Project Description

FHI 360’s Alive & Thrive (A&T) initiative in Ethiopia supports the Government of Ethiopia to strengthen multisectoral food systems and nutrition governance in line with the Food and Nutrition Strategy (FNS), Seqota Declaration (SD), and the Ethiopian Food Systems Transformation (EFST) Roadmap. The project focuses on institutionalizing government-led coordination, strengthening data use and accountability, and improving planning, implementation, monitoring, and learning across sectors and administrative levels. At regional level, Food System and Nutrition Coordination Offices (FSNCOs) serve as secretariats for Food System and Nutrition Councils and Technical Committees. Strengthening routine monitoring, reporting, and learning within these structures is essential to ensure evidence-based decision-making, performance management, and sustainability of multisectoral actions.

Job description of senior food system advisor at Ministry of Agriculture

The food system senior Advisor will be seconded to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (FMOA) to work under the guidance of the Food and Nutrition Office (FNO) responsible for the food system agenda in the Ministry. The Advisor will have functional responsibility to the country director of FHI360 Alive & Thrive Ethiopia based in Addis Ababa.

As the Ethiopia food system transformation and the food and nutrition strategy are interlinked to healthier diets in the country, the senior food systems advisor will also work closely with the Senior Multisectoral Advisor seconded at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), other Gates Foundation investment advisors on Nutrition sensitive agriculture and Food system project (NSA FS project),Agriculture Transformation Institute (ATI), other implementing partners working on food systems.

The Advisor will provide hands-on technical support and coaching to relevant directorates in the Ministry to effectively plan, budget for, and implement -food systems. The senior food system Advisor will help the Ministry to identify low-performing regions and provide them with the on-the-job technical support they need to strengthen food systems in their regions. This could include strengthening their competencies, support systems or work environment. The senior food system Advisor will be working very closely with the respective Regional -food system Advisors seconded to the regional president and mayors’ offices.

Essential Job Functions/Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Provide technical assistance for food systems roadmap and programs

• Support harmonization with the Ethiopia food systems transformation plans, raise awareness, and communicate and disseminate key strategies outlined in the food systems roadmap at the regional, zonal and woreda levels
• Provide technical support in reviewing the healthy diet sensitivity of policies and documents working closely with the Ethiopia food systems transformation, different departments and development partners
• Provide technical assistance to the FMOAs efforts in setting clear targets to gauge progress in increasing dietary diversity and improving healthy diets of the population
• Support the FMOA in mainstreaming food system measures in other agriculture

programs such as food system resilience programs, PSNP VI and related programs

• Contribute to the existing process by providing technical assistance to prepare food systems implementation guidelines to facilitate the smooth implementation of the food system roadmap
• Support the MOA in the implementation of national initiatives (Ye Lemat Tirufat, Green Legacy and the 10-in-10 Strategic Plan) aimed at contributing to the Ethiopia’s Food Systems Transformation.

2. Support in assessments and planning

• Support the FMOA and the regional food system-relevant entities and authorities to develop context specific food systems action plans that are aligned with the Ethiopia food system transformation roadmap
• Ensure that developed action plans are clearly monitored and followed up to identify

progress against a set target

3. Support in capacity building and institutional development

• Based on the food system roadmap annual action plans, build the capacity of the staff in the Ministry to ensure that regions have budgeted for NSA-related activities in their annual work plans
• Support various LEO in the Ministry to implement effective food system programs that are aligned with and promote operationalizing the Ethiopian food system roadmap in context-specific interventions for increased productivity and access to diverse, safe nutrient-dense foods, and their consumption among women and children
• Coaching and mentoring of FNO staff to strengthen institutional systems, and coordination mechanisms.

4. Support in the strategic use of data

• Support the Ethiopian food systems roadmap work monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework at federal and regional level
• Strengthen the FMOA’s capacity to monitor and evaluate food system programs by applying program impact pathways that demonstrate clear linkages between agriculture, nutrition, and healthy diets.
• Support the effective operationalization and functionality of the Agricultural Management Information System (AGMIS-2) within the MOA

Functional Competencies – Technical Expertise:

• Specialist knowledge in the areas of -food systems, nutrition sensitive agriculture, food hygiene and technology and program management
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of agriculture, nutrition and healthy diets within FNS, NNSAFS, FSQS- PAP, PHMS and EFS
• Diplomatic and conflict resolution skills
• Strong understanding of political and institutional dynamics in government, civil society and donor communities in Ethiopia

Functional Competencies – Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Strong commitment to Share knowledge and experience
• Ability to provide top-quality expertise on food system
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues

Functional Competencies – Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Contribute to the development, review and implementation of the food system to ensure the effective prioritization of activities critical to the success of the program
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches, which expand the range of programs
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including Government, development partners and civil society

Functional Competencies – program management and teamwork:

• Works with teams effectively
• Works well with a diverse group of people
• Focuses on impact and results, and responds positively to critical feedback
• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
• Interact with teams effectively and shows conflict-resolution skills

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the Government of Ethiopia’s values and ethical
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the Government of Ethiopia National Rural Development and Agriculture policy, Food systems and Food and Nutrition Policy Framework
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Duration of Position: -One year, will be renewed annually

Number of positions: -One (1)

Reports to: -Food and Nutrition Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture

Job Requirement

Education:

• Master’s Degree or above in Food (science, technology, engineering), Agricultural Sciences (Plant Sciences, Animal sciences), food hygiene and technology, Rural Development and Livelihoods, or closely related discipline

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant technical and/or managerial experience working in the field of Food, agriculture and/or livelihoods
• Experience of working with the government especially with MOA highly required
• A sound understanding of the political, economic, social and cultural environments impacting on agriculture and livestock and as they impact nutrition, including a clear understanding of the relevant Rural Development and Agriculture Policy and Food and Nutrition Policy Framework
• Experience of working under the National Nutrition Program framework; ability to work well with different leaders of the agriculture and food system, and at the community level
• Experience in program planning and management with an emphasis on managing for results

Demonstrated ability in organizing supportive supervision and review meetings with government stakeholders and partners

• Proven experience in monitoring and reporting on activities

Skills:

• Strong initiative and self-motivation required, with a commitment to teamwork and

effectiveness within the FMOA context

Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams consisting of people with different technical backgrounds and with varying levels of technical training

• Ability to assess priorities, and manage variety of activities while communicating, connecting, and collaborating with the FMOA, A&T Ethiopia staff, a broad coalition of government, NGOs, and international partners
• Demonstrated supervisory, interpersonal, and networking skills, including the ability to facilitate relationships and partnerships, interact effectively with government colleagues and partner staff, and mentor junior technical staff
• Evidence of critical thinking and problem-solving skills to plan, organize, and manage resources for the successful completion of projects
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent writing, and communication skills in English, including strong presentation skills to report results to national and regional stakeholders

Additional Information:

• Works in a typical government office setting; working conditions include extensive travel to different regions, zones and sometimes woredas

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

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