Agricultural Sciences (Plant or Animal Sciences and closely related fields)

The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) serves as Ethiopia's leading national agricultural research organization, tasked with the generation, adaptation, and dissemination of agricultural technologies aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and sustainability. Considering the increasing challenges posed by climate change, land degradation, and low agricultural productivity, EIAR is executing a project titled "Generating Climate-Smart and Innovative Technologies for Agricultural Transformation (GCSITAT)". The GCSITAT initiative is designed to develop, validate, and expand climate-smart and innovative technologies for crops and livestock that are environmentally sustainable, economically feasible, and socially acceptable across the various agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. To achieve these goals, robust technical leadership in plant and animal sciences is essential to steer research design, technology development, testing, and scaling efforts. Consequently, EIAR is seeking qualified experts in: - Agricultural Sciences (Plant or Animal sciences and closely related fields); - Agricultural Economics; or closely related fields; - Natural Resources including Agricultural Engineering, Water Engineering, or related fields; - Agricultural Research Extension or Rural Development, or related fields who will offer technical expertise in the creation and assessment of climate-smart technologies at the EIAR. The experts will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary research teams to ensure that the technologies developed within the project are scientifically valid, adaptable to local contexts, and aligned with the needs of farmers. In addition, the experts will closely engage in crafting fundable project grants to mobilize external resources.

Project: Generating Climate-Smart and Innovative Technologies for Agricultural Transformation (GCSITAT)

Implementing Institution: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)

Position (1.1) Position Title: Agricultural Sciences (Plant or Animal Sciences and closely related fields);

Position Title: Expert in Agricultural Economics / Agribusiness, or other closely related disciplines

Position (1.3) Position Title: Expert in Natural Resources including Agricultural Engineering, Water Engineering, or related fields

Position (1.4) Position Title: Expert in Agricultural Research Extension or Rural Development, or related fields

Contract Duration: One year, subject to renewal based on performance and fund availability

Reporting Line: Project Coordinator, GCSITAT Project

2. Objective of the Assignment

The aim of this assignment is to deliver technical leadership and scientific knowledge in various fields of agriculture to facilitate the development, validation, and scaling of climate-smart and innovative agricultural technologies as part of the GCSITAT project.

3. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Project Coordinator, the experts will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Provide technical direction in the design, execution, and assessment of crop and/or livestock/soils/agricultural water or irrigation research initiatives within the GCSITAT project.
• Assist in the creation and evaluation of climate-smart and innovative technologies that are appropriate for various agro-ecological zones.
• Ensure that research initiatives incorporate considerations of climate resilience, productivity, sustainability, and resource-use efficiency.
• Aid in the identification, validation, and enhancement of improved varieties, breeds, management practices, and technology packages.
• Support both on-station and on-farm trials, demonstrations, and participatory research methods that engage farmers and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across various disciplines to foster integrated and systems-based solutions.
• Contribute to the development of technical guidelines, manuals, and recommendations for the dissemination and scaling of technology.
• Engage in monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities to evaluate technology performance and its potential for adoption.
• Provide technical contributions to project planning, progress reports, review meetings, and consultations with stakeholders.
• Work closely with EIAR research centers, universities, extension services, and development partners.
• Write compelling research grants to mobilize funds from national and international institutions or development partners
• Provide technical advisory support, prepare analytical studies, and ensure quality assurance of project deliverables.
• Contribute to reporting, monitoring missions, workshops, partnerships, and stakeholder engagements.
• Conduct economic and socio-economic evaluations of climate-smart and innovative agricultural technologies developed through the project.
• Evaluate the costs, benefits, profitability, adoption potential, and scalability of selected technologies across various agro-ecological zones.
• Incorporate market analysis, value chain perspectives, and farmer livelihood considerations into research and technology development initiatives.
• Design and execute baseline studies, monitoring frameworks, and impact evaluations for project interventions.
• Create suitable data collection tools and methodologies for socio-economic, adoption, and impact assessments.
• Analyze household, farm-level, and market data to guide project planning, technology recommendations, and policy discussions.
• Contribute to the formulation of farmer-centered and economically viable technology packages.
• Assist in participatory research methods, including farmer engagement, stakeholder consultations, and field-level learning processes.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and scientific publications pertaining to agricultural economics and climate-smart agriculture.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary research teams, EIAR research centers, universities, and development partners.
• Provide technical contributions to project planning, progress reporting, review meetings, and learning events.
• Carry out any other related tasks as assigned by the Project Coordinator.

