Job ID
38934
Job Title
Agriculture Specialist- Road to Resilience: Making Rural Agricultural Communities in Syria more viable (RRMACS)
To work for
Aga Khan Foundation
Country
Syria
City
Hamah
Field of Work
Agriculture - R&D | Projects - Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Project Based
Military service
Finished or Exempted (For male)
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor/ License Degree
Responsibilities
Road to Resilience: Making Rural Agricultural Communities in Syria More Viable (RRMACS) aims to enhance the resilience of rural communities, with a particular focus on women and youth in six target governorates: Hama, Homs, Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Tartus, and Sweida. This will be achieved through (i) engaging the small-holder farmers in Farmers Groups and enhancing the cooperative actions, (ii) strengthening strategic agriculture, horticulture, and livestock value chains (iii) increasing access to agriculture business services and financing. The base station (location) of the Agriculture Specialist is subject to negotiations.
The Agriculture Specialist will act as the project's technical lead in agriculture and agribusiness, responsible for providing specialized expertise and guidance in agricultural practices to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience. This includes leading the project team in designing and implementing agricultural interventions by providing technical advice, guidance, and expertise in selecting and conducting analysis of the strategic value chains; promoting adaptation of climate-resilient and nature-based agricultural practices and solutions; delivering capacity-building training to project staff and partners; and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of project interventions. Additionally, the role includes conducting needs assessments, research, monitoring project progress, evaluating outcomes, and developing practical and contextually relevant solutions for continuous improvement to achieve the project's goals and objectives. The incumbent will report directly to the Project Coordinator.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and mentor the project team on the best ways to identify, study, and analyze strategic value chains, identify needs for studies, technically supervise all stages of implementation, and review results, reports, and recommendations.
- Conduct technical analysis of farmers’ needs, participate in designing and implementing participatory rapid assessment tools, and prepare technical reports.
- Contribute to the development and review/updating of the project’s Annual Work Plan (AWP), including the logic model, M&E tools, gender and safeguarding plans, budget forecast, procurement plan and other documents as and when will be necessary;
- Lead the design and develop agricultural initiatives and models based on the results of needs assessments, market and value chain studies for the selected crops, plants and livestock.
- Provide technical support to the project staff in developing and implementing interventions relating to agricultural and climate resilient initiatives including the interventions related to soil, watering and cultivation, regenerative farming practices, and market and value chain development.
- Provide mentoring to the project staff for effective planning, management, and implementation of project activities associated with technical designs to ensure quality results, timely implementation, and achievement of the project targets.
- Coordinate with Water, Energy and Climate Resilience, and livestock specialists to ensure a high level of integration among the project components, and application of on-farm water efficient and climate-resilient cultivation practices and technologies.
- Explore all possible mechanisms that respond to farmers' needs and AKF's flexibility to work within identified communities. Ensure effective partnerships with local partners and stakeholders, actively participate in project coordination meetings and discussions, engage with relevant knowledge networks, and contribute to communities of practice. This includes creating quality knowledge products such as technical designs, research findings, thematic reports, and practical recommendations.
- Participate in addressing the training needs of the Community Groups and LNGOs, develop educational materials, and provide LNGOs with technical training as required.
- Conduct research and outreach activities, assisting in the development of new agricultural technologies and practices.
- In coordination and guidance of MERL Officer, support and participate in M&E activities including pre and post-assessment development, monitoring and data & information collection.
- Develop qualitative and quantitative case studies showcasing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from the field. Provide inputs that contribute to effective communication about the project.
- Provide narrative progress reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) to the Project Coordinator.
