One Acre Fund works to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. In Ethiopia, we engage farmers in agroforestry and community-based seed multiplication to increase farmers' incomes and improving farming systems. Engaging with local actors at every step but bringing ideas from outside, we are making rural farming more market-friendly and environmentally sustainable. Our Ethiopian partner farmers have planted more than 45 million trees, produced over 2000 MT of improved teff seed and improved the futures of hundreds of thousands of their neighbors. In Ethiopia alone, our permanent team numbers over 150 with nearly 1000 rural seasonal staff supporting them. Our Ethiopia headquarters are in Addis Ababa and we have a large program office Bahir Dar, plus several smaller field offices.
About the Role
The System Change Specialist will be an essential part of a team in one of One Acre Fund’s fastest-growing country programs. The Ethiopia program currently serves over 160,000 farmers, grows over 14 million trees per year, and has an ambitious seed multiplication program. By 2025, we aim to serve 500,000 farmers and plant 100 million trees.
We are seeking a dedicated professional to lead the design and implementation of tree systems change trials and interventions to achieve our scale targets by creating a market-oriented tree system that enables farmers to sustainably generate value from trees.
You will report directly to the Systems Innovations Department Lead.
As the System Changes Specialist, you will:
- Lead stakeholder mapping and engagement for the tree system, with a focus on tree production input supply and seedling sales, and understand the role of each actor in moving us towards a market-oriented tree system
- Conduct primary and secondary research on the tree system to identify the major stakeholders and understand the underlying dynamics and structures
- Analyze information gathered from research to identify patterns and trends within the tree ecosystem
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, to present recommendations to stakeholders
- Collaborate with various public, private, and development partners, distributors, and customers, to define and align on a vision for the tree system and how each actor can help achieve that vision
- Establish and manage stakeholder relationships at various levels such as agro dealers, microfinance institutions, government counterparts and cooperatives for the success of tree systems change trials.
We are seeking someone with 4+ years of work experience and a demonstrated passion for our mission. Candidates who fit the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- Bachelor's degree in Economics, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Agribusiness, Agricultural Marketing or a related field with at least 4 years of experience
- Established track record of working effectively in partnerships or collaborative settings involving multiple public, private and development actors
- Experience working with farmers in community projects, especially related to trees.
- Strong understanding of the tree system and its operations, including tree production input supply and seedling sales
- Demonstrated ability in designing and implementing agricultural product or service trials
- Demonstrated ability in managing people and coaching.
- Excellent English writing and grammar.
- Command of the basics of email, Microsoft Word, Microsoft excel (can maintain complex spreadsheets)
- Experience synthesizing large volumes of information gathered from different sources.
