About the Organization
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is a governmental agency that provides international cooperation and development assistance.
Job Summary
The National Project Senior Staff will provide continuous in-country support to the JICA expert team in implementing project activities for the Coffee Development Strategy Support project. The Staff will serve as the principal liaison between the Project and Ethiopian counterpart institutions, provide technical and operational support for project activities, support the operation of the Task Force, and ensure continuity of project activities.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as the technical liaison between the JICA expert team and Ethiopian counterpart institutions (including EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, MoA, JARC, and EBI).
Maintain regular communication with counterpart focal points and ensure smooth information flow.
Support coordination and facilitation in project meetings, joint working sessions, and counterpart consultations.
Follow up on Action Plans developed by Task Force members and report progress to the JICA Expert.
Promptly report any significant delays or losses in project activities and work with Task Force members to identify solutions.
Support the implementation of field-level activities (surveys, research, etc.) carried out by Task Force members.
Coordinate communication with farmers, cooperatives, and local governments in relation to field-level activities.
Support the collection of coffee-related information required for the implementation of Action Plans.
Support the identification of local challenges and good practices.
Support the facilitation and minute-taking of regular Task Force meetings.
Follow up on Action Plans and support information sharing among Task Force members.
Promote dialogue among stakeholders and maintain relationships to strengthen the stakeholder network in forest coffee regions.
Collect information related to GIAHS registration and conservation activities.
Support consultations conducted by residents, cooperatives, and administrative agencies toward GIAHS registration.
Conduct monitoring of the above activities and report to the JICA Expert on a quarterly basis.
Accompany and participate in field surveys and site visits, providing support for information collection and interviews.
Submit field trip plans and reports as required.
Provide translation and interpretation between Amharic and English in the course of project activities.
Support the preparation of minutes for project meetings, counterpart consultations, Task Force meetings, workshops, and donor meetings.
Collect and organize activity-related data, documents, and information and maintain systematic records.
Submit quarterly work plans and progress reports to the JICA Expert.
Obtain prior approval from the JICA Expert for the implementation of activities and report outputs.
Carry out other duties as assigned by the JICA Expert.
Required Qualifications
Master's degree or higher in Agriculture, Plant Science, Food Science, Agricultural Economics, Biology, or a related field. A specialization in coffee, horticulture, or agricultural research is an advantage.
Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the Ethiopian coffee sector, agricultural research, or related fields.
Practical experience working with EIAR, ECTA, CQICC, JARC, MoA, EBI, or other coffee-related research and administrative institutions is desirable.
Experience with coffee quality assessment, cupping (Q-Grader certification is a plus), or laboratory work is desirable.
Minimum of 15 years of experience in donor-funded technical cooperation projects, particularly with JICA or other bilateral/multilateral agencies, is required.
Required Skills and Competencies
Sound understanding of the Ethiopian coffee value chain, the existing G1–G5 grading system, and the institutional landscape of Ethiopia's coffee sector.
Familiarity with Ethiopia's coffee policy framework, including the CRGE Strategy and the Comprehensive Coffee Development Strategy, is desirable.
Familiarity with international regulatory and policy developments relevant to Ethiopian coffee, including the EUDR and the Nagoya Protocol (ABS), is desirable.
Excellent written and spoken English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages spoken in coffee-producing regions (e.g., Afan Oromo) is an asset.
Strong report writing, data organization, and analytical skills.
Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
Ability to work independently between the short-term visits of JICA experts and to maintain project momentum and continuity.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Willingness and physical ability to undertake travel to coffee-producing regions.
Time management.
Adaptability, communication, and attention to detail.