Livelihood/Economic Empowerment Officer

Organization Profile

Mujejeguwa-Loka Women Development Association (MLWDA) is a pioneering, women-led Ethiopian charity legally registered with the Ministry of Justice in 2002. Founded in 1996, MLWDA began as a grassroots initiative to address the critical health needs of Gumuz women in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, challenging harmful cultural practices such as giving birth in forests.

Today, MLWDA has grown into a leading non-religious and non-political nonprofit organization, working to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and eliminate gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in the Benishangul-Gumuz and Amhara regions.

For nearly three decades, MLWDA has worked to create a safe and empowering environment for women and girls—free from violence and discrimination—through community-led programs, advocacy, legal reforms, and sustainable development initiatives. The organization operates with a team of 67 professionals, including social workers, nurses, counselors, and program coordinators, making an impact from national to grassroots levels.

Job Requirements

Education:

• BA degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Rural Development, Development Studies, Entrepreneurship, Livelihoods, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in livelihoods, economic empowerment, income-generating activities, entrepreneurship, or vocational skills programming.

• Experience supporting vulnerable women, GBV survivors, youth, or other at-risk groups to access livelihood opportunities.

• Experience in market assessments, business skills training, savings groups, and small-business development.

• Experience with beneficiary selection, livelihood action plans, grant or in-kind assistance monitoring, and outcome tracking.

• Experience in humanitarian or recovery programming is an advantage.

Location: Gigel-Beles, Benishangul-Gumuz Region with frequent travel to field areas

Supervisor of the Position: Project Coordinator,

Salary scale: according to the organization salary scale and candidate’s experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess the livelihood needs, skills, interests, and economic vulnerabilities of targeted women and other eligible participants.

• Conduct or support local market assessments to identify feasible, safe, and sustainable income-generating opportunities.

• Develop individualized or group-based economic empowerment plans based on participant capacity and market demand.

• Organize business development, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and vocational skills training.

• Support participants to establish or strengthen small businesses, savings groups, and other suitable livelihood initiatives.

• Coordinate the provision of approved start-up kits, grants, productive assets, or other livelihood assistance in accordance with project procedures.

• Link participants with vocational training providers, financial services, cooperatives, markets, and potential buyers.

• Integrate protection, GBV risk mitigation, confidentiality, and safeguarding considerations into livelihood activities.

• Monitor the use of livelihood assistance, business progress, income-generation outcomes, and barriers to participation.

• Maintain beneficiary records and prepare regular progress reports against project indicators.

• Coordinate with local authorities, private-sector actors, training institutions, and community structures.

• Contribute to project work plans, budgets, procurement planning, and lessons learned, as required.

Skills & Competencies

Required Technical Skills

• Livelihoods programming and economic empowerment approaches.

• Market and value-chain assessments.

• Entrepreneurship, business planning, and financial literacy training.

• Income-generating activity design and small-enterprise development.

• Beneficiary targeting, vulnerability assessment, and livelihood action planning.

• Grant or in-kind assistance monitoring and basic financial tracking.

• Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), including indicator tracking and reporting.

• Strong facilitation, negotiation, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in MS Word and Excel; KoboToolbox or other digital data-collection tools are an advantage.

• Fluency in Amharic and relevant local languages spoken in Gilgel Beles and surrounding communities.

How To Apply

Applicants submit CV and application letter via email: mlwdawomen@gmail.com with the subject line "Application for Livelihood/Economic Empowerment Officer – MLWDA"

Female applicants are encouraged to apply