Cooperative program director

The newly-created Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as a Cooperatives Program Director. The ATA is an initiative by the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) with the primary aim of promoting agricultural sector transformation by supporting existing structures of government, private-sector and other non-governmental partners to address systemic bottlenecks and deliver on a priority national agenda to achieve growth and food security. The formation of the ATA is a result of two years of extensive diagnostic study across eight sub-sectors of Ethiopia's agricultural system in a highly-consultative, multi-stakeholder process conducted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Its structure and function is focused on nimble, innovative and results-oriented support to a range of partners in the agricultural sector. Programmatically, the ATA will focus on a set of high priority initiatives identified by an inter-ministerial Council chaired by the Prime Minister. The initial areas of focus include cooperatives, seeds, markets, technology access and adoption and extension and research. Across the thematic initiatives, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. The ATA will be financed by GOE and a range of development partners. POSITION SUMMARY: The Cooperative Program Director will lead the internal ATA cooperative team in fulfilling the cooperative program area objectives which include the following: 1. To strengthen the working relationship of all actors in the cooperative sector to serve smallholder farmers effectively and 2. To provide primary cooperative leaders the tools and resources to build strong organizations with links to multiple input and output markets. In addition to working with the internal cooperative team, the Cooperative Program Director will collaborate with key cooperative stakeholders including primary cooperatives, unions, federations, government promotion agencies, NGOs and private organizations. The ideal Director possesses a passion for improving the lives of small-holder farmers, a familiarity with Ethiopia's agricultural cooperative system and extensive knowledge of agricultural inputs distribution and marketing through cooperatives. S/he would likewise possess the entrepreneurial ability to visualize transformation, to mobilize stakeholders across system, to be innovative and to drive practical change on the ground. This position will officially report to the ATA's CEO or Deputy CEO. This is a two-year, fixed term, renewable appointment.

Functie-eisen

ESSENTIAL DUTIES To collaboratively design, launch and support a cooperatives intervention designed to measurably improve the operational performance of cooperatives in promoting agricultural development in Ethiopia by creating an enabling cooperative system, improving cooperative leadership capacity and governance structure and cooperatives' access to financial resources. To help the ATA Cooperatives team build the capacity of key government, private, NGOs / community based organizations and other informal actors in Ethiopia's agricultural system to foster effective linkages and enable long-term improvements for the agricultural cooperatives system. Key Functions: To work with local stakeholders to create a vision of what the Ethiopian cooperative sector could look like in five years. To develop a road map outlining key steps which need to be taken in order to achieve the vision. To attain alignment with all necessary stakeholders on the vision and road map. To support the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, Federal Cooperative Agency and other government and non-government stakeholders to effectively implement the road map to achieve the vision. To effectively manage and use an internal cooperative team to drive program activities. To regularly report to the CEO or Deputy CEO on progress, challenges and constraints of the work. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: At least 10 years of experience in agricultural cooperative development. Basic understanding of Ethiopia's agricultural system, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system. Knowledge of modern agricultural inputs, value addition and marketing systems. Practical experience in developing linkages between input distributers and cooperatives and between cooperatives and markets. Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operational activities. Demonstrable track record of success with program design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation. Master's degree in Business Administration, or Master's / PhD in Agriculture Science or other relevant subject. Practical experience in piloting and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level. Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results. Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people. Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style. Excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging environment. Excellent analytical skills. Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service. Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in Amharic and/or one additional Ethiopian language is a plus. APPLICATION AND MORE INFORMATION: Khalid Bomba Senior Program Officer Global Development Program Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation P: +1 206 770 1691 F: +1 206 494 7073 E: khalid.bomba@gatesfoundation.org Please mention where you saw this position.