A three-year cooperation project on the cotton and textile industry between the associations GESAMTMASCHE and ETGAMA in cooperation with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture is expected to start in October 2023. For the project, GESAMTMASCHE is looking for an experienced specialist to work as a long-term expert (LZE). The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by sequa gGmbH as part of the PartnerAfrica. The project is expected to run for three years.
What is Partner Africa Ethiopia all about?
The focus is on the further development of the Ethiopian textile sector, starting with cotton production, by strengthening competitiveness and quality, in particular through measures for sustainable cotton and textile production and establishing business contacts with companies in Germany, Europe and internationally. This is intended to contribute to the long-term safeguarding and increase of jobs and incomes in Ethiopia and to increase the proportion of transparently and sustainably produced textile products. Thematically, the project follows on from a PartnerAfrica project with ETGAMA 2019-2023, which is also funded by BMZ. Within the framework of the partnership project, the following are to be achieved in particular:
- Significantly increased number of farmers and cooperatives growing cotton ready for organic certification;
- Strengthening and testing the cooperation of local actors along the value chain for high-quality (organic) cotton;
- Increasing the interest of European/international buyers in sourcing Ethiopian (organic) cotton products, including yarn, fabric textiles and finished products.
What are the tasks of the LZE?
The main task of the LZE force is to continuously support and accompany ETGAMA and the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture with its local/regional authorities in the implementation of the above-mentioned project activities. The LZE acts as a central link and contact on the ground for GESAMTMASCHE and networks with project-relevant actors in Ethiopia (GIZ, regional administrations, related projects, etc.). The LZE periodically prepares status reports to Gesamtmasche, which are included in the regular reporting to sequa. The LZE is selected by Gesamtmasche and the selection is coordinated with the local partners.
What kind of experience should the LZE have?
Among other things, the following are expected:
- At least 10 years of experience working in developing countries, of which the LZE should have lived in a developing country for at least 4 years if possible.
- At least 6 years of consulting and/or training experience in developing countries (an important success factor is that the LZE strengthens capacities among the actors involved, i.e. coaches/accompanies local colleagues)
- At least 8 years of experience working in the private sector, either in constituted business organizations or in companies
- Experience with the textile sector very desirable
- Strong teamwork skills (it is expected that the LZE will work closely with the partners in an advisory, collegial manner and with the appropriate empathy
- At least 5 years of experience working with/in African countries
- Openness and respect for other political systems and cultures
The following framework conditions apply to the work of the LZE:
The position is designed as a part-time position (50%). Depending on the skills of the other staff to be financed from the project budget, intermittent deployment is possible. The intervals between stays in Ethiopia should not be longer than 6-8 weeks. In order to support the LZE, it is planned to recruit a local project manager/specialist who will be primarily responsible for coordinating activities in the agricultural sector.
Entry from 1 October 2023 is desirable. The project and thus the activities of LZE are expected to end on 31.12.2026.
Interested professionals are asked to submit their CV, including their usual daily rates, by 30 September 2023 to: Silvia Jungbauer, jungbauer@gesamtmasche.de.