Country Representative, Ethiopia

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Country Representative, Ethiopia

Reporting to: Regional Programmes Coordinator

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Expected duration

1 year, with possibility of extension.

Salary: negotiable

We are looking for a dynamic person with a passion for development, who wishes to take advantage of an opportunity to develop a young country program, who possesses initiative and who enjoys engaging with diverse local and international partners. 

Background

PENHA (The Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa), founded in 1989, is an African inspired and led NGO. PENHA is a regional NGO, with country offices in Ethiopia and Somaliland. PENHA combines grassroots project implementation with research and policy analysis, focusing on pastoralism, rangelands and dry forests, and addressing broader development issues, including gender. PENHA’s mission is to promote development by empowering communities and fostering sustainable and diversified livelihoods.

PENHA’s program in Ethiopia

After four years of successful implementation of the Working Landscapes program on the Tigray-Afar Border Landscape and at national level in collaboration with Tropenbos International (TBI) of the Netherlands, PENHA is seeking to grow the country program. PENHA works closely with federal institutions, regional administrations, research institutions and local communities to address the priorities of livelihoods and climate change. PENHA worked closely with Ethiopian Forestry Development to produce a National Drylands Restoration Strategy (involving six regions with significant areas of drylands), endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023. PENHA is now seeking to undertake a number of initiatives that support the implementation of the strategy, complementing the government’s Green Legacy Initiative. PENHA believes in a bottom-up, participatory and people-centred approach, working in an open and collaborative way with numerous local and international partners.

Position Summary

The Country Representative (CR) is the organization’s principal representative in Ethiopia and provides leadership to the country office, helping to set the overall direction. Responsibilities will include engaging with government representatives and policy-makers at the national level, coordinating project activities and collaborating with civil society partners. The CR is responsible for the overall management of the country office and ensuring the delivery of the organization’s strategic and program goals in the country. The Country Representative will be responsible for ensuring that program development, networking and resource mobilization are viable and cost-effective, while adhering to donor and government requirements.

The position involves regular engagement with international partners and donors, as well as bi-weekly participation in Zoom meetings with the TBI Network, of which PENHA is a member, alongside 12 countries in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia, and other partners.

Responsibilities

There are four main areas of responsibility: (1) representing the organization; (2) program implementation, monitoring and reporting; (3) country office management and program development; (4) resource mobilization and donor relations, including strengthening and creating partnerships and networking.

Program development, partnerships and donor relations go hand in hand, and are based on building positive relationships and networking within the broader development community, including state and non-state actors.

1. Representation:

·         Representation vis-à-vis the authorities and regulatory bodies

·         Representing PENHA in stakeholder and national forums, and acting as the public face of the organization.

·         Representing PENHA in regional and international forums (with the likelihood of some international travel)

·         Establishing and maintaining constructive working relationships with community organizations, other NGO’s, governmental agencies, UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other stakeholders.

2. Program/Project Implementation:

·         Implementation of on-going projects, with staff and partners, under the direction of the Regional Programmes Coordinator.

·         Ensuring projects are delivered and managed effectively against contracts

·         Providing regular updates and reports, ensuring timely reporting and communications with partners, donors and government.

·         Collaborating with PENHA Associates and consultants on analytical studies and research outputs

·         Coordination between PENHA and partner organizations to achieve efficient project delivery and impact.

·         Liaising with relevant national-level stakeholders: government, civil society, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and academia/research institutions

3. Country office management:

·         Ensuring compliance with all legal, contractual, labor and statutory requirements, in accordance with Ethiopian Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) regulations.

·         Ensuring that the country office is managed according to established PENHA policies and procedures (in line with standard NGO practice)

·         Overseeing a small operational staff, as well as consultants, and working collaboratively with PENHA Associates and partners.

·         Ensuring adherence to all project objectives, performance requirements, and donor regulations

·         Working with the Regional Programmes Coordinator, PENHA country offices, PENHA Associates (regional and international) and Senior Advisors to set strategic directions for the organization.

4. Program Development and Resource Mobilization:

·         Identifying strategic opportunities, while consolidating ongoing initiatives, and exploring new program areas.

·         Identifying/mapping potential sources of funding and developing a resource mobilization strategy

·         Developing and implementing proactive fundraising strategies to diversify funding sources and achieve program objectives.

·         Developing concept notes/full project proposals

·         Building relationships with existing and potential consortium members and partners

·         Creating new partnerships and networking, while strengthening existing ones.

·         Donor relations – building relationships with donor networks (in-country and international) to support program development.

·         Donor liaison and reporting

Qualifications and Experience:

·         Master's degree in environment and development or a development related discipline

·         5 - 7 years of experience in a development context

·         Experience in program/project management, implementation and evaluation

·         Experience in program development and design, including proposal development

·         Demonstrated capacity to raise financial resources from a range of donors

·         Experience with financial management including donor compliance and reporting

·         Experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders

·         Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders, such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives, and local and international staff.

Skills and Core Competencies:

·         Strong leadership and interpersonal skills

·         Strong representation and negotiation skills

·         Strong oral and written communication skills

·         Ability to meet rigorous timelines, track results, and effectively manage projects and multi-stakeholder relationships

·         Language skills: Fluency in English and Amharic (knowledge of other official federal working languages - Afaan Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali, and Afar – is a plus)

·         Core values: Integrity; Professionalism; Commitment to national development; Openness to collaboration; Inclusiveness with respect to all social groups in Ethiopia; Appreciation of the value of traditional knowledge and the importance of locally owned solutions

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CVs and a covering letter of interest in English to [email protected] and [email protected]  by February 28th, 2026.

Please submit the following documents via email (Ref: Eth-CR-2026):

·         An updated CV - maximum of three pages, with contact information for at least two referees

·         A one-page cover letter specifically prepared for this application, providing daytime telephone number.

·         A one-page summary outlining: Educational background; Work experience; Relevant skills and competencies; monthly salary expectation along with current or most recent salary

If your application is successful, you will be required to submit a copy of your most recent academic degree certificate.

Gender and cultural diversity are core recruitment values and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working with PENHA. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Position duties and expectations change over time.  This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exclusive or exhaustive list of the job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.  The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization at the request of the Regional Programmes Coordinator of PENHA.