National Project Coordinator - Enterprise Development - NOB (DC)

International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, whose primary goal is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity and creating jobs of acceptable quality. The ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan based in Addis Ababa, implements its programmes and activities in close partnership with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in particular with its constituents, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA), the employers' and workers' organizations. The implementation of its activities and programmes are in support of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), agreed by the tripartite partners. DWCP is fully aligned with the country's development goals, articulated in its five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Ethiopia and the National Plan for Jobs Creation, 2019 of Ethiopia.

ILO CO Addis is developing a programme on promoting decent work in agriculture. The ultimate objective of the programme would be in realising the decent job creation potential of the Ethiopian agriculture sector for young women and men. According to the National Action Plan on Job Creation the agriculture sector is a priority sector for the  government of Ethiopia and has the potential for huge job creation. As part of the programme, ILO will institute through an integrated supply-linkage-demand approach that builds the skills base of young people (‘supply’ of skills to the labour market); supports the growth of job-creating businesses (‘demand’ for labour); and ensures appropriate intermediation between supply and demand (‘linkage’ or ‘matching’ of young jobseekers with employers looking for talent, or to agricultural value chains requiring producers and service providers). While different donors are expected to contribute to this programme, at present ILO has secured a 42 months project from the  government of Germany as part of the BMZ Special Initiative on training and job creation.

The ProAgro project puts forward an integrated strategy, combining policy support and social dialogue, skills development, value chain development and entrepreneurship training, with the ultimate objective to create decent jobs opportunities for women and young men in the agribusiness sector. ProAgro will be implemented in Ethiopia over a period of 42 months. The Ethiopia project component also called ProEthiopia and will develop the capacity of national, regional, and local stakeholders to develop and implement policies aimed at boosting the job creation potential of the agribusiness sector while enhancing decent work conditions. The programme will also contribute by responding to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on enterprises and the labour market in the targeted sector. The budget for Ethiopia amounts to Euro 5 million.

The programme will be implemented in one to two regions of Ethiopia and will aim at achieving the following objectives:

Outcome 1. A more conducive ecosystem in the selected region for decent jobs creation and sustainable investment.

Outcome 2: Selected value chains in the agribusiness sector are more competitive and have boosted their job quality and creation potential.

Outcome 3: Quality and more demand oriented TVET and training that increase employability and job prospects

Outcome 4: Enterprise development mechanisms in place for the agribusiness sector

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the project, the National Project Coordinator –Enterprise Development will be responsible for the overall delivery of Outcome 2 and Outcome 4 of the programme.

Reporting lines

Under the overall responsibility of the Director of the ILO CO-Addis Ababa, the National Project Coordinator –Enterprise Development will report and work under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) for the Project.

• Support the coordination of relations with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Federal TVETA, EIC, JCC, regional bureaus and investment commissions, the social partners and other key government institutions in Ethiopia with respect to the activities in the Outcome 2 and Outcome 4.
• With technical support from Specialists, ILO units, build the capacity of the Regional Investment Centres to support job-rich investment incentives and SMEs as part of their revised mandate.
• Contribute to the delivery of the market system analyses of the target value chains with support from ILO Specialists to identify key constraints to value chain performance and the impacts of the COVID-19 and support the implementation of the recommendations.
• Contribute to the design of market-led intervention models with support from ILO Specialists that are oriented toward delivering job growth, economic recovery from the crisis period in the selected value chains.
• Along with ILO Specialists, ensure that, innovative business models are introduced through collaborations with local partners within the selected value chains which includes: 1.) identifying market players with sufficient capacities, 2.) building partnerships with the identified market players in the selected agribusiness value chains; and 3.) supporting players that can drive economic recovery efforts resulting from COVID-19.
• Work with government at the local and national level to support policy positions and initiatives that support job growth and economic recovery.

(continued, duties)

• Develop and implement interventions which enable access to entrepreneurship and small business support for priority value chains, also identify local business development providers, conduct enterprise capacity development through local providers in the value chains and facilitate small business support services for relevant enterprises in the selected value chains with emphasis on economic recovery.
• Report on the administrative and financial aspects of the specified outcomes to meet both internal and donor requirements.
• Be responsible for the knowledge management of the specified outcome areas and undertake relevant reporting, capturing of results and develop regular communication materials and updates for both internal and external dissemination.
• Actively contribute to resource mobilization and development of country programming objectives in collaboration with ILO team in the country.
• Actively participate in the organization of conferences, seminars, training workshops and meetings.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

First level University Degree in Social Sciences, economics, business management, business administration, development studies and related discipline.

Three years of demonstrable experience of working on economic and skills development in Ethiopia. Prior ILO experience is highly desirable, as well as prior experience of working on development cooperation projects.

Excellent knowledge of English, and good knowledge of Amharic.

• Knowledge of results based planning and programme cycle; analytical skills; efficient organisational skills.
• Ability to understand, evaluate and develop business models.
• Good analytical skills. Ability to reason and make sound judgements.
• Good computer applications knowledge and proficiency on MS office applications.
• Ability to monitor and undertake regular report writing.
• Demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct including confidentiality, accuracy and attention to details.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.
• Represent the Project on relevant fora and make effective presentations.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and ability to negotiate.
• Ability to supervise staff and get work done.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Good communication and presentation skills in English and Amharic, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work in a team, and good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.