Analysis and documentation of Inter Aide experience in Southern Ethiopia: diffusion of innovative practices combining soil conservation measures implementation and agricultural production improvement in connection with traditional community structures.
Country: Ethiopia
Organization: Inter Aide (www.interaide.org)
Context and background
The aim of the action is to help rural families from 3 districts of Southern Ethiopia to adapt to climate change by supporting them to preserve their natural resources and to enhance agricultural production in the long term.
The main technical innovation promoted by the project deals with the setting of soil conservation measures that also act as supports for forage and leguminous production. One of the interests of such an innovation is that it potentially brings solutions to several underlying issues like the protection of natural resources, the improvement of soil fertility, the creation of new income generating activities, livestock feeding or land development. Involving Ethiopian traditional community structures, the Iddirs, allows not only initiating and coordinating natural resources management mechanisms at micro watersheds level, but it also allows a better interaction with local stakeholders. It thus represents an organizational innovation in rural Ethiopia.
Description of the mission
The mission mainly consists in:
· Analysing and documenting the different practices that constitute the main technical innovation (setting up of soil conservation structures, forage production, introduction of leguminous species, improved fallows, cover crops, etc.) ;
· Describing the methodology of intervention and the approach that has been modelled by the teams through the years ;
· Analysing the path towards improving the dissemination of these innovations to a larger number of families.
The mission has been divided into three main areas:
1.Documenting the main technical solutions that are currently diffused by the project related to the central innovation combining conservation of natural resources and agricultural production improvement in the context of climate change**
This line includes:
· To set up a detailed documentation of all the technical practices the project is diffusing as of today including their main interest and objective, stages of implementation, main criteria for adoption, etc. Such documenting process could also include the elaboration of technical guidelines or brochures that could be used to facilitate further dissemination in the scope of the project and be shared with other stakeholders;
· To analyse the results and main elements of impact generated by these practices in terms of number of households involved, protected surfaces, additional agricultural production and economic impact for households (based on project data and information collected in the field)
2.Thoroughly describing Inter Aide project’s intervention approach
By following the project team throughout a whole implementing season in a new community, the objective is to be able to describe and document all stages of the approach, starting with the initial diagnosis, the planning phase, the implementation of activities in the field, until the final evaluation of results at the level of the whole micro watershed.
3.Analysing the current perspectives and stakes for further dissemination and scaling up
In the scope of the current project, there is a strong will to promote dissemination of the most relevant and impacting practices. An in-depth evaluation of secondary dissemination mechanisms and scaling strategies will be carried out later on. However, this mission is expected to initiate this reflection by identifying and analysing (based on objective observations and results) the most promising paths and strategies with the view of generating pertinent recommendations for the implementation team.
This analysis should focus on identifying the factors that facilitate or impede the diffusion of the model such as : the perception of the relative advantage of these innovations, their compatibility with the local cultural and productive model, their simplicity and farmers reproduction capacity, the perception of the benefit derived, their visibility, accessibility for the families, etc.
Finally, the study should also identify the main diffusion stakeholders as well as the main factors that ease or impede their action, the possible synergies and constraints to overcome.
Deliverables
This work will lead to the drafting of a capitalization document that can include the development of dissemination tools such as guidelines or technical brochures describing the main technical solutions. This product must be initially validated in the field by key stakeholders and the capitalization Officer in Versailles, before being published and disseminated more widely.
Follow-up
The candidate selected must show great autonomy. They will report directly to the capitalization Officer through frequent communications (by Skype, phone or e-mail) in order to discuss the progress of the work. Besides, they can count on the support and cooperation of Ethiopian project staff and the Inter Aide Area Managers during their field missions.
Location
The study Coordinator will be based in the city of Soddo (Wolayta zone, SNPRR region) and will travel frequently to the zones of intervention. It might be necessary to foresee to spend some short periods of time within the intervention areas depending on the study’s needs.
Conditions of employment
· 6 month fixed term contract (starting on November of December 2014)
· Monthly wages + living stipend
· Airfare from/to France
· Pension fund contribution and medical insurance
· Repatriation insurance
· Accommodation provided inside Inter Aide’s compound in Soddo
Skills and experience required
· University degree in Agriculture/Rural development/Natural resources management or related field.
· At least a first relevant experience in research or studies conducting in developing countries
· Excellent analysis and writing skills
· Great autonomy, rigour, proactiveness
· Fluent English is mandatory
How to apply:
· Please send your application (resume and a cover letter) ASAP under reference “VSI/Agro” tointeraide@interaide.org
· Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Note, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
· Deadline application: October 15th
· Starting Date: November or December 2014
