IAIP National Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Industry (MoI) of Ethiopia

​Requisition ID: 1425 
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Ethiopia 
Duty Station: Addis Ababa 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 13-Dec-2022  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR)

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximise the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth.

The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.

Agro-Innovation and Bioeconomy Unit (IET/AGR/AIB)

The Agro-Innovation and Bioeconomy Unit (IET/AGR/AIB) promotes the development of innovative approaches to agricultural and agro-industrial production by looking at new products for industry, new processes of production, new sources of materials and energy from biomass, new schemes for sustainable production and new approaches to climate adaptation and the reduction of climate change. The Unit will contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, food and water shortages, environmental pollution, and loss of biodiversity – all in combination with economic development - by replacing fossil and mineral resources with renewable raw materials and through new technologies in production and processing of agriculture and aquaculture-based products.

Overall, the Unit will support agriculture and agro-industry in Member States in a transition from fossil and mineral-based production to a green and blue circular bioeconomy. Through partnerships with innovative firms, R&D departments and development partners, the Unit draws from the latest technology development in agricultural machinery, agro-processing and digitalization and renders adapted solutions to agro-industry development, emphasizing services to less developed countries. It will also engage with innovative carbon sequestration and biodiversity improvement schemes that help farmers and agro-industry firms to finance and apply new technologies of CO2 reduction and biodiversity improvement. It will also foster climate adaptation in agricultural and agro-industry production, using more sustainable technology and production schemes.

PROJECT CONTEXT

In 2009, the Government of Ethiopia adopted the agro-industrial strategy to transform the agricultural sector and boost the economy. A high-level consultative process led to the identification of 17 growth corridors in the country and the selection of locations in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) regions as the pilots for four integrated agro-industrial park (IAIPs). The development of IAIPs is a core component of the current National Home-Grown Economic Reform as well as the Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan (2021 – 2030). The IAIPs are critical vehicles for the structural transformation of the economy, driven by the development of the agricultural production system, from its current fragmented and supply-driven practices, to one that is organized and based on quality and demand. Such a change will boost agro-processing and will help create employment and stimulate a shift in investment and human resources from agriculture to agro-industries.

In close collaboration with UNIDO and other development partners, the GoE has completed the construction of the four pilot IAIPs. Furthermore, the IAIPs in three regions, i.e., Oromia, Amhara, Sidama/SNNP are currently at some level of occupancy and operations, under the management of the respective regional industrial park development cooperation’s (RIPDCs). An important feature of the IAIPs and RTCs facilities is the inclusion of local businesses allied to agro-industry. The value chain approach facilitates the integration of farmer’s cooperatives, which supply the agricultural products to agro-processors in the IAIPs and RTCs. The geographical approach facilitates the integration of MSME around the RTCs and the IAIPs that provides intermediate goods and services (logistics, packaging, cold chain, transportation). Strengthening these backward linkages is key to ensuring local economic growth, increased farmers sustainable income and off-farm employment.

UNIDO is responsible for the overall coordination of interventions related to the IAIP programme in the country. The present project, within the framework of the Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks – Support Project (IAIP-SP) initiative, aims at increasing the capacities for agro-industrialisation in Ethiopia through;

• Enhanced management of IAIPs and RTCs,
• Development of quality for agro-industrialization (including the setting up of an effective food quality and safety system, the equipment of laboratories, and the training of technicians) and
• Promotion of a just and safe working environment (decent job agenda, gender mainstreaming, prevention of gender-based violence).

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall general direction of UNIDO Project Manager at HQ, and Guidance of Chief Technical Advisor and the National Project Coordinator in Ethiopia, the Technical Advisor will perform the following tasks:

MAIN DUTIES

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration, International Relations or related other relevant with a specialization in Civil/Structural Engineering field is required.

Technical/Functional Experience.

A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, in delivery of technical cooperation services and project management related to agribusiness development is required. Working experience in designing or implementing industrial cluster projects in Africa will be an added advantage. Excellent writing and communication skill (list of publications may be submitted) is desirable.

Experience in evaluating the needs and conditions of the country or the region is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.   Fluency in Amharic is desirable.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside.
Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org
NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org