CST Ethiopia represents the overseas development and humanitarian agencies of the Catholic Church from England and Wales (CAFOD), Scotland (SCIAF), and Ireland (Trócaire) in Ethiopia. The three agencies have over 40 years’ of experience in international development and humanitarian response and are each members of worldwide networks, including Caritas Internationalis. Currently, the three agencies jointly operate a single, integrated country programme in Ethiopia through the legal entity CST Ethiopia.
CST Ethiopia is implementing a country strategic plan focused on two programmes – Women’s Empowerment and Resilient Communities, which integrates sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian and other (e.g. peacebuilding) programming.
As part of the CST Ethiopia Programme, CST Ethiopia has secured a grant from JOA for ‘Inclusive Dairy Development for Resilience’ Project. The overall objective of the project is to improve economic well-being and sustainable dairy market systems in targeted high-potential-diary areas across urban, peri-urban and rural communities in high-dairy-potential areas of Oromia Regional State and Addis Ababa City Administration. It aims to integrate women’s empowerment and the promotion of the Jersey breed into the market for a more resilient and inclusive dairy market, contributing to long-term system change. The project has a particular emphasis on equipping women and youth to actively participate and be included in dairy market systems to capture greater and more sustained economic benefits.The project is going to be implemented in partnership with our local partner HUNDEE- Oromo Grassroots Developmetn Initiatives starting 1st July 2026.
CST Ethiopia is seeking to hire an MSD Advisor with relevant experiences on dairy sector and on MSD approach and its application for providing technical support and accompaniment during the project implementation period.
For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, CST Ethiopia offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.
Scope of Role
The Market System Developmnet Advisor reports to Resilient Communties Program Manager. The Market System Development Advisor is an important role in the Ethiopia Country programme and works closely with the CST Programme team, Business Development & Compliance Advisor, MEAL-Advisor, Implementign Partner and other stakeholders to:
Provide technical support on Market System Development/MSD approach to overall implementation of the JOA Inclusive Dairy Development for Resilience Project
Facilitate and build the capacity of partner and CST staffs on MSD approach
Ensure that the women’s empowerment theory of CST Ethiopia is well integrated into the project and all activities at different level are well captured using the gender lense.
Reporting to
Resilient Communities Program Manager
Managing: (Individuals/Team)
None
Contract Type
Fixed Term Contract
Contract Duration:
24 months
Grade and Scale
CST national salary scale – Grade 5
Location of Position
Addis Ababa with frequent travel to project sites
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Provide technical support on MSD approach to JoA implementing partners
In coordination with the Resilient Communities Program Manager and Business Development Manager ensure that the project is applying MSD approach as mentioned in the project proposal approved by JOA
Jointly responsible with partners for the effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the project, in line with jointly agreed standards (programme cycle management) and JOA requirements;
Ensure the implemntaion of the project activities as per the outcomes, activities, budget and timeframe indicated in the JOA contarct
Work in collaboration with partner Proejct Manager to ensure the appropriate technical direction of the project and that the expertise and experinces of all Implmenting pratners can be brought to the project
Ensure timely technical support or consultancy backstopping is provided where appropriate
Ensure the documentation of learning in a way that all stakeholders can engage with and use as a learning tool and that it is communicated to all stakeholders as appropriate
Realise CST Ethiopia’s principles by acting in line with CST’s partnership standards, and by promoting and supporting partners’ adherence to jointly agreed accountability, gender, safeguarding children, protection, supply chain management/procurement good practice, and other standards, as these emerge;
Contribute, where appropriate and in agreement with partners, to advocacy and information work on MSD in support of partners efforts, with relevant stakeholders in the region and/or globally;
Ensures that Partners have clear understanding of gender equality within their organization and the project on women empowerment approach
Facilitate and accompany partners during assessements , VC-analysis , and Buiness case Development
Facilitate different forums for dairy value chain actors to impove the overall supply chain in the sector
Build effective relationship and capacity of partners
Develop, nurture and manage relationships with CST Ethiopia’s partner organisations in line with the principles and standards set in our Partnership Policy, guidance and tools,
Work with partners to regularly assess the quality of the relationship, ensuring that effective communication channels are in place, and that any shortcomings are addressed;
In collaboration with Resilient Communities Program Manager identify capacity needs of partners and other relevant stakeholders in the area of understanding and appling MSD Approches and related topics
Provide training and accompaniment to partner staff to ensure effective project implmention
Supports and facilitates experience sharing forums and meetings on MSD approach ,capture and document the learnings for further dessimination
Manage the Women Empowerment approaches
Incollaboration with the Women Empowernemnt Program Manager and Resilient Communities Program Manager , conduct power analysis and based on the assessment finding, integrate activities to address the gap
In collaboration with the Women Empowernemnt Program Manager facilitate different trainings that are planned to be provided as per the project proposal
Facilitate training and other activities based on the project plan to improve women participation and decision in market system approach
Monitoring & evaluation
Ensure that monitoring visits to partern project are regular and support partners in their monitoring and in producing timely action plans on activities related to MSD deliverables
In collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor ,ensure the monitoring framework is functioning and updated when required.
