About Self Help Africa :

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider.

Our three core values are:
▪ Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
▪ Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
▪ Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Job Purpose:

The Irrigation Engineer will play an important role in the implementation of a project co-implemented with WFP under a project title – “Provide an integrated package of climate-adaptive livelihood support, anticipatory action and climate services for at-risk communities, particularly small-scale producers, other value chain actors, women and young people in Amhara region”. Working closely with Area Project Coordinator, Team Lead and country teams, the post-holder will support the overall activities related to design and construction of irrigation schemes.

The post-holder is responsible for assisting the project team in performing project management and supporting irrigation based activities to contribute to the realization of projects and organizational objectives. The Irrigation Engineer will be responsible for the planning, design, implementation, and optimization of irrigation systems for agricultural activities. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise in hydraulics and agronomy with practical problem-solving skills to create efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective water delivery systems. The Irrigation Engineer will play a key role in promoting water conservation and ensuring the long-term health and productivity of project beneficiary smallholders’ farmlands. The Irrigation Engineer will also be responsible for providing technical oversight to all irrigation, agriculture and land use-related activities. These activities should be in line with government land use policies, SHA strategic plan, and country agriculture strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Proposal development

• Identify, research and advise on current and new funding opportunities related to irrigation development
• Contribute to project proposal development; write and edit proposal content; ensure timely submission of contribution during proposal development and follow up with donors for feedback related to irrigation development.
• Facilitate irrigation development consultation meetings, prepare summary presentations and develop meeting notes.
• Work closely with colleagues in the country office, who led project design, to contribute to the assessment, research and design of projects for specific donor funding opportunities.
• Work closely with country office colleagues to support and/or lead contract negotiation with institutional donors.

Project Implementation:

• Advise on the technical/socio-technical diagnosis of irrigated agriculture production technologies and systems, and the design of appropriate irrigation and agronomic interventions.
• Advise on technical and social aspects of agricultural production activities in the project to promote livelihoods of farmers with improved irrigation technologies and practices.
• Develop, together with the community, site improvement plans for water and small-scale irrigation schemes (including local agreements on maintenance and water access).
• In collaboration with the other Irrigation and Agriculture Advisors in the sector, be responsible for offering extension services to farmers to help improvement of food access and livelihoods with a more diversified income sources and capital assets
• Lead capacity building of partners on irrigated agriculture.
• Oversee and ensure the necessary technical knowledge is provided to partners and beneficiaries.
• Develop a coordinated approach for the utilization of surface water and groundwater resources for climate smart irrigation in a sustainable manner.
• Independently design and conduct field level monitoring for construction supervision and overall contract administration.
• Support “Provide an integrated package of climate-adaptive livelihood support, anticipatory action and climate services for at-risk communities, particularly small-scale producers, other value chain actors, women and young people in Amhara region” Area Project Coordinator, Team leader with implementation of irrigation and all project related activities, reporting, monitoring, and coordination at project area and country office level.
• Support the project team to raise organisational capability in all aspects of irrigation project implementation and management; and where required, perform all project management related activities as an embedded role to ensure an effective and efficient delivery of project objectives.
• Coach and support technical team in the project area and field level Project Officers in management and implementation of irrigation project activities and provide advice on best practice and approaches.
• Coordinate the project team’s efforts in resource mobilization for irrigation scheme development and participate in building and maintaining a network of key partners and contacts in the water development sector and among the donor community and keeping abreast of evolving trends in the region and country.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate implementation of irrigation projects, planning of irrigation activities and review irrigation design documents; and ensure that all stakeholder perspectives and requirements are considered.
• Analyse, assess and report on irrigation projects activities and outputs and provide recommendations to improve project and portfolio performance.
• Ensure quality assurance of all irrigation activity documentation to safeguard all aspects of projects are accurately captured in high quality documents.
• Ensure appropriate and regular project report (budget and narrative reporting) are prepared weekly, monthly and quarterly and submitted to projects donor/government.
• Prepare donor reports and funding proposals, including ad-hoc reports as required.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Project Portfolio governance and reporting to deliver practical and robust processes, tools, and templates.
• Collaborate with project team to undertake post implementation reviews and analysis whilst providing guidance and recommending solutions to key stakeholders.
• Collaborate to undertake post implementation reviews and analysis to recommend solutions.
• Manage and maintain effective working relationships with the project team to deliver high quality services to beneficiaries.
• Consult and advise on the delivery of projects activities related to irrigation development to facilitate efficiency, consistency and high-quality outputs and outcomes.
• Build effective networks and relationships with external stakeholders to facilitate the efficient delivery of project activities related to irrigation scheme development, and project management as required.
• The Irrigation Engineer shall assess the day-to-day work priorities, develop workplan, and guarantee completion.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the construction of irrigation canals, river dams and embankments, water catchments, etc.
• Plan and design irrigation fixtures and installation of fixtures to requirements and specifications.
• Analyse existing site surveys, conduct research and identify potential structural and environmental problems.
• Design and prepare BoQs for selected irrigation canals.
• Prepare technical specifications of irrigation component. Ensure the design complies with relevant national and international standards, for irrigation systems
• Prepare BOQ and review of design drawing for unit’ projects.
• Check and approve irrigation drawings.
• Supervise construction of irrigation infrastructure.
• Supervise contractors and implementing partners.
• Assist in preparation of various follow up letters/reminders/contractual notices for the contractors.
• Assist in organizing seminars or workshops on relevant contract management challenges and lessons learned.
• Prepare Quality, Health & Safety and Social & Environment plans.
• Prepare irrigation schemes operation and maintenance schedules.
• Prepare training materials and disseminating information on irrigation water.
• Undertake feasibility studies and preliminary investigations.
• Prepare irrigation schemes operation and maintenance schedules.
• Organize farmers meetings for irrigation participatory development.
• Collect and compiling data for irrigation planning.
• Implement irrigation action plans.
• Prepare and support in tendering and tender evaluation for irrigation projects.
• Technically follow up and supervise irrigation construction works.
• Prepare project reporting on regular bases (weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually).
• Provide technical advice to line manager, project staff, partners and contractors.
• Perform any other duties as may be requested by the project Area coordinator and Country Office