4. Qualifications and Experience

4.1. Educational Qualifications

A Master's degree or PhD pertinent to each of the aforementioned vacant positions,

4.2. Work Experience

• Minimum of twelve (12) years of pertinent professional experience for those with a Master's degree or eight (8) years for PhD holders in agricultural research, development projects, or similar institutions;
• Proven experience in crop/soil/agricultural water/ and/or livestock research, technology development, and field-based experimentation;
• Experience in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable production systems, or natural resource management is highly desirable;
• Proven record in writing research grants and winning international funds;
• Previous experience with national research institutions, government agencies, or development partners is an additional advantage;
• Experience in international development, policy advisory, strategic planning, and generation of agricultural technologies, including working in resource mobilization from multilateral and bilateral agencies, as well as in project management.

4.3. Skills and Competencies

• Robust technical and analytical skills in the pertinent fields mentioned above;
• Hands-on experience in designing and managing field trials and participatory research activities;
• A solid understanding of Ethiopian farming systems, agro-ecologies, and challenges faced by smallholder producers;
• Capability to work efficiently in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
• Excellent communication, reporting, presentation, and scientific writing skills;
• Willingness and capacity to travel to field sites and research centers if required;
• Fluency in the English language;
• Strong analytical and scientific writing skills;
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage complex tasks;
• Demonstrable ability to work effectively in diverse multicultural environments and to work and deliver under pressure;
• Demonstrable analytical and organizational skills with excellent attention to details and high degree of personal initiative;
• Reasonable knowledge of relevant government laws and regulations in the country;
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching;
• Good skills in Microsoft Office specifically in excel, Power Point, Statistical Software;
• Willingness to respect and Commitment to adhere to EIAR's values;
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks efficiently;
• Critical thinking, analytical and forecasting skills;
• Conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills;
• Flexibility and good decision-making skills; and
• Managerial and time-management skills

5. Deliverables

The expert is anticipated to produce the following outputs, among others:

• Enhanced EIAR Strategic document;
• Technical reports in fields pertinent to the expertise;
• Contributions to climate-smart technology packages and dissemination materials;
• Fundable research grant proposals to mobilize finance from development partners for capacity building;
• Inputs for project progress reports and the final project report;
• Scientific papers, technical briefs, manuals, and presentations, as appropriate;
• Documentation of best practices and lessons learned;
• Technical assessments and analytical reports;
• Updated research guidelines, protocols, policies, and training materials;
• Workshop and mission reports;
• Comprehensive resource-mobilization toolkit including funding/partner database, standardized grant-writing guidelines, donor-engagement templates, and grant writing training materials for EIAR staff
• Upgraded priority infrastructure of EIAR because of well-developed mapping and engagement of potential donors and secured grants.

Duration:- - The assignment will last for one year, with the potential for extension based on satisfactory performance and fund availability.

For all positions Salary and Benefits - Negotiable

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply in accordance with EIAR's recruitment procedures by submitting a cover letter, updated curriculum vitae, and copies of relevant academic and professional credentials. When sending applications via e-mail, please send scanned copies of all credentials in a PDF format as one document (i.e. not in separate files as separate documents):- To submit application via e-mail, please, use the following addresses:- Email; alemuasres2016@gmail.com To submit applications in person in hard copies, please, use the following address: To Executive of Competence & Human Resource Management Office, Dr.Seme Debela Building P. O. Box 2003 A.A.Telephone: 0116-45-44-41 OR 0116-46-01-74 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)