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 Lead: Women’s Economic Empowerment will support the Objective 3 Lead in designing, implementing, and monitoring activities that enhance women’s participation in agricultural value chains, promote alternative livelihoods, and boost the economic resilience of rural Afghan communities. The role includes fostering partnerships, facilitating access to resources, and ensuring the integration of gender-sensitive practices across the program.

Scope of Work

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

• Introduce high-value agricultural opportunities to promote alternative livelihoods for women transitioning from illicit crop cultivation.
• Facilitate training and capacity building for women in modern farming techniques, livestock management, and value addition to ensure sustainability and profitability.
• Support the team in conducting various types of need assessments, situational analyses, and FGDs to collect the appropriate data that enhance the opportunities of Afghan women and farmers to participate in the local economy.  
• Support women’s access to markets for alternative crops through linkages with buyers, cooperatives, and export platforms.
• Assist in planning and implementing gender-focused interventions under Objective 3, ensuring alignment with MSD principles and project goals.
• Develop and implement tailored support mechanisms for women-owned businesses, including business planning, financial management, and technical support.
• Diagnose barriers to women's participation in agricultural value chains and design solutions to address these constraints.
• Support the development of Concept Notes (CNs) and grant proposals to fund initiatives that promote women’s economic empowerment and alternative livelihoods.
• Provide technical support to women entrepreneurs and women-led organizations in agricultural and home-based income-generating activities.
• Facilitate access to BDAS for women-led businesses, ensuring they receive guidance on product development, market access, and financial services.
• Develop training programs to empower women with market-driven technical and vocational skills, enabling their active participation in the agricultural economy.
• Work closely with the Objective 3 Lead, Value Chains Director, and other stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to alternative livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment.
• Collaborate with other Objective Leads to integrate gender-sensitive practices and ensure women's inclusion across all project activities.
• Liaise with private sector actors, local institutions, and community leaders to build partnerships that support women’s economic participation.
• Support the development of gender-sensitive indicators and participate in the monitoring and evaluation of women-focused activities.
• Draft updates, reports, and success stories highlighting progress, challenges, and lessons learned under Objective 3.
• Provide regular feedback to the Objective 3 Lead and contribute to strategic planning for women’s economic empowerment initiatives.
• Advocate for gender-inclusive policies and practices within the agriculture sector to enhance women's economic empowerment and alternative livelihoods.
• Ensure that gender considerations are integrated into all project design, implementation, and evaluation stages.
• Improve access to financial resources (savings, loans, and grants) that support self-employment in farm and home-based income-generating activities.
• Advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality and women's empowerment in agriculture within the partnership's scope.
• Diagnose constraints on business growth for women and youth in enterprise development and workforce participation.
• Draft updates, reports, and other communications documents related to the Objective.
• Support the implementation of the Partnership Fund, serve on Grants Review and Award committees, and work with the Grants Team to monitor progress and milestones.
• Represent the program in relevant forums and meetings as the Objective 3 Lead directs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Objective 3 Lead to support project objectives.
• Other duties as assigned by the Objective 3 Lead: Women’s Economic Empowerment.

• An advanced degree in gender studies, agriculture, public administration, agribusiness, economics, or another relevant field is required, or a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, a 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 (women in agriculture value chains, community resilience, women’s economic empowerment) is required.
• Experience designing and implementing programs that support gender equality and equity and food security value chains.
• Experience leading and managing the technical aspects of USAID projects, including a demonstrated understanding of applicable value chain-related experience.
• Ability to effectively work with a variety of different counterparts.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with various organizations, beneficiaries, and related parties.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and MS Word) computer software.
• 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 December 7, 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/5moyyiilx7/index