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 Value Chains Specialist will provide administrative and implementation support for overall value chains activities. She/he will track the implementation status of activities and grants implemented by Objective leads and Regional Directors and coordinate closely with Value Chain Director and Grants, Subcontracts and Procurement Director to ensure that activity delivery mechanisms are developed, issued, and approved on time, and that implementation milestones are met within each value chain.

Scope of Work

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

• Responsible for supporting the technical direction of the project activities in coordination with the Value Chains Director.
• Conduct in-depth value chain analyses for livestock and agriculture sectors to identify constraints, opportunities, and leverage points.
• Map value chain actors (producers, processors, traders, input suppliers, service providers, and consumers) and analyze power dynamics, market demands, and systemic gaps.
• Design and implement interventions to strengthen upstream (production) and downstream (market) actors within the value chains.
• Facilitate partnerships between value chain actors, including farmers, cooperatives, input suppliers, and processors, to promote sustainable market linkages.
• Introduce innovative business models, technologies, and practices to enhance value chain productivity, efficiency, and resilience.
• Design and manage grant mechanisms to support value chain actors, focusing on capacity building, infrastructure development, and technology adoption initiatives.
• Ensure grants are aligned with MSD principles, fostering co-investments from private sector actors and minimizing market distortion.
• Monitor grant-funded activities to ensure compliance, effectiveness, and alignment with program objectives.
• Develop and promote alternative livelihoods for communities transitioning from illicit crop cultivation by introducing high-value crops (e.g., saffron, pomegranates, almonds) and sustainable livestock practices.
• Train farmers in improved agricultural techniques, including crop diversification, climate-smart practices, and livestock management.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure the economic viability of alternative livelihoods, emphasizing access to markets and post-harvest value addition.
• Facilitate buyer-seller linkages to improve market access for livestock and agricultural producers.
• Organize trade fairs, buyer missions, and stakeholder forums to promote Afghan agricultural and livestock products.
• Engage with the private sector to co-develop solutions like contract farming models or input supply systems.
• Track the impact of MSD and grant-based activities on production levels, household incomes, and market participation.
• Document lessons learned and success stories to guide future programming and enhance donor reporting.
• Ensure value chain activities are inclusive, prioritizing women, youth, and marginalized groups in capacity-building and market linkage initiatives.
• Promote women's economic empowerment by facilitating their participation in agriculture and livestock-related enterprises.
• Integrate climate-smart agricultural practices into value chain interventions to enhance resilience to climate change.
• Promote environmentally sustainable practices, such as efficient water use, soil conservation, and waste management.
• Use MSD principles to identify systemic bottlenecks and design interventions that enhance value chains' competitiveness, inclusivity, and resilience.
• Engage stakeholders to co-develop market-driven solutions, including producers, processors, traders, and service providers.
• Assist the VC Director in building linkages among the Activity/Value chain-related market actors, working with Afghan industry groups to advocate for policy changes and develop platforms for self-regulation, which deliver training, certification, quality control, and assurance.
• Provide support to facilitate market improvements through coaching, collaborative partnerships, business engagement, and strategic engagement with key crop and livestock market actors.
• Receive training from STTA experts on the methodology and tools for value chains analysis (VCA).  
• Using the VCA training received, work with the project field staff to collect the data needed for the value chain analysis.  This likely will include using focus groups and semi-structured interviews to obtain the data in the field.
• Identify the constraints, challenges, and opportunities in value chains related to input supply and marketing. Offer recommendations for improvement, including training, and suggest topics for STTA participation in the project.
• Work closely with local systems actors to improve product quality and increase awareness about the importance of food safety and related measures and regulations, including obtainment of relevant certifications.
• If necessary, develop a Statement of Work (SOW) for technical assistance and hire Short-Term Technical Assistants (STTAs) for the firms, providing them with the support needed for developing their training materials.
• Attend technical discussions and evaluation committee meetings as part of different activities, as required by the project implementation plan.
• Travel to all targeted project areas.
• Actively contribute to project activities, planning, reports, and deliverables; and
• Other duties as assigned by the Value Chains Director.

• An advanced degree in rural and agriculture development, agribusiness, agricultural economics, economics, business and marketing, international trade, or another relevant field is required, or a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience or a master’s degree plus 3 years of relevant experience.
• Five years of experience working on donor-funded projects in a related role with business development, market system development, and/or value chain strengthening, as well as project management experience, is preferred.
• Demonstrated technical experience in Afghanistan’s agriculture and alternative livelihoods and global agricultural initiatives, with expertise in employing market-based solutions to complex development challenges.
• Experience designing and implementing interventions promoting alternative livelihoods, including crop diversification, livestock management, and high-value agriculture, particularly in transitioning away from illicit cultivation.
• Strong understanding of market-based solutions and agricultural value chains, ideally with experience engaging with investors/donor communities in Afghanistan.
• Proficiency in speaking and writing Dari or Pashto is required.
• Fluent English is required, including demonstrated report-writing skills in English.
• Demonstrated practical teambuilding skills, creative problem-solving skills, and ethical management.  Respond positively to the project leadership.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Word) computer software.

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