Support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor to regularly gather information required for the progress reports, and annual project reports according to the JOA project contract specifications.
Support the Resilient Communities Program Manager during the compilation and submission of all narrative reports and other requested documents to JOA.
In collaboration with the Resilient Communities Program Manager , ensure the maintenance of comprehensive records of the project, in compliance with CST-Ethiopia Programme systems and JOA project contract specifications.
Support the Resilient Communities Program Manager during the commence of Baseline, Mid-Year, and Final Review of JOA project
Other
Undertake any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Resilient Communities Program Manager or Deputy Country Director and head of programs ( DCD-HOP) that are consistent with the nature of the job, its level of responsibility and requirements of the CST Ethiopia country programme
About You
Person Specification – Essential Requirements
Qualification
University Master’s degree in rural (agri-) economics, value chain development, developmental economics, business administration, agribusiness.
Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in Market Systems Development , including providing technical support, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement within development projects.
Proven knowledge and experience in designing and implementing interventions on market development and value chain analysis (esp. focusing on Dairy or livestock value chain)
Experience in private sector development, market linkages, and building network of actors
Hands on experience in cost-benefit analysis, feasibility studies, context mapping
Profound skills in (participatory) market research, actors analysis, & conducting business case studies
Very good understanding of urban and peri-urban livelihood systems
Understanding food security and livelihood improvement partiaulry in Dairy market system.
Familiar with gender sensitive and youth led interventions
Profound knowledge and skills in do-no-harm approaches and conflict transformation
Conviction and proven experience in active community participation (including in decision making) and empowerment of grassroots structures
Skills
Capable of translating research/study outcomes into concrete actions
Understanding of the role of community based institutions
Skilled in conducting training and facilitate learning workshops
Networking abilities, and exploring opportunities for cooperation with others
Able to exchange on best practices and engage on learning activities
Able to harness the capacity (power) of government and other actors to bring systemic change
Participate in partnership building and capacity development
Excellent communication and change management skills;
Computer literacy, including Excel, Work and Outlook
Qualities
Strong commitment to principles of partnership, solidarity, social justice and localisation
Good interpersonal relationships and team work skills in a multi-cultural environment
Proactive, participatory and result oriented approach to work
Excellent networking skills with the ability to establish good relationships, confident in engaging with colleagues, partners and stakeholders
Constructively critical, and analytical
Entrepreneurial, affinity to creativity and innovations
Open minded and flexible in approach
Effective communication
Cross cultural sensitivity
Readiness to work outside of the framed job description
Availability to work outside normal hours to meet deadlines and travel to project sites and within the region and outside when necessary and sometimes on short notice.
Person Specification – Desirable
Fluency one and or more local languages (Amharic and Afan Oromo)
Experience using Salesforce; experience using Agresso
Experience in working in a multi-stakeholders approach
Engage actively in “facilitating” processes for better results (facilitation skills)
Ability to provide effective coordination following result-based management principles
Familiar with monitoring and coaching techniques