Information Technology Associate - Kaffa, Ethiopia

Subjected to availability of funds!

Employer: Village Enterprise

Industry: Nonprofit/International Development/Social Entrepreneurship

Job Title: Information Technology Associate 

Position Type: Full time 

Reports to: Information Technology Coordinator 

Location: Kaffa, Ethiopia 

Duration: One year, renewable based on satisfactory performance and fund availability

Project Overview:

Village Enterprise and HereWeGrow are partnering to address the interwoven challenges of poverty, gender inequity, and climate vulnerability facing smallholder coffee farmers in Ethiopia’s Kaffa Zone. HARVEST - Households Advancing Resilience, Value chains, and Sustainable Transformation is a three-year, integrated project to address the poverty cycle in coffee producing small holder farmers in Gimbo and Shisho Ende districts of Kaffa Zone. The proposed project combines Village Enterprise’s proven 12-month poverty graduation model–including seed capital grants, business and financial literacy training, mentoring, and savings groups with tailored climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and market linkage interventions. This integrated model will be delivered to households living in extreme poverty in the coffee-growing Kaffa Zone. The project will train 8,100 entrepreneurs to launch 2,700 small businesses, enabling households to improve coffee quality and yields and increase and diversify incomes, ultimately lifting 52,000 individuals from poverty.

Position Overview: 

The IT Associate will support the IT infrastructure, systems, communications team, and users at Village Enterprise. The role focuses on ensuring smooth day-to-day operations of IT services, providing technical support to staff, and maintaining hardware and software resources. The IT Associate will work closely with the IT coordinator and the entire Technology Solutions Team to implement IT solutions that enhance organizational efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Technical Support & Troubleshooting:

• Provide first-level technical support to staff, including hardware, software, and network issues.
• Diagnose and resolve technical problems for laptops, desktops, tablets, printers, and other electronics accessories & peripherals.
• Respond to and resolve helpdesk tickets in a timely manner.

2. Network Administration & Maintenance:

• Assist in configuring and maintaining local area networks (LAN) and wireless networks.
• Monitor network performance and security, ensuring reliable connectivity.
• Support network troubleshooting and escalation when necessary.

3. Hardware & Software Management:

• Install, configure, and maintain operating systems and software applications.
• Manage hardware inventory, distribution, and maintenance.
• Ensure all devices are updated with the latest security patches and antivirus software.

4. IT Documentation & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate documentation of IT assets, configurations, and system changes.
• Provide regular reports on IT issues, incidents, and resolutions.

5. Training & User Support:

• Conduct basic IT training sessions for staff on software use, digital solutions, security practices, and IT policies.
• Create user-friendly guides and documentation for common IT tasks and tools.

6. Data Security & Backup:

• Support data backup procedures and disaster recovery plans.
• Implement and monitor data protection protocols to ensure data privacy and security.

7. Innovation & Improvement:

• Assist in evaluating and implementing new technologies to enhance operational efficiency.
• Propose process improvements and contribute to IT strategy development.

8. Safeguarding – “Safeguarding at Village Enterprise is everyone’s responsibility and it begins with me”

• Continuously sensitize program participants on safeguarding.
• Ensure compliance with Village Enterprise safeguarding policies.
• Report any incident of safeguarding in program operations for appropriate action/follow up. 

Key Performance Indicators

• Helpdesk Response Time: Average time to respond to and resolve support tickets.
• System Uptime: Percentage of time critical systems and networks are operational.
• Asset Management: Accuracy of hardware and software inventory records.
• User Satisfaction: Feedback from staff on the quality of IT support and training sessions.
• Compliance & Security: Number of security incidents reported and resolved.
• Training Effectiveness: Percentage of staff completing IT training and demonstrating improved knowledge.
• Project Delivery: Timeliness and success in implementing IT projects and upgrades.

Living Our Values:  

• Ubuntu: We serve people living in extreme poverty with respect, empathy, and dignity regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or education level, and value our common humanity.
• Passion: We believe passionately in our mission and the ability of people living in extreme poverty to improve their lives.
• Integrity: We operate with the highest levels of integrity and trustworthiness.
• Innovation: We value innovation as a means to reduce poverty and treat new ideas, new technologies, and new partners as opportunities to grow our impact.
• Sustainability: We are committed to ensuring that our businesses and our organization are sustainable in the long term.

Qualifications and Experience:  

• University degree or equivalent in Computer Science and IT related discipline, digital solutions, Communications, program management, international development or other relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3-5 years’ experience in IT and system admin role for development program in an I/NGO. Experience working in Poverty Graduation, Market Systems Development and rural setting is a strong advantage.
• Experience in dealing with a diverse group of stakeholders representing government, external partners, and others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Amharic is a must and Kaffagna an added advantage.
• Proficient communication skills, particularly in the areas of Data Visualization, Graphic Design, Software Proficiency, and Presentation Skills.

Key competencies and behaviors:  

• Ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to exercise diplomacy and tact as demonstrated in previous roles that required communication with a broad and diverse set of partners.
• Demonstrated skills in teamwork and in building and maintaining a high performing team.
• Exhibits consistent excellent judgment, develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to; builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues and external partners and stakeholders.
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and takes responsibility for their own personal development.

To Apply 

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications coupled with a passion for changing lives of the extreme poor are invited to submit their applications and resume (PDF) – your cover letter should explain why your experience and background make you the ideal candidate for this position and should be no more than one page.

Submit applications until November 28, 2025. 

Note: Please do not contact Village Enterprise to enquire as to the status of your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action:

Village Enterprise will provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Village will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. Village does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status or any other characteristic protected by the law. Village Enterprise will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.

Village Enterprise is a corruption, solicitation or bribery free organization. We or any of our employees or associates do not charge money from job applicants before, during or after recruitment. Please report malpractices through our safeguarding Tollfree hotline 8495.