The Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia is currently accepting applications for the position of Programme Officer for Food Systems and Economic Integration. This is an outstanding opportunity for a qualified and experienced professional to contribute to Ireland’s international development policy and support Ethiopia’s socio-economic growth. Ireland has maintained bilateral relations with Ethiopia since 1994, working to promote a more secure, just, fair, and sustainable world. This role is integral to advancing these goals and contributing to meaningful change within Ethiopia.
Irish Aid, Ireland’s international development program, envisions a world where individuals are empowered to overcome poverty and hunger and fully realize their rights and potential. The Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia seeks to benefit the poorest and most vulnerable segments of Ethiopian society through targeted development assistance programs. The Programme Officer will play a critical role in the management, oversight, and implementation of these programs, ensuring that they align with Ireland’s development policy priorities and contribute to tangible improvements in the lives of those most in need. This position offers the chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty and hunger.
The Embassy of Ireland in Ethiopia is committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment where employees are valued and empowered. The Programme Officer will work closely with a diverse team of professionals to implement Ireland’s foreign policy and development strategies, contributing to a wide range of initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, promoting trade and investment, and supporting Ethiopia’s socio-economic progress. If you are a highly motivated, innovative, and experienced professional with a passion for international development, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.
Programme Officer – Food Systems and Economic Integration: Role and Responsibilities
The Programme Officer for Food Systems and Economic Integration will provide high-quality technical support to the Embassy’s diverse development cooperation program. This includes overseeing and monitoring grants awarded by the Embassy and providing analysis and support to our program engagements. The role ensures the highest standards in the implementation of Ireland’s international development policy priority areas, specifically through rigorous project design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of food systems and economic integration issues within a bilateral and/or multilateral context.
The overall role and responsibilities encompass a broad range of tasks designed to support the effective implementation of Ireland’s development strategies in Ethiopia. This includes working with the embassy team to implement the Embassy’s development cooperation strategy and supporting the design and implementation of a new mission strategy. The Programme Officer will support the implementation and grant oversight of projects funded by Ireland in related sectors, including regular liaison with implementing organizations, partners, and the regular review of budgets and work plans, monitoring, reporting, and communications. The provision of high-quality technical and policy analysis, grant and partner management, technical assessments, and briefings in support of our annual Business Plan and Mission Strategy is also crucial.
Furthermore, the Programme Officer will provide day-to-day administrative support to the respective senior program managers in the organization of high-level visits, field visits, program payments, consultancy support, information management, and filing. Preparing reports and case studies for the internal accountability process (bi-annual, annual, and ad-hoc reporting) in line with result-based management is essential. The individual will also support the respective Senior Program Managers in related sectors – Food System and Economic Integration and Multilateral and Regional Affairs – in the development of analysis and thematic papers as part of any reviews, evaluations, or design phases of Mission Strategy Planning. This includes attending, participating in, and reporting on various external technical working group meetings and other fora as required. The Programme Officer will also undertake other duties as detailed in the job description and as required by the Embassy.
Essential Requirements and Terms of Employment
To be considered for this position, candidates must meet the following essential requirements:
- Educational Qualification: A relevant MA Degree in a relevant discipline – for example, Economics, Agriculture, and Development Studies – is mandatory.
- Professional Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant experience in project cycle management, including procurement processes, financial management of budgets and disbursements, auditing, monitoring and evaluation, and information management is required.
- Subject Matter Expertise: The candidates applying for the position of Programme Officer for Food Systems and Economic Integration must have essential knowledge and experience in the areas of food systems and/or economic development in a bilateral and/or multilateral context.
- Technical Knowledge: Candidates must show examples demonstrating substantial technical knowledge linked to Ireland’s development cooperation priorities.
- Crosscutting Issues: Demonstrate examples of mainstreaming crosscutting issues, particularly related to governance, gender equality and/or protection, and some knowledge of climate issues.
- Communication Skills: Demonstrate excellent communication, writing, and reporting skills, including fluent written and verbal English. Applicants may be contacted in advance to establish language proficiency, and a short written language test may be required.
- Program/Project Expertise: Demonstrate experience of engaging in program/project design, monitoring & evaluation, learning, and strategic planning.
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrate examples of providing excellent interpersonal and communication skills in a professional environment, being persuasive, working in a team, and also dealing effectively with people in external organizations.
- Results Orientation: Demonstrate a proven capacity for delivering timely results and taking responsibility for quality outcomes.
- IT Proficiency: Be proficient with MS Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Any additional IT applications would also be beneficial (e.g., working with datasets).
- Travel Requirements: Have the ability and willingness to travel frequently, often to remote areas.
- Legal Entitlement: Have a legal entitlement to live and work in Ethiopia prior to recruitment.
Terms and Conditions of Employment:
- Start Date: June 2025
- Location: Embassy of Ireland, Addis Ababa
- Contract Duration: The successful candidate will be hired on a 3-year contract with a probation period of 60 working days.
- Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, with standard office hours from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Friday from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, with total working hours not exceeding 48 hours per week as per local labor law.
- Annual Leave Entitlement: Annual leave allowance is 20 working days per year.
- Gross Salary: €1,890.60 per month, paid in local currency. Salaries are paid directly to a bank account; therefore, the successful candidate must have a bank account.
How to Apply
To apply for the Programme Officer position, please follow these instructions carefully:
- Download the application form from the top of this web page: https://www.ireland.ie/en/ethiopia/addisababa/about/job-opportunities/progamme-officer-food-systems-and-economic-integration/
- Save your completed form as: FAMILYNAME_FIRSTNAME_POSITION NAME
- Send the completed application form and your CV by email only to AddisAbabaRecruitment@dfa.ie with the heading “Programme Officer Food Systems & Economic Integration”. You may also submit your application in person to the reception desk of the Embassy.
The closing date for applications is Monday, March 13, 2025, at 17:00 hrs.
Please note that submissions without completed application forms will not be accepted. Depending on response rates, the deadline may be extended. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for this rewarding opportunity.