interventions and ensures the consideration of environmental issues and monitor the proper implementations as well upon request from the team.
• Provide specialist advice to the project management and implementation team.
• Manage project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of environment related activities within the specified time frame.
• Support the preparation of quarterly and semiannual reports and monthly budget forecasts.
• Perform other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.
• Communicate bi-weekly with the project’s Environmental Specialist based at MEDA HQ.

Essential:

·       BSc Degree or master’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change and Development, Disaster Risk Management, Environment and Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, or other relevant discipline.

·       5 years of experience for BSc degree holder and 3 years of experience for Master’s degree holders with demonstrated success in environmental consulting, environmental management, particularly related to agricultural practices or environmental impact assessments.

·       Excellent oral and written communication in English and Amharic, including report writing

·       Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of environmental management related projects/programs.

·       Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s environmental strategy and policies

·       Very good computer application skills: Microsoft Office Applications, specifically Excel and Word and Access

Desired:

Demonstrated skills and knowledge of the following:

·       Agricultural Markets and/or Value Chain development

·       Development of private sector and enterprises

·       Knowledge of Gender mainstreaming

·       Women’s economic empowerment

Core Competencies:

·       Results oriented and sound decision making

·       Demonstrating accountability and commitment

·       Ability to communicate effectively and work within a team

·       Ability to gather information, assist with research

·       Build relationships and ability to bring people together