The Agriculture Specialist will act as the project's technical lead in agriculture and agribusiness, responsible for providing specialized expertise and guidance in agricultural practices to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience. This includes leading the project team in designing and implementing agricultural interventions by providing technical advice, guidance, and expertise in selecting and conducting analysis of the strategic value chains; promoting adaptation of climate-resilient and nature-based agricultural practices and solutions; delivering capacity-building training to project staff and partners; and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of project interventions. Additionally, the role includes conducting needs assessments, research, monitoring project progress, evaluating outcomes, and developing practical and contextually relevant solutions for continuous improvement to achieve the project's goals and objectives. The incumbent will report directly to the Project Coordinator.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and mentor the project team on the best ways to identify, study, and analyze strategic value chains, identify needs for studies, technically supervise all stages of implementation, and review results, reports, and recommendations.
- Conduct technical analysis of farmers’ needs, participate in designing and implementing participatory rapid assessment tools, and prepare technical reports.
- Contribute to the development and review/updating of the project’s Annual Work Plan (AWP), including the logic model, M&E tools, gender and safeguarding plans, budget forecast, procurement plan and other documents as and when will be necessary;
- Lead the design and develop agricultural initiatives and models based on the results of needs assessments, market and value chain studies for the selected crops, plants and livestock.
- Provide technical support to the project staff in developing and implementing interventions relating to agricultural and climate resilient initiatives including the interventions related to soil, watering and cultivation, regenerative farming practices, and market and value chain development.
- Provide mentoring to the project staff for effective planning, management, and implementation of project activities associated with technical designs to ensure quality results, timely implementation, and achievement of the project targets.
- Coordinate with Water, Energy and Climate Resilience, and livestock specialists to ensure a high level of integration among the project components, and application of on-farm water efficient and climate-resilient cultivation practices and technologies.
- Explore all possible mechanisms that respond to farmers' needs and AKF's flexibility to work within identified communities. Ensure effective partnerships with local partners and stakeholders, actively participate in project coordination meetings and discussions, engage with relevant knowledge networks, and contribute to communities of practice. This includes creating quality knowledge products such as technical designs, research findings, thematic reports, and practical recommendations.
- Participate in addressing the training needs of the Community Groups and LNGOs, develop educational materials, and provide LNGOs with technical training as required.
- Conduct research and outreach activities, assisting in the development of new agricultural technologies and practices.
- In coordination and guidance of MERL Officer, support and participate in M&E activities including pre and post-assessment development, monitoring and data & information collection.
- Develop qualitative and quantitative case studies showcasing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from the field. Provide inputs that contribute to effective communication about the project.
- Provide narrative progress reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) to the Project Coordinator.
Qualifications
- The applicant must have a university degree in Agriculture, a Master’s degree in related fields is preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience
- Demonstrated theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge and experience of working in agriculture and regenerative farming practices
- Experience developing and facilitating training programs and guidelines.
- Experience developing and facilitating/ conducting research and studies.
- Diplomacy skills in networking with partners, authorities, and communities;
- Good analytical, research, and result-based reporting skills.
- Stability and flexibility.
- Demonstrate logical thinking and the ability to problem-solving.
- Planning, organizing, and mentoring skills.
- Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and English languages;
- Male applicant should have finished their military service, exempted, or postponed for one year at least
- Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience
- Demonstrated theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge and experience of working in agriculture and regenerative farming practices
- Experience developing and facilitating training programs and guidelines.
- Experience developing and facilitating/ conducting research and studies.
- Diplomacy skills in networking with partners, authorities, and communities;
- Good analytical, research, and result-based reporting skills.
- Stability and flexibility.
- Demonstrate logical thinking and the ability to problem-solving.
- Planning, organizing, and mentoring skills.
- Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and English languages;
- Male applicant should have finished their military service, exempted, or postponed for one year at least
Specific Vacancy Requirements
Deadline for applications submission is Monday April 15th, 2024
Salary and Benefits
According to the Aga Khan Foundation Salary Scale
Health and Life Insurance
Health and Life Insurance
About us
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates that include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected Trainer must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected Trainer must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Apr 03, 2024
Expiry Date
May 03, 2024
CV Language
English
