Cold Storage Business and Market Linkage Officer

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization APBHO has emerged as a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit organization in April 2019 with its long experience as a team (Youth Council) advocating for the rights of communities especially children and women affected by conflicts, and humanitarian crisis in fragile settings.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization APBHO has emerged as a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit organization in April 2019 with its long experience as a team (Youth Council) advocating for the rights of communities especially children and women affected by conflicts, and humanitarian crisis in fragile settings.

Most of APBHO’s peacebuilding efforts focus on community-based conflict resolution and environmental peace-building on grass-root level.  APBHO aims to shift repressive gender norms and equip citizens with the skills to resolve any type of differences and conflicts non-violently.

Most of APBHO’s peacebuilding efforts focus on community-based conflict resolution and environmental peace-building on grass-root level.  APBHO aims to shift repressive gender norms and equip citizens with the skills to resolve any type of differences and conflicts non-violently.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization (APBHO) strategically implements sustainable economic empowerment/asset creation, time-critical emergency responses with various commodities including Food and Non-Food Items, research, advocacy, and promotion of peace projects with a cross-cutting focus on youth and women.

Afghan Peace Builders Humanitarian Organization (APBHO) strategically implements sustainable economic empowerment/asset creation, time-critical emergency responses with various commodities including Food and Non-Food Items, research, advocacy, and promotion of peace projects with a cross-cutting focus on youth and women.

Position Summary

Position Summary Position Summary

The Cold Storage Business and Market Linkage Officer will be responsible for supporting the operational sustainability, business development, and market integration of cold storage facilities established under the project. The position will focus on strengthening farmers' access to markets, improving post-harvest value chains, facilitating business partnerships, and supporting cold storage management committees and cooperatives to maximize utilization and profitability of the facilities.

The Cold Storage Business and Market Linkage Officer will be responsible for supporting the operational sustainability, business development, and market integration of cold storage facilities established under the project. The position will focus on strengthening farmers' access to markets, improving post-harvest value chains, facilitating business partnerships, and supporting cold storage management committees and cooperatives to maximize utilization and profitability of the facilities.

The officer will work closely with farmers, cooperatives, traders, wholesalers, exporters, private-sector actors, and government stakeholders to enhance agricultural value chains and increase beneficiaries' incomes through improved storage and marketing systems.

The officer will work closely with farmers, cooperatives, traders, wholesalers, exporters, private-sector actors, and government stakeholders to enhance agricultural value chains and increase beneficiaries' incomes through improved storage and marketing systems.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Market Linkage Development

1. Market Linkage Development 1. Market Linkage Development

• Identify and establish market opportunities for farmers utilizing cold storage facilities.
• Facilitate linkages between producers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, exporters, and buyers.
• Organize buyer-seller meetings, business forums, and market promotion events.
• Support farmers and cooperatives in negotiating contracts and supply agreements.
• Promote collective marketing initiatives through cooperatives and producer groups.

Identify and establish market opportunities for farmers utilizing cold storage facilities.

Identify and establish market opportunities for farmers utilizing cold storage facilities.

Facilitate linkages between producers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, exporters, and buyers.

Facilitate linkages between producers, wholesalers, retailers, processors, exporters, and buyers.

Organize buyer-seller meetings, business forums, and market promotion events.

Organize buyer-seller meetings, business forums, and market promotion events.

Support farmers and cooperatives in negotiating contracts and supply agreements.

Support farmers and cooperatives in negotiating contracts and supply agreements.

Promote collective marketing initiatives through cooperatives and producer groups.

Promote collective marketing initiatives through cooperatives and producer groups.

2. Business Development for Cold Storage Facilities

2. Business Development for Cold Storage Facilities 2. Business Development for Cold Storage Facilities 2. Business Development for Cold Storage Facilities

• Support the development of business plans and sustainability strategies for cold storage facilities.
• Assist cold storage management committees in developing revenue-generation mechanisms.
• Conduct profitability and market analyses for stored agricultural products.
• Identify opportunities to improve cold storage utilization rates and operational efficiency.
• Support the establishment of service fees and cost-recovery mechanisms.

Support the development of business plans and sustainability strategies for cold storage facilities.