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Area Project Coordinator (Line Manager)
• Project Field Team
• Team Leader
• Country office level program advisors
• Heads of Programmes
• Country Directors
• Global Office WaSH advisor

External

• Donor staff (WFP and Other)
• Partners (NGOs, private sector, regional bureaus, academic institutions)

Knowledge, Experience & other Requirements

Technical/Functional

• Proven knowledge and experience in undertaking activities aimed at water and irrigation facility construction, rehabilitation, and upgrading project implementation. Practical experiences in Design and cost estimation of irrigation canals, and water convey structures and water control structures.
• Experience in Supervision of irrigation infrastructure projects.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong understanding of irrigation system hydraulics.
• Familiarity with modern irrigation technologies and best practices.
• Proven experience I preparation of take-off sheet and contractual payments.
• Competence in water related CAD software.
• Experience in applying geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing tools, methods and datasets for mapping irrigation command areas, watershed and agricultural lands.
• Experience/knowledge in construction related procurement/tendering process. Experience/knowledge in project management with UN, private or public sector and the international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in implementation of irrigation projects in Ethiopia and under challenging operational context.
  Work experience in more than one region of Ethiopia.
• Ability to translate technical expertise into simple messages that can be communicates to medium- and small-size landowners and small farmers.
• Experience in carrying out similar activities in conflict areas will be an added advantage.
• Good in quality report writing using both Excel and word. Incumbent is expected to perform under minimum supervision.
• Incumbent is expected to perform under pressure.

Essential

• Advance university degree in civil, agricultural or irrigation engineering or related field with minimum of six (8) years of relevant experience in irrigation scheme development and operation.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal water regulations.
• Experience in field assessments and site analysis.
• Excellent written skills, and experience in planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of programs in an international organization.
• Evidence of success in developing proposals and securing funding from institutional donors (e.g. UN, WFP, EU, KFW, FCDO).
• Ability to form good working relationships and to coordinate with colleagues across the organisation and with partners in multiple locations.
• Administrative skills such as organising and maintaining records, files, and databases
• Experience of building and maintaining excellent relationships with institutional donors and partners.
• Self-motivated, proactive and driven individual, with experience of managing and prioritising own workload, meeting tight deadlines and working under pressure.
• Strong and creative oral presentation skills and experience.
• Strong numeracy and analytical ability, with ability to understand complex budgets and an eye for detail.
• Excellent working knowledge of social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)
• Ability and willingness to travel to the project locations.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Desirable

• Ability to speak/understand English fluently and to write funding proposals.
• Experience and/or knowledge of agriculture and rural development.
• Knowledge of the smallholder farmers context, agriculture, and development work in Amhara region is an asset.
• Experience in coordinating, review and negotiate construction contractual agreements with contactor and with donors.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good organizational and time management skills

How to apply:

Full job description here. 
Qualified and interested candidates who meet the stated requirements must submit a completed Application Form, along with an up to date Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter here. 

The closing date for applications is Friday 30th January 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Important information: 

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre- employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.