Job Description
Job Title:Agricultural Extension and Rural Livelihood Program Officer (Grade: C)
Reports to: Agricultural Extension & Rural Livelihood Program Manager
Place of work:Arba Minch, South Ethiopia Region
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Type of employment:Annual contract
Application deadline:November 15/2026
Job start:Preferably on Jan 01, 2027.
Annual Salary; 5,500-6,000 USD with additional benefit Packages
Background on Nuru Ethiopia Initiative
Nuru Ethiopia is a locally led, non-profit development organization dedicated to building resilience and creating pathways out of extreme poverty for rural communities in Ethiopia. Established in 2012 and headquartered in Arba Minch, Nuru Ethiopia works closely with farmers, cooperatives, unions, government institutions, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to develop sustainable farmer-owned agribusinesses, strengthen market systems, improve livelihoods, enhance food security, and increase communities' resilience to climate change, and other shocks. Guided by a vision of a world without cycles of unjust poverty, Nuru Ethiopia equips communities to unlock their economic potential through locally designed and sustainable solutions that create lasting impact. Nuru Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. The organization does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Consistent with its commitment to gender inclusion and women's empowerment, Nuru Ethiopia strongly encourages qualified women candidates to apply and seeks to increase women's participation in leadership, decision-making, and professional opportunities.
Duties and responsibilities
Program planning & Implementation
Support the Program Manager in planning and implementing program activities in accordance with approved standards, and protocols.
Develop detailed activity plans, schedules and field implementation plans for assigned interventions.
Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation, provide technical guidance and identify challenges requiring corrective action.
Ensure project activities reach targeted households and communities in accordance with approved beneficiary selection criteria.
Coordinate with government focal persons, agribusiness cooperatives and the different government offices to ensure the effective implementation of program activities.
Follow up and supervise the field implementation of program activities related to agronomy, nature-based solutions and livestock related good practices.
Mentor and capacitate cooperative leaders and experts to strengthen their support to farmers
Promotion of Climate-Smart and Regenerative Agriculture
Support integration of climate resilience and environmental sustainability into all livelihood interventions.
Provide technical support on climate-smart agriculture practices, promotion of high-value crops, and nutrition sensitive agriculture to improve farmers’ resilience to climate change.
Prepare and organize training materials and handouts based on manuals and modules prepared for farmers’ and facilitators training.
Deliver trainings to farmers and extension workers on CSA good practices, soil fertility improvement initiatives in collaboration with other parties.
In collaboration with government focal persons, DAs, and cooperative staff, the Program Officer plans farmer trainings under the program
Facilitate the establishment and management of demonstration sites at FTCs or cooperative farmlands
Monitor the activities at demonstration sites, evaluate their performance according to the set protocols, and take corrective measures
Facilitate and coordinate farmers field day events to enhance farmers’ learning and behavior change.
Provide training to agribusiness cooperative leadership and staff on agricultural inputs supply system, market linkages, and post-harvest handling.
Support the establishment and management of tree nursery sites in different agro-ecologies.
Provide technical support on community-based tree planting campaigns, agroforestry adoption, restoration of degraded lands
Support farmers and Nuru-supported cooperatives in identifying farming related risks, developing early warning system and implementing adaptation techniques.
Give support for digitalization of agricultural services such as SMS-based weather forecast services.
Documentation, Communication, and Reporting
Create and maintain positive communication with local community representatives, beneficiaries and different stakeholders.
Collect accurate and timely field level data on project implementation, outputs, and outcomes.
Collect and compile feedbacks from beneficiary communities, local governments, and partners
Document success stories and lessons learned for internal and external communication
Provision of timely reports to his/her program manager
Assist in different research activities done by Nuru and its counterparts as needed
Job Requirements
Qualification and experience required:
Bachelors’ degree or above in Plant Science, Agronomy, Agriculture Extension, and Rural Development or related field.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in areas of agriculture or rural livelihood improvement; at least 2 years of recent field level project implementation.
Practical experience on natural resource management, nursery management, income generating activities, cooperative management is advantageous.
Good understanding of community development, the poverty cycle, rural livelihoods, and NGO program cycle management
Have experience working with local government structures and has good knowledge on national rural policies and strategies.
Excellent interpersonal communication, presentation, negotiation and decision-making skills.
Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision
Ability to frequently travel to Nuru operational areas in south Ethiopia.
Strong oral and written communication skills in English and Amharic is required. Knowledge of one or more local languages of South Ethiopia region is advantageous.
Knowledge of Nuru operational areas in South Ethiopia is advantageous.
How To Apply
Interested applicants who meet the MINIMUM requirements should send by soft copy the following documents:
A detailed CV (not more than 3 pages) with a cover letter (not more than one page)
Applicant shall submit their CV and application letter online to the following email address: telaye2011@gmail.com Please state “Agriculture Extension & Rural Livelihood Program Officer” on the subject line.
NURU International Ethiopia is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability with respect to policies and visions. FEMALE APPLICANTS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by telephone immediately after the deadline of this announcement. All travel costs will be covered by the applicant if invited for written exam or interview.