Support the development of business plans and sustainability strategies for cold storage facilities.

Assist cold storage management committees in developing revenue-generation mechanisms.

Assist cold storage management committees in developing revenue-generation mechanisms.

Conduct profitability and market analyses for stored agricultural products.

Conduct profitability and market analyses for stored agricultural products.

Identify opportunities to improve cold storage utilization rates and operational efficiency.

Identify opportunities to improve cold storage utilization rates and operational efficiency.

Support the establishment of service fees and cost-recovery mechanisms.

Support the establishment of service fees and cost-recovery mechanisms.

3. Cooperative and Facility Management Support

3. Cooperative and Facility Management Support 3. Cooperative and Facility Management Support Cooperative and Facility Management Support

• Provide technical guidance to cold storage management committees and cooperatives.
• Assist in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility operations.
• Strengthen governance and management capacities of facility operators.
• Support inventory management systems and record-keeping practices.
• Promote community ownership and sustainability of cold storage facilities.

Provide technical guidance to cold storage management committees and cooperatives.

Provide technical guidance to cold storage management committees and cooperatives.

Assist in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility operations.

Assist in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility operations.

Strengthen governance and management capacities of facility operators.

Strengthen governance and management capacities of facility operators.

Support inventory management systems and record-keeping practices.

Support inventory management systems and record-keeping practices.

Promote community ownership and sustainability of cold storage facilities.

Promote community ownership and sustainability of cold storage facilities.

4. Agricultural Value Chain Development

4. Agricultural Value Chain Development 4. Agricultural Value Chain Development 4. Agricultural Value Chain Development

• Conduct value chain assessments for key agricultural commodities.
• Identify constraints and opportunities within local agricultural markets.
• Promote value addition, grading, sorting, packaging, and quality improvement practices.
• Support farmers in meeting market standards and buyer requirements.
• Facilitate access to market information and pricing trends.

Conduct value chain assessments for key agricultural commodities.

Conduct value chain assessments for key agricultural commodities.

Identify constraints and opportunities within local agricultural markets.

Identify constraints and opportunities within local agricultural markets.

Promote value addition, grading, sorting, packaging, and quality improvement practices.

Promote value addition, grading, sorting, packaging, and quality improvement practices.

Support farmers in meeting market standards and buyer requirements.

Support farmers in meeting market standards and buyer requirements.

Facilitate access to market information and pricing trends.

Facilitate access to market information and pricing trends.

5. Capacity Building and Training

5. Capacity Building and Training 5. Capacity Building and Training 5. Capacity Building and Training

• Develop and deliver training on:
  • Post-harvest management
  • Cold storage utilization
  • Agribusiness development
  • Marketing and sales
  • Cooperative management
  • Business planning
  • Financial management
  • Market linkage development

Develop and deliver training on:

• Post-harvest management
• Cold storage utilization
• Agribusiness development
• Marketing and sales
• Cooperative management
• Business planning
• Financial management
• Market linkage development

Develop and deliver training on:

• Post-harvest management
• Cold storage utilization
• Agribusiness development
• Marketing and sales
• Cooperative management
• Business planning
• Financial management
• Market linkage development

Post-harvest management

Post-harvest management

Cold storage utilization

Cold storage utilization

Agribusiness development

Agribusiness development

Marketing and sales

Marketing and sales

Cooperative management

Cooperative management

Business planning

Business planning

Financial management

Financial management

Market linkage development

Market linkage development

• Mentor facility operators, cooperative leaders, and beneficiaries on business management practices.

Mentor facility operators, cooperative leaders, and beneficiaries on business management practices.

Mentor facility operators, cooperative leaders, and beneficiaries on business management practices.

6. Financial and Business Management Support

6. Financial and Business Management Support 6. Financial and Business Management Support 6. Financial and Business Management Support

• Train cooperative members and facility operators on:
  • Basic accounting
  • Financial record keeping
  • Budget preparation
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Revenue management
• Support preparation of business performance reports and financial tracking systems.

