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.

Project Background:

Afghanistan Value Chains Program (AVCP), a USAID-funded program implemented by DAI Global, LLC (DAI), supports the expansion of sustainable agriculture-led economic growth across Afghanistan. AVCP achieves this goal through the support of anchor firms in the livestock and crop value chains. AVCP partners with and supports anchor firms through a market systems development approach, implemented through ‘Deal Notes’ which are co-designed agreements that respond to critical constraints while driving project outcomes. In implementing Deal Notes, AVCP works almost exclusively with agribusinesses and key value chain stakeholders to increase sales, investment, and productivity, among other key indicators. The growth of the anchor firms promotes the efficiency, profitability, and strengthening of the value chains with a direct and positive impact on rural economies, households, and livelihoods.

The AVCP focuses its interventions on key value chain leverage points, such as input suppliers or traders linked to large wholesalers, processors, and farmer associations. In doing so, AVCP will accomplish the following fundamental sub-purposes:

Sub-Purpose 1: Increased Productivity and Stability of Value Chains

Sub-Purpose 2: Improved Commercial Viability and Operational Efficiency of Agribusinesses

Sub-Purpose 3: Engage Afghan Women in Agriculture

Sub-Purpose 4: Climate Change Mitigation and Resiliency Strengthened

Role’s Purpose:

The Portfolio Manager is the primary link between anchor firms and the Project. He/she will diagnose the constraints on business growth and develop a clear action plan to address these constraints. He/she will monitor the firms’ progress against clear benchmarks and help the Regional Manager to determine if the businesses are succeeding or failing. Additionally, the Portfolio Manager will work to support the anchor firm in their efforts and provide a conduit for the provision of specialist expertise as required.

Objectives and Duties

• Identify possible anchor firms with growth potential within the Projects selected value chains.
• Diagnose constraints on business growth for each of the selected anchor firms.
• In coordination with the value chain leads, recommend a mix of activities to address the identified constraints for each of the anchor firms.
• Negotiate a “Deal Note” with each anchor firm spelling out the respective responsibilities of the firm and the project to address those constraints, milestones, and anticipated outcomes.
• Together with the anchor firms, implement, supervise, measure and report on the agreed mix of developmental activities.
• Provide the necessary support to value chain and other technical specialists and where necessary continue their recommended activities.
• Engage with a broad range of Project stakeholders, including anchor firms, Sector Clusters, District Officers, Community Development Committees, Supply Chain Entities, and other Development Agencies as required.
• Organize and facilitate meetings, gatherings, conferences with the support of regional team
• Contribute to project activities, planning, reports, and deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, agriculture or another related field
• Five years of experience implementing donor projects, preferably in the livestock value chain or enterprise development field.
• Previous experience working with SME’s in either an advisory or support role, preferably in the livestock sector or agricultural inputs sectors.
• Highly experienced in conducting dialogues and discussions and negotiation to design activities 
• Knowledge of and/or willingness to learn more about gender and youth inclusion best practices.
• Fluency in English and relevant regional languages.

Applicants meeting the above criteria are requested to submit their CV to Jobs@kohebaba.net no later than November 30, 2024

Please write the Job Title or the Vacancy Number (KCS-0128) 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;