Koh e Baba Consultancy Services (KCS) is an Afghan registered consultancy provider of consulting, Agriculture development, engineering, and technical services within Afghanistan. Our reputation rests on the technical expertise and dedication of our employees—our team working together across disciplines and time zones to provide smart, sustainable solutions for challenging projects. We are proud to be home to leading technical experts in water, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, facilities, resource management, energy, and international development. KCS combines the resources of a global, multinational company with over 30+years of international development experience, we offer competitive compensation and benefits and are searching for innovative people to join our teams

Background:

DAI Global, LLC (DAI) is implementing a new USAID-funded agriculture program which aims to reinvigorate agricultural livelihoods and catalyze private sector engagement to address food insecurity, income gaps, target populations’ empowerment, and communities’ resilience to climate change. The activity actively facilitates implementation with and through local systems actors (such as anchor firms, business development and advisory service (BDAS) providers, education and financial institutions, and local communities). This approach centers on a competitive, performance-based Partnership Facility (PF) to design interventions incorporating local Afghan knowledge, engaging target populations, and leveraging resources to ensure local ownership and sustainability. Utilizing performance-based grants, DAI will partner with stakeholders to achieve the three objectives below.

Using a private sector-led market systems development (MSD) approach, the activity is aimed at driving change in local system actor behavior. In doing so, the activity endeavors to meaningfully improve Afghan lives and agriculture sector performance through the following objectives: 

Objective 1: Food Security Improved Through Increased and Inclusive Resilience, Productivity, Diversification, and Stability of Agricultural Value Chains;

Objective 2: Enhanced Communities’ Resilience to Climate Change-Induced Shocks, Specifically Water Stress; and

Objective 3: Target Population Economic Empowerment Strengthened.

As lead Technical Partner, Prime Consulting International Ltd will be providing input and team members to assist with the implementation of Objectives 1 and 2, working in partnership to achieve whole of project goals.

Role’s Purpose:

The Crops and Horticulture Value Chain Specialist will perform and work with the technical unit and regional offices to coordinate all activities related to selected plant-based value chains. The Value Chain Specialist will provide technical input to the design, implementation, and development of performance-based grants in collaboration with regional technical teams. To fulfil this, the Crops and Horticulture Value Chain Specialist will be involved in i) the development of the grant documents focusing on the adaptation of technologies for identified local systems actors, ii) identifying opportunities for value addition through partnerships and climate-smart activities, iii) planning and implementing interventions focusing on food security, climate change resilience and ultimately economic empowerment in selected value chains.

Objectives and Duties

• Conduct pre- and post-harvest value chain analyses and ranking for crop and horticultural products in Afghanistan to identify the key constraints within specific value chains and develop a plan for addressing these constraints.
• Design activities and interventions to improve service delivery, product quality, value addition and market potential for crop and horticultural value chains.
• Develop market systems that align upstream and downstream opportunities for value addition and entry into higher-end markets by local systems actors.
• Improve linkages between local systems actors within selected value chains.
• With the assistance of the Agriculture Specialist, coordinate the delivery of training programs on extension services and/or technical assistance to local systems actors in Afghanistan.
• Provide technical assistance to the local systems actors to strengthen their capacity.
• Strengthen the production and productivity of selected value chains by increasing the capacity of local systems actors.
• Work closely with local systems actors to improve product quality and increase awareness about the importance of food safety and related measures and regulations, including obtainment of relevant certifications.
• Attend technical discussions and evaluation committee meetings as part of different activities per the needs of the project implementation plan.
• Actively contribute to project activities, planning, reports, and deliverables; and
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least three years of demonstrable work experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or related field.
• Prior experience in and knowledge of value chains, value chain analyses and facilitation, and institutional building of local systems actors in the saffron, cereal, fruits and nuts, and high-value vegetable value chains.
• Prior experience in and knowledge of market systems development and technical assistance delivery to local systems actors.
• Prior experience working with similar programs and nascent firms/entrepreneurs/ MSMEs in lead or support roles.
• Knowledge of developing training materials, data collection tools, and assessment studies.
• Knowledge of relevant computer software and digital technologies that disseminate market, weather, and pest and disease information.
• A relevant Diploma or Bachelor’s degree is desirable but not essential.

Job-Related Skills

• Strong analytical and persuasive skills with a proven ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Organizational skills – able to manage multiple tasks.
• Fluent communication / interpersonal skills to be able to interact at all levels.
• Ability and flexibility to travel to the regions.
• Fluency in Dari, Pashto, and English (writing, reading, and speaking) is essential.

Applicants meeting the above criteria are requested to submit their CV to Jobs@kohebaba.net no later than November 15, 2024

Please write the Job Title or the Vacancy Number (KCS-0124) as the Subject of your e-mail when applying, otherwise your application will not be considered. Your CV should include clearly your total years of work experiences.

No supporting documents (e.g. diplomas, recommendation letters, identification card(s) etc.) are required at this stage.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.

Your CV should have at list three references from former employer to make able us to contact for further information, please provide the bellow information for your references.    

Name, Designation, Organization, Contact Information – Address; Phone; Email; etc.