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 Objective 1 Lead: Food Security & Agriculture Value Chains will be responsible for leading the implementation of project’s efforts to improve food security through increased and inclusive resilience, productivity, diversification, and stability of agricultural value chains (Objective 1). With support from the Value Chain Director, they will work with and through local private sector anchor firms and coordinate with key partners. They will oversee the Objective 1 Deputy Lead and ensure collaboration with the other leads for different objectives.

Scope of Work

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

• Promote and lead the project’s aims to:
  • Improve access to and utilization of improved inputs and services.
  • Increase the adoption of production-enhancing technologies and enhance farmers’ technical capacity.
  • Improve harvesting of high-value crops through cultivation and agricultural best practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and support processing.
  • Strengthen commercial linkages within value chains.
• Work with the project Grants Team to complete necessary partnership documents and conduct periodic visits to the project partner businesses for a better implementation of project activities.
• Work closely with agribusiness and producers to improve product quality and increase their awareness about the importance of food safety and related measures and regulations.
• Utilizing professional subject matter expertise, develop curricula related to the agricultural technical content and training methods for the anchor firms and other firms in the value chain.
• Provide technical assistance to anchor firms, women-owned agribusinesses, and farmers throughout the country to improve production, processing techniques, extension approaches, and the linkages between producers and traders to supply marker-oriented products.
• Identify constraints, challenges and opportunities along the value chain related to input supply or marketing and offer recommendations for improvement, including training. Recommend topics for STTA participation in the project.
• Work closely with agribusiness and producers to improve product quality and increase their awareness about the importance of food safety and related measures and regulations.  
• Implement facilitative activities to establish relationships with various firms within the value chain.
• Assist regional field staff in providing technical information to firms in the value chain.
• Supervise and assess progress on targets to meet program objectives and provide content for weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Support the implementation of the Partnership Fund, serve on Grants Review and Award committees, works with the Grants Team to monitor progress and milestones.
• Draft updates, reports, and other communications documents related to the Objective.
• Serve as a key subject matter expert for all activities/areas under the Objective.
• Other duties as assigned by the DCOP – Technical.

• An advanced degree in international relations, communications, public administration, economics, or other relevant field is required or bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, master’s degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a PHD degree plus 1 year of relevant experience is required.
• Five 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, food security value chains.
• Experience leading and managing the technical aspects of USAID projects, including a demonstrated understanding of applicable value chains-related experience.
• Ability to effectively work with a variety of different counterparts.
• Strong analytical and persuasive skills with a proven ability to work under pressure.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Word) computer software.
• 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.

Interested candidates should submit their CV via the below link by November 25, 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://bit.ly/40CTFR0