Urgent Announcement for External/Internal Vacancy

Women Empowerment Action (WE-Action) is a feminist women's rights organization that has been operating across various regions in Ethiopia, including Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, and Tigray, for the past 30 years. WE-Action has four strategic goals: combating gender inequality, promoting gender-equitable and sustainable livelihoods, ensuring protection and lifesaving support, and achieving organizational excellence. WE-Action in collaboration Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is currently seeking a competent project Coordinator at Borena Field Office

WE-LIFT (Women Entrepreneurs Leading Inclusive Food Transformation in Borena) aims to transform Borena's food system into one that is more inclusive, climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive, and market-oriented by strengthening the economic participation, leadership, resilience, and agency of 4,741 pastoralist and agro-pastoralist women and female youth living in Arero, Gomole, and Yabello woredas of Borena Zone, Oromia Region.

 

Borena is one of Ethiopia's most important pastorals and agro-pastoral areas, where more than 85% of households depend primarily on livestock production for their livelihoods, food security, and income. The zone forms part of a dynamic cross-border pastoral economy linked to markets in southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and the wider Horn of Africa. However, recurrent drought, rainfall variability, rangeland degradation, water scarcity, declining livestock productivity, weak market integration, and climate change are placing increasing pressure on the food system. These interconnected challenges reduce productivity, disrupt markets, and undermine household resilience. WE-LIFT project responds to these challenges and opportunities through a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach combined with a Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) that addresses market failures, institutional barriers, and discriminatory social norms.

 

At the same time, expanding irrigation, growing demand for diversified livestock and horticultural products, stronger government commitment to women's economic empowerment, and increasing private-sector interest create a timely opportunity to reshape the food system before existing inequalities become further entrenched.

Note: - WE-Action has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and any forms of Gender-Based Violence.

Description of the position

Position: Project Coordinator/Horticulture Expert

Duty Station: Yabello, with frequent travel and fieldwork in Gomole and Arero woredas.

Reports to: Program Coordinator

Salary: As per the organization’s scale

Number of positions: One (1)

Duration: based on performance evaluation result and availability of budget

II.         General Duties and responsibilities

The position holder will be responsible for Plan and execute landscape designs and maintenance for various environments, Monitor and nurture plant health, Manage and conserve soil and water resources, Ensure plants are free from disease and pests, Apply horticulture principles to solve complex environmental problems, Produce detailed reports and documentation of horticulture activities, Coordinate with other professionals such as landscape architects or contractors, Maintain up-to-date knowledge of latest horticulture development, Conduct research to improve plant growth and yield and Provide guidance and training to junior staff.

Horticulture Expert will responsible for conducting technical training for women and youths on vegetable and fruit production, facilitate B2B linkage, support vegetable value chain, identify appropriate vegetable and fruit verities with government experts, follow the agronomic practice of selected vegetable and fruits, support enterprises to implement climate friendly production i.e. Compost preparation, support and follow horticultural crops producer enterprise to timely access agricultural inputs, technically support irrigation intervals based on crop water requirement and conduct cost benefit analysis for producer enterprise with market system development(MSD) experts.

Planning and designing:

• Participate and contribute in project planning from gender equality and social inclusion perspective.

• Prepare and review gender integration plan in projects deep implementation.

• Follow up gender transformative approaches are promoted in project planning.

• Develop different tools that helps mainstream gender issues.

III.         Project Implementation:

• Implement and follow up gender and social inclusion activities from each project.

• Implement the Gender Equality Policy implementation strategy and action plan of the organization.

• Follow up the implementation of Gender integration part of the implementation plan.

• Review project and programs for gender and social inclusion perspectives.

• Participate and contribute to humanitarian clusters from gender perspective.

• Promote male engagement strategies and approaches.

• Provide technical expertise in horticulture, including crop production, plant protection, and sustainable practices.

• Design, implement, and monitor horticultural projects to improve productivity and quality.

• Deliver training and capacity-building sessions for farmers and field staff.

• Conduct research and advice on modern horticultural techniques aligned with organizational goals.

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and national agricultural standards.

IV.         Advocacy and Capacity Building:

• Contribute to the implementation of organization advocacy policy and strategies.

