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 a competitive, performance-based Partnership Facility (PF) to design interventions that: incorporate local Afghan knowledge, engage target populations, and leverage resources to ensure local ownership and sustainability. Utilizing performance-based grants, DAI will partner with stakeholders to achieve the below three objectives.

Using a private sector-led, market systems development (MSD) approach, the activity is aimed at driving local system actor behavior change. 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

Objective 3: Target Population Economic Empowerment Strengthened

The Deputy Chief of Party – Technical will help lead a multidisciplinary team that ensures successful project activities implementation by providing technical guidance at the objective level. He/she will ensure cohesiveness with the technical team and the necessary operational efficiencies required to implement sound technical strategies and achieve objectives. The DCOP will help supervise the planning, design, quality, and follow-up of the technical activities that result in meeting the project’s activity indicators.

Scope of Work

The duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

• Lead the design of technical interventions to ensure alignment with the Activity’s objectives and compliance with USAID and DAI policies and procedures.
• Foster and facilitate partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders (local NGOs, private sector companies, government agencies, financial institutions, research institutions, and community-based organizations), ensuring conflict sensitivity in all stakeholder engagement processes.
• Provide leadership and day-to-day management of technical activities, ensuring that systems and protocols are in place to facilitate clear, responsive, and consistent communication and collaboration with the Activity staff and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to all key technical deliverables including the annual workplan, the monitoring, evaluation, collaboration, learning, and adaptation plan, the women’s integration strategy plan, and other technical deliverables.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual reports, weekly reports, and communication products to showcase the achievements, challenges and lessons learned.
• Develop scopes of work for grants, procurements, and provide technical assistance support with guidance from the COP and input from the program team.
• Provide quality assurance and oversee the work and deliverables of grantees, subcontractors, and independent consultants.
• Mentor, guide, and supervise objective leads and relevant technical staff; and serve as acting COP as needed.
• The DCOP will be based in Kabul with frequent travel to regional offices and the field.
• Other duties as assigned by the COP.

• An advanced degree in international relations, communications, public administration, economics, or other relevant field is required or bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, master’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a PHD degree plus 3 years of relevant experience is required.
• Seven years of experience working on donor-funded projects in a related role with supervisory, and project management experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated technical experience in a relevant technical area (food security, agriculture value chains, community resilience, climate-change adaptation, women’s economic empowerment) is required.
• Experience designing and implementing programs that support gender equality and equity.
• Experience leading and managing the technical aspects of USAID projects, including a demonstrated understanding of applicable value chains-related experience.
• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and collaboration with public and private sector actors in Afghanistan.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with a wide range of organizations, beneficiaries, and related parties.
• Proficiency in speaking and writing Dari or Pashto is required.
• Fluent English is required, including demonstrated report writing skills in English.
• Strong communications and personnel management skills required.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Word) computer software.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information responsibly and ethically.

Interested candidates should submit their CV via the below link by December 12, 2024. Early applications are encouraged. No phone inquiries will be accepted, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please only submit 1 application.

Application Link: https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/vhlorqrign/index