DCA has been present in Afghanistan since 1988, focusing its interventions to herders and pastoralists communities’ resilience and enabling them to achieve long-term, inclusive and equitable development. DCA is currently implementing several livestock development and humanitarian programs in 29 Provinces of Afghanistan. In 2023, we were able to benefit more than half million vulnerable Afghans in building their resilience.
DCA’s mission is to reduce poverty and increase food security for the people of Afghanistan by protecting the livelihoods assets and building resilience. Our livelihoods approach sits at the nexus of humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding, and focuses on building resilience in a conflict-setting. DCA’s community driven approach is built upon four major pillars: food security and livelihoods improvement, extension, value chain development, and institutional capacities. Together, these four fields of activity constitute a powerful mix to drive our mission. Gender equality and one health (the interface between human, animal and environmental health stressing on new pandemics and epidemics such as (COVID-19) will continue to be our fundamental guiding principles.

Project background:

The Project for Strengthening Counternarcotics Capacities contributes to addressing these challenges by improving the well-being of the Afghan people by increasing licit incomes in poppy-growing communities. The outcome of the project is to "sustain the affected population through alternative sources of income and sustenance targeting 3,282 beneficiaries, to enhance income and sustain the livelihood of the beneficiaries, the project will follow an integrated approach to support the same farmers with various activities or interventions.

Project Outcome:

Sustain the affected population through immediate alternative sources of income and sustenance.

General Position Summary

The Agronomic extension worker is responsible for the promotion and maintenance of cereal crop production and processing at the targeted districts of Kandahar province, conducting baseline survey to identify and select the eligible beneficiaries considering the developed criteria for selection, enhancing the capacity of the targeted beneficiaries by organizing technical agricultural training and sharing other innovative ideas to improve the agricultural practice of the targeted farmers. Have experience working with the community specifically the farmers for conducting meetings and discussions and willing for regular traveling to all targeted districts. Coordination and provide assistance to the project manager and other team members for successful and efficient completion of the project, and maintaining coordination with relevant stakeholders to meet program needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure close communication and coordination with the project team, and other stakeholders to identify and target accessible villages for starting crop production activities.
• Conduct a baseline survey to identify and select the beneficiaries considering the criteria for selection of eligible beneficiaries.
• Conduct meetings, and establish, and maintain strong working relationships with targeted communities, including local leaders, community-based committees, and farmer groups.
• Design, and develop training manuals, and presentations to conduct theoretical and practical training for the targeted farmers, covering aspects starting from cultivation up to seed production, and other postharvest practices. 
• Innovatively introduce new farming methods, to be used by the farmers/farmer groups in the targeted areas. 
• Coordinate activities with local extension workers and share innovative knowledge and best practices with the targeted farmers to enhance productivity in the crops.
• Act as a main contact point between the project and the farmers to strengthen the linkages between targeted farmers and the project team.
• Conduct regular supervision of the crops and be responsible for day-to-day activities with the targeted beneficiaries.
• Organize joint field visits and update the line manager on daily accomplishments on time.
• Facilitate the targeted farmers to be organized in groups and link them with seed grower companies, input suppliers, processors, or markets.
• Prepare and submit on time the written weekly, monthly, and other required, progressive reports of the achievements.
• Any other tasks assigned by the line manager.

• Bachelor degree in Agriculture (Agronomy or Plant Science).
• At least seven years of experience in a similar field or as an agronomist with knowledge and skill in crop production.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of working with farmers as extension worker at remote area.
• Good communication skills in English and fluency in Pashto and Dari.
• Previous experience of working with NGOs in the targeted area.
• Proven experience in crop production, promotion, and market-based programming. 
• Previous experience in designing technical materials and conducting capacity-building training in crop production.
• Willing to stay in field locations and travel to coverage areas of the project.
• Highly qualified for extension and work with the community.
• High quality of reporting skills.

To apply for this vacancy, please visit the following link, and fill out the application form.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=94Ce3n3ka0CywqIH_O2JkQcsRZdv48xBu6HijLHeckZUREVDME1QUUpHTU85M1BaNk9QSE80WU5DWi4u