1)    Overview

USAID/ Ethiopia Support Program (ESP) aims to provide pathways to a more democratic and stable Ethiopia by building an enabling environment for peaceful and inclusive consensus building processes. To this end, ESP works to strengthen intra- and inter-group relationships and actions, advance inclusive and constructive public discourse, and mitigate mis/disinformation and hate speech. Dexis Consulting Group is USAID’s implementing partner for ESP.

Dexis will provide the personnel, systems, and technical capacity needed to ensure that the USAID Ethiopia Support Program is operational, grant-ready, and active in activity implementation. Dexis’ Field Team brings the USAIDs experience, relevant field experience, and operations savvy necessary for Dexis to quickly research, identify, and develop grants for activities with local organizations.

2)    Overview of ESP Amhara and Field Officers  

ESP in the Amhara region pursue small-scale grants to contribute for the overall program goal that is aimed at building an enabling environment for inclusive and peaceful national consensus processes. To that end, ESP is implementing different activities in the Central Gondar, North Wollo, South Wollo, North Shewa and Oromo Nationality Special Administrative Zones.

As part of quick and adaptable program implementation strategy, ESP continuously monitors contextual developments across target areas to devise timely and most relevant interventions. Based on this and taking the most recent cessation of hostilities agreement (CHA) in due consideration, ESP in the Amhara region is looking for energetic and locally informed field officers (FOs) for satellite target areas at Gondar, Sekota and Woldia cities. The FOs will assume major roles of analyzing the local sociopolitical developments and supporting the implementation and monitoring of ESP’s activities through establishing effective partnership among implementing partners.

3)    Job Summary

Each FO will be stationed in Gondar, Sekota and Woldia cities, and directly reports to the Program Development Officer (PDO) based in regional office, Bahir Dar. This job is offered in a short-term technical assistance (STTA) for maximum of 9 (nine) months employment contract and subject to long-term renewal based on performance and availability of funding. The FOs are required to closely work with the PDO, Regional Grants Manager (RGM), Regional Program Manager (RPM), finance and procurement team to support successful translation of ESP’s strategic engagement plan in the designated area.

Guided by this overall objective, the FOs will assume two primary responsibilities.

1)    Local context analysis and update: The FOs will engage in a continuous analysis of the local context and share updates with the regional team. This includes regular context updating, preparing existing and future scenarios and changes in the local situation that can be leveraged to inform relevant and timely program activity. In addition, FOs will support the identification of prospect partners and engage with the existing activity implementing partners.

2)    Activity implementation, monitoring and reporting: During the implementation of activities, the FOs will take a lead role in day-to-day grant execution, data collection, reporting and monitoring responsibilities. This includes expectations associated with attending all planned events, supporting procurement and delivery of goods/services, monitoring data collection, supporting activity evaluation and reporting.

The ideal FO should have excellent contextual understanding of affected regions and a proven track record of working with local CSOs in identifying and implementing conflict-sensitive grants. Contextual understanding requires past and existing engagement in areas of applications including Gondar, Sekota and Woldia.

4)    Specific Roles and Responsibilities

Contextual Analysis and Reporting (30%)

-       Closely monitor and report contextual development in target areas.

-       Continuously track and update progress related to CHA.

-       Conduct local actors mapping and identify potential implementing partners, stakeholders and concerned bodies

Program/Activity Implementation, Data Collection and Monitoring (70%)

-       Developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships and working relationships with governmental and non-governmental actors

-       Monitor the progress with implementing partners and facilitate the required services per the approved grant mechanism

-       Collect primary monitoring and evaluation data and share with the ESP team.

-       Ensure successful implementation of programs/activities and confirm completion per the approved plan

-       Closely work with M&E and other teams for effective documentation, report and evaluation.

-       Sharing information to inform grants progress, and coordinating with grantees and the M&E teams to ensure that monitoring and evaluation data and final reports are provided on time.

-       Traveling often as needed to activity locations in the performance of his/her work, and including remote locations under challenging conditions.

-       Perform other duties assigned by immediate supervisor.

 5)    Supervision

The FOs will directly report to the Amhara Region Program Development Officer based in Bahir Dar field office. In addition, the FOs are expected to closely coordinate and work with the program and operational teams in the region, as well as other functional line managers in Addis Ababa.

6)    Location and Employment Period

The FOs will be hired in a Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) to be stationed at Gondar, Sekota and Woldia cities. The initial assignment period will be maximum of 9 (nine) months, subject to extension based on performance and funding availability to continue ESP’s strategic engagement in the context.

7)    Number of positions and others

-       Number of positions – 3 (three).

-       Location – Gondar (one), Sekota (one) and Woldia (one).

8)    Qualifications and Experience

The FO should have the following qualifications and related experience.

-       University degree required (second degree is preferable) on social science fields mainly political science, social work, sociology, and related.

-       Proven local understanding and program implementation experience in conflict sensitive contexts.

-       At least 2 years’ experience in project development, and implementation of relevant donor-funded community development projects in application area

-       Strong organizational, management and administrative skills, preferably with respect to report writing and monitoring and evaluation.

-       Demonstrated analytical ability and understanding of local and regional political context, with the ability to think creatively in conceptualizing relevant grant activities.

-       Experience working with local organizations to implement conflict sensitive community-based activities.

-       Good level of communication in English preferred while at least two local languages are advantageous.