I.  JOB SUMMARY:

The position holder will lead WE-GO project programming on Agricultural Markets and Livelihoods. The position holder provides technical leadership and capacity building on Markets and Livelihoods to the WE-GO project partners and staff in the operational regions, zones and woredas. The position holder will supervise Investment Finance Advisor. The position is collaborative in nature, requiring closely working with country office Financial Inclusion Advisor and global Agricultural Market advisors to conduct ongoing constraints analysis, surveying and identifying stakeholders able to take advantage of innovations, and thus effect value chain upgrades. Innovations include structural relationships between value chain participants, enhancing small scale infrastructure and technologies, and introducing or strengthening new services. The position works closely with the Innovation Fund to assist in solicitations and fund activity. The Senior Market System Advisor will research and design activities using best practices, utilizing private sector approaches, providing technical support to value chain clients. S/he will coordinate gendered markets analysis and related studies, identify gaps and provides high quality training and develop guidelines. The position holder is also responsible to extract, document and share lessons within the partners, and other stakeholders, in collaboration with the program quality and learning unit. The position holder will work closely with other technical advisors and program staffs to ensure program quality and impact in-line with the program goal and objectives.

II.  Roles and Responsibilities

1. Provide technical assistance to Program planning and implementation (35%)

Provide quality technical support to MoA partners, counter parts and project participants;

• Lead the design and implementation of agricultural market system and livelihoods component/initiatives of WE-GO;

• Participates in WE-GO detailed implementation planning (DIP), and annual reviews, to ensure that proper practices, tools and guidelines are adopted throughout the life of the project.

• Ensure that activities are implemented according to a well-defined set of program protocols and tools, which balance the need for timely achievement of objectives with the importance of quality processes, and methodology at field level.

• Serve as expert in market systems and value chain constraints analysis, assessing threats, strengths, opportunities and threats to the value chain, and in particular to participating value chain clients especially women. Develop within the value chain new partnerships capable of resolving and supporting on-going constraints analysis.

• Facilitate improvements in the stakeholder’s markets engagements, convene collaborative partnerships with key market actors, finance providers and promote systemic change enabling the use of a market systems lens to anticipate market trends and risks.

• Work with public institutions and research institutions, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, business community to build sector-wide, mutual benefits on the value chain levels, including reduction of transaction costs, reduced waste, reduction in risk, and to increase market opportunities, i.e., volume and/or profit.

• Key member of the innovation and guarantee fund oversight committee, providing expert input of criteria, award, accountability and reporting of funds, and leveraged investments.

• Establishes all necessary relationships with partners and government to ensure that buy-in for evidence based and sound practices and share lessons.

• Work closely with program staffs to ensure appropriate planning and identification of other programmatic support needs;

• Support with the implementation of appropriate monitoring systems and provide/compile report on program activities;

• Ensure WE-GO incorporates innovative, empowering and cost effective practices and mechanisms that have potential for transformation, learning and scaling up.

• Monitor progress and provide on-going feedback and recommendations to project management.

• Participate, as required, in emergency assessments carried out in project operational areas;

• Proactively engage with the learning agenda partners to identify and explore learning opportunities and issues;

• Advise and ensure technical area initiatives are consistent with equity and sustainable development principles.

2. Capacity building and technical support (20%)

• Provide leadership, expert advice and build core capacities in the agricultural marketing staff in developing innovative business services, new business partnerships, and market oriented information systems.

• Establish on-going induction and training processes on the technical area for staffs and partners;

• Provide support, guidance and training to program staff to understand the technical requirements and best practices that promote and support behavioral changes to enhance productivity and investment in inputs/technologies;

• Participates in the selection of and support to external and/ temporary technical assistance (consultants, interns, etc.); Responsible for supporting existing, or developing new consulting services to support participating financial and non-financial institutions in all aspects of value chain opportunities toward increasing understanding of the value chain, markets and enhanced risk assessment of clients thus improving clients’ access to financial products.

• Assist with special projects, including solicitations

• Closely works with the WE-GO M & E staff and Collaborative Learning partners and CARE program quality and Learning (PQL) unit to ensure that learning and monitoring evaluation systems are in-sync with global agendas and needs, as required.

3. Partnership and networking (15%)

• Ensures productive relationships are established and maintained with all partners, donors other WE-GO implementing partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations at all levels and with expert institutions;

• Proactively develop and maintain a good learning platform with all stakeholders and ensure that good practices are shared widely;

4. Learning, documentation and sharing (15%)

• Identify, record and share lessons on program processes, practices and results with internal staffs, consortium partners and other stakeholders;

• Organize opportunities and forums for experience sharing and learning;

• Prepare and maintain up to date information on the livelihood situation of each operational area;

• Prepare reports as deemed necessary.

5. Leadership and representation (10%)

• Contribute to transparent, participatory, supportive and accountable management and decision making;

• Actively participate and support programmatic coordination and synergy;

• Contribute to a healthy working environment;

• Contribute to cohesive team spirit among staff and partners, while ensuring the achievement of the program objectives;

• As necessary, support the recruitment and motivation of informed, skilled and efficient team; and contribute to staff development strategies;

• Represent CARE and other consortium partners on agriculture and livelihood meetings and forums at different levels;

• Exhibit and model behaviors consistent with CARE's principles, values, vision, mission and a good sense of ownership and leadership for gender equity and empowerment;

• Proactively seek feedback, work towards improving working conditions and relations and solve issues brought to her/his attention promptly. Maintain effective and positive communications internally and with consortium partner staffs at all levels;

• Pay attention to ensuring that the project implementation process and standards are at internationally recognized higher standards and are accountable to beneficiaries and to actively engage beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of the project initiatives.

6. Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

II. GENDER EQUALITY

• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth and social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming.

III. Qualifications

A) Education/Training

Required: MBA/MSC in Agriculture, Development Studies, Marketing, Value chain development, Livelihood Diversification, or related fields

Desired: MSC in Agriculture

B) Experience

• Required: 7years of work experience related to agricultural production and livelihood diversification-out of which 5 years in technical leadership position
• Desired: Previous work experience on market systems programs, food security program, and agriculture extension is a plus.

C) Technical Skills

Required:

• Solid understanding of market systems, agricultural production and diversification frameworks and tools; and good analytical, communication and organizational skill.

• Ability to analyze technical issues, to write clear and concise reports and make effective oral presentations;

• Proficiency in computer (Word, Excel & other collaborative platforms);

• Good knowledge of written and spoken English;

• Project design, monitoring and evaluation skill;

• Effective interpersonal skills, maturity, initiative, tact and a high sense of responsibility,

• Ability to work harmoniously with people of different educational, cultural and technical backgrounds;

Desired:

• Expertise in agricultural production and diversification analysis and methodologies;

• Proven training and facilitation skills;

• Computer skills in database management;

• Expertise in assessment, analysis and report writing.

D)     Competencies:

• CARE core values (respect, accountability, courage, and excellence), commitment, building partnerships, communicating effectively, information gathering/research, and managing performance for success, initiating action, interpersonal skills, promoting teamwork, contributing to team success, pro-active problem solving, solution oriented, result oriented and organizing, good temperament and good sense of humor. Results oriented.            

  IV. Contacts/Key Relationships:

• The incumbent is expected to establish and maintain good relations with all staff in consortium partner organizations and at all levels. S/he will also be expected to have productive and professional relations with various technical and operation staff in the 3 organization. The position holder would be required to work in World Vision office and CARE office.

V. Working Conditions and Level of Travel Required. 

• This position is based in Addis Ababa, 30% of his/her time for travel to project operational areas.

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.