• Promote feminist advocacy across programs and projects.

• Publish and communicate advocacy materials.

• Design and implement advocacy strategies to influence policy and practice.

• Organize Gender Equality and Social Inclusion capacity building for all staff at different level.

• Plan and implement gender specific employee’s capacity development, mentorship and internship programs.

• Organize and contribute regular “Women Space” for women employee’s empowerment.

V.         Safeguarding

• Able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, and feel confident that they have been understood

• Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements

• Practices in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect

• Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including careers, family members and children at risk

• Able to document safeguarding concerns, and maintain appropriate record-keeping, recording the wishes and views of the adult or child at risk, differentiating between fact and opinion

Job Requirements

VI.         Job Requirement/Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Crop Production, Agronomy, Irrigation Agronomy, or a closely related field.

• A master’s degree would be an advantage.

• At least five years of relevant experience in horticultural production, crop development, agricultural extension, or climate-smart agriculture.

• Demonstrated practical experience in vegetable and fruit production under irrigated, dryland, or water-scarce conditions.

• Experience working with pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, preferably in Borena or similar drought-prone areas.

• Experience supporting women- and youth-led producer groups, cooperatives, nurseries, or horticultural enterprises.

• Practical experience in establishing and managing demonstration plots, farmer field schools, and on-farm trials.

• Experience in production planning, input use, harvesting, post-harvest handling, aggregation, quality management, and market-oriented horticulture.

• Experience collaborating with government agriculture offices, research institutions, input suppliers, irrigation service providers, buyers, and private-sector actors

VII.          Key skills and competency required

• Project Management: Understand program quality, knowledge management, and M and E program design and implementation.

• Stakeholders Management: Establish system and matrices for effective stakeholders’ management at district level

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and organizational practices, and ensure that own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization. Demonstrate strong personality and integrity.

• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner including by phone with several stakeholders; articulate the organizational’ mission, project objectives with relevant stakeholders.

• Creativity/Innovation: in respective areas of responsibility develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.

• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.

• Lead: in respective areas of responsibility positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.

• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

• Strong knowledge of climate-resilient vegetable and fruit production.

• Ability to identify suitable crops and varieties based on water availability, climate, soil conditions, nutritional value, market demand, and producer capacity.

• Knowledge of irrigation scheduling and water-efficient technologies, including drip irrigation, solar-powered irrigation, and moisture-conservation practices.

• Knowledge of soil-fertility management, composting, integrated soil-health management, and safe fertilizer application.

• Knowledge of integrated pest and disease management and the safe and responsible use of agrochemicals.

• Experience with quality seed and seedling selection, nursery establishment, seedling multiplication, and local input-supply systems.

• Knowledge of crop calendars, seasonal production planning, crop rotation, intercropping, and production diversification.

• Experience reducing post-harvest losses through appropriate harvesting, sorting, grading, packaging, storage, transportation, and basic processing practices.

• Ability to prepare technical guidelines, training materials, demonstration protocols, production plans, and extension messages.

• Basic understanding of horticultural enterprise budgeting, gross-margin analysis, production costs, pricing, and market requirements.

• Understanding of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and the role of vegetables and fruits in improving household dietary diversity.

VIII.         Language and mobility requirements

• Fluency in Afaan Oromo is essential.

• Good command of written and spoken English is required.

• Knowledge of Amharic is an advantage.

• Willingness to travel frequently and work in Yabello, Gomole, and Arero

• Gender Sensitive: Understands gender equality and demonstrate gender sensitive and responsive behaviors. Ability to manage culturally sensitive and differences and responding appropriately

 

How To Apply

How to Apply:

Interested applicants can submit their non-returnable application letter, updated CV through Ethio Jobs. 

Application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

Name of the position you have applied for

Summary of your qualifications and experience

Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

Please include at least 3 references from current and former supervisors.

Closing date: 03/09/2026 

Female Applicants highly encouraged

Job Requirements The successful candidate should possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Crop Production, Agronomy, Irrigation Agronomy, or a closely related field, with a Master’s Degree considered an added advantage. A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in horticultural production, crop development, agricultural extension, climate-smart agriculture, or related areas is required. How to Apply Apply using the provided link below.