Train cooperative members and facility operators on:

• Basic accounting
• Financial record keeping
• Budget preparation
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Revenue management

Train cooperative members and facility operators on:

• Basic accounting
• Financial record keeping
• Budget preparation
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Revenue management

Basic accounting

Basic accounting

Financial record keeping

Financial record keeping

Budget preparation

Budget preparation

Cost-benefit analysis

Cost-benefit analysis

Revenue management

Revenue management

Support preparation of business performance reports and financial tracking systems.

Support preparation of business performance reports and financial tracking systems.

7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building

7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building 7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building 7. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Building

• Establish partnerships with traders, exporters, agribusiness companies, financial institutions, and market actors.
• Represent the organization in market development and agricultural coordination meetings.
• Strengthen collaboration between project beneficiaries and private-sector stakeholders.

Establish partnerships with traders, exporters, agribusiness companies, financial institutions, and market actors.

Establish partnerships with traders, exporters, agribusiness companies, financial institutions, and market actors.

Represent the organization in market development and agricultural coordination meetings.

Represent the organization in market development and agricultural coordination meetings.

Strengthen collaboration between project beneficiaries and private-sector stakeholders.

Strengthen collaboration between project beneficiaries and private-sector stakeholders.

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Conduct regular monitoring visits to cold storage facilities.
• Track key performance indicators related to facility utilization, sales, and market access.
• Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, storage volumes, and market transactions.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Support project evaluations and donor reporting requirements.

Conduct regular monitoring visits to cold storage facilities.

Conduct regular monitoring visits to cold storage facilities.

Track key performance indicators related to facility utilization, sales, and market access.

Track key performance indicators related to facility utilization, sales, and market access.

Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, storage volumes, and market transactions.

Maintain accurate records of beneficiaries, storage volumes, and market transactions.

Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.

Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual technical reports.

Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices.

Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices.

Support project evaluations and donor reporting requirements.

Support project evaluations and donor reporting requirements.

9. Sustainability and Exit Strategy Support

9. Sustainability and Exit Strategy Support 9. Sustainability and Exit Strategy Support 9. Sustainability and Exit Strategy Support

• Assist in the gradual transfer of cold storage management to local cooperatives.
• Support implementation of the six-month transition plan for community ownership.
• Develop sustainability and operational continuity plans.
• Ensure local management structures are capable of independently operating facilities after project completion.

Assist in the gradual transfer of cold storage management to local cooperatives.

Assist in the gradual transfer of cold storage management to local cooperatives.

Support implementation of the six-month transition plan for community ownership.

Support implementation of the six-month transition plan for community ownership.

Develop sustainability and operational continuity plans.

Develop sustainability and operational continuity plans.

Ensure local management structures are capable of independently operating facilities after project completion.

Ensure local management structures are capable of independently operating facilities after project completion.

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.

Required Education:  Required Education:  Required Education:  Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.

Professional Experience

Professional Experience Professional Experience Professional Experience

• Minimum 2–3 years of relevant experience in agribusiness development, agricultural marketing, market systems development, value chain development, or post-harvest management.
• Proven experience in facilitating market linkages and business development initiatives.
• Experience working with farmer groups, cooperatives, producer associations, and agricultural enterprises.
• Experience supporting donor-funded livelihood or agricultural development projects.
• Knowledge of cold storage operations and post-harvest management is highly desirable.
• Previous working experience in the Southeast Region is an advantage.

Minimum 2–3 years of relevant experience in agribusiness development, agricultural marketing, market systems development, value chain development, or post-harvest management.

Minimum 2–3 years of relevant experience in agribusiness development, agricultural marketing, market systems development, value chain development, or post-harvest management.

Proven experience in facilitating market linkages and business development initiatives.

Proven experience in facilitating market linkages and business development initiatives.

Experience working with farmer groups, cooperatives, producer associations, and agricultural enterprises.

Experience working with farmer groups, cooperatives, producer associations, and agricultural enterprises.

Experience supporting donor-funded livelihood or agricultural development projects.

Experience supporting donor-funded livelihood or agricultural development projects.

Knowledge of cold storage operations and post-harvest management is highly desirable.

Knowledge of cold storage operations and post-harvest management is highly desirable.

Previous working experience in the Southeast Region is an advantage.

Previous working experience in the Southeast Region is an advantage.

Required Skills and Competencies

Required Skills and Competencies Required Skills and