Private Sector Advisor (Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone Coordinator)

Vacancy Announcement # 001/2025 

Private Sector Advisor (Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone Coordinator) 

Economic Transformation Cluster

Sustainable Industrial Clusters (S.I.C. II)

Contract Duration: December 31, 2026

Application deadline: January 20, 2025

Duty station: Addis Ababa

1. Background

The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) implemented several reforms that have opened considerable opportunities for investments in the economy and adapted private sector-led economic growth as one of the strategic pillars for economic development. The textile and garment sector and Industrial Parks/Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are priority sectors in the new Manufacturing Industry Policy as well as in the recently published Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda 2.0 (HGER 2.0) 2024 – 2026. The British and German governments are supporting the country’s pathway towards industrialization and economic transformation through the implementation of a joined project named Sustainable Industrial Clusters (S.I.C.) II. 

S.I.C. II has the objective to strengthen the resilience of Ethiopia’s textile and garment sector by applying a demand- and market-oriented approach in its support to workers, manufacturers and the government. It aims at promoting worker welfare; preparing companies to align with international market requirements; attracting international buyers to sourcing from Ethiopia; advising the management of IPs/SEZ on sustainable operations and offering policy advisory to ease business environment constraints. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under a co-financing agreement between the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The project is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic and pro-active Special Economic Zone Coordinator. The SEZ Coordinator is responsible for ensuring smooth and effective coordination between various stakeholders within Special Economic Zones, including Zone management, manufacturers, workers, government authorities, and international buyers. The coordinator will facilitate the implementation of project activities, monitor the performance of Special Economic Zones, and provide strategic support to zone managers, ensuring that environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals are met. The SEZ Coordinator will be working in Bole Lemi IP, reporting both to GIZ project manager and bole Lemi IP Manager.

Responsibilities and Duties

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Act as the primary liaison between Special Economic Zone management, Investors Associations, government agencies, and the S.I.C. II project team.
• Liaison for S.I.C II/GIZ by implement interventions, coordinating, participating & scheduling meetings, maintain clear and consistent communication channels, such as email updates, newsletters, and briefing sessions between Bole Lemi stakeholders & S.I.C II.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between zone management, international investors, and other key stakeholders to ensure the alignment of objectives and smooth project implementation.

• Represent the project in meetings, workshops, and conferences related to Special Economic Zones and the textile and garment sector.

Project Management Support:

• Assist in planning, organizing, and coordinating activities related to the development and sustainability of Special Economic Zones.
• Ensure timely implementation of project activities and deliverables related to Special Economic Zone operations, environmental management, and worker welfare.

• Coordinate with zone managers and government officials to address challenges, resolve bottlenecks, and enhance operational efficiency within the zone.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Support the integration of sustainability initiatives in Special Economic Zone operations, including promoting eco-friendly practices, energy efficiency, and compliance with environmental regulations.
• Collaborate with the Environmental Expert to implement waste-to-wealth initiatives, resource efficiency strategies, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction measures.
• Support the implementation of integrated ISO certification with the SEZ Task force and development partners. 

Capacity Building and Training:

• Coordinate capacity-building activities for Special Economic Zone managers, staff, and tenants on sustainable practices, environmental regulations, and international market requirements.
• Work with the project team to design and deliver training programs on topics such as environmental management, worker welfare, and resource efficiency.
• Liaison S.I.C II/GIZ to implement interventions, coordinate, participate in S.I.C. II Project activities/meetings

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Monitor the performance of Special Economic Zones against key performance indicators (KPIs) related to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• Collect and analyze data on park operations, resource utilization, and sustainability measures (such as waste management, energy efficiency, and compliance with environmental standards).
• Prepare regular progress reports for the project management team, identifying challenges, opportunities, and areas for improvement within the parks.