Ethiopia: ICT PROFESSIONAL TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

About AGRA

Founded in 2006, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze Agriculture Transformation in Africa. AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. As the sector that employs the majority of Africa’s people, nearly all of them small-scale farmers, AGRA recognizes that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to ensuring food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent.

AGRA is rolling out a new 5-year strategy to catalyze and sustain an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farmers. Under this strategy, AGRA will deliver through an approach that simultaneously catalyzes change at farmer level, strengthens input and output market systems and puts government at the center to enable and champion private-sector-led agricultural growth at national level.

As part of its cooperation framework agreement with the Government of Ethiopia and the AGRA Ethiopia Country Program, AGRA seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in effectively implementing the flagship Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). AGRA is seeking to recruit an experienced and exceptional individual to the role of ICT Professional to be seconded to the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to provide operation and management of ICT system support to the Ministry.

The Position:

Reporting to the Director of Planning and Programming of the Mistry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Vice President for Country Support and Delivery at AGRA or a designee, the ICT Officer will be responsible for supporting the Ministry in planning and executing an M&E framework conducting monitoring and evaluation of for the main flagship programs of the Ministry, including but not limited to the GTPII. The position will be based at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Administrative and Finance Unit, the ICT Officer manages ICT services, develops and implements ICT management systems, provides information management tools and technology infrastructure to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The ICT Officer is responsible for review of and advice on the use of new technologies that will enhance the Ministry’s productivity. The ICT Officer promotes a client-oriented approach.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate ensures implementation of ICT strategies and new technologies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

· Compliance with the Ministry’s information management and technology standards, guidelines and procedures.

· Provision of inputs to development of internal policies and procedures on the use of ICT.

· Participation in the office business process re-engineering activities and ensures that business needs drive IT solutions related to organizational resource management.

· Development and update of the ICT annual work plan and reporting.

· Provision of advice on and assistance in procurement of new ICT equipment for the office, provision of technical specifications and information on best options in both local and international markets.

· Work closely with M&E Officer in implementing online reporting and tracking of GTP and other transformation agenda deliverables

Major functions:

· Provide Applications support, Hardware/Software Installations and require monitoring of the organization Web Site by analyzing web site usage data from server logs or other sources.

· Receive and log requests for support from ICT users and respond to the requests in a logical and prioritized manner.

· Within a broad area of competence, investigates problems and other requests for support and in consultation with the supervisor, determine appropriate actions to take. Helps to resolve problems (e.g. poor performance) and faults (e.g. system failure) occurring in the operation of hardware and software

· Within own area of competence, provides correct response to requests for support by means of for example: making system modifications, developing work-arounds or site-specific enhancements, manipulating data, reconfiguring systems, changing operating procedures, training users or operations staff and producing additional documentation.

· Ensure all work is carried out and documented in accordance with required standards, methods and procedures. Liaising with Finance, Admin and Program departments to ensure integrated internal controls and full, auditable support documentation.

· Provide guidance and advice to staff on policy issues related to ICT equipment safety and maintain confidentiality and observe data protection guidelines of the organization.

· Monitor progress of requests for support and ensure users and other interested parties are kept informed. Take corrective action to avoid or minimize delays.

· Carry out any other reasonable duties within the overall function commensurate with the level of responsibilities of the position.

Requirements:

· A minimum of a BSc degree in Information Technology, electrical engineering with practical skills in Information Management and ICTs.

· Proficiency in the use of ICT particularly in development of web‐based solutions, maintenance of websites and working with databases.

· At least five years of experience in communication and ICTs.

· Excellent use of MS Office packages and office automation solutions

· Good organization, interpersonal, negotiation and high level of computer skills, including excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ERP systems

· Knowledge of Amharic language highly desirable

Objectives As part of its cooperation framework agreement with the Government of Ethiopia and the AGRA Ethiopia Country Program, AGRA seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in effectively implementing the flagship Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). AGRA is seeking to recruit an experienced and exceptional individual to the role of ICT Professional to be seconded to the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to provide to operation and management of ICT system support the Ministry for an initial one year period renewable up to a maximum of three years based on performance.

The services include: • Serve as a senior technical expert on general agriculture issues, extension services, markets, trade, and agriculture policy reform issues to the State Minister. • Provide strategic, policy, technical, and managerial support, and mentor junior professionals. • Prepare briefing notes high level talking points to the minister and prepare the Minister for high level meetings • Advise The Minister and other officials of the Ministry regarding agriculture policy, extension, and research development, strategic planning, technical direction, activity design, budgeting, and managing for results. • Provide expert analysis and concise information regarding trade, investment, and agriculture sector development policies. • Actively support the formulation of general agriculture issues, agro-education/extension services, trade, and agriculture policy related polices and projects that support accelerated and sustainable growth of the Ethiopian economy. • Establish, maintain and manage sensitive high level relationships with Federal and Regional government entities, multilateral and bilateral development partners

AGRA now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services including detailed Curriculum vitae and certified academic certificates. AGRA will request for a financial proposal and negotiate with the best candidate. The detailed terms of references can be found on ……………………….(indicate link)
Interested individual consultants may obtain further information at the email address provided below. Expressions of interest must be sent to: procurement@agra.org by Thursday 19th July 2018 at 2359 Hours East Africa Time (GMT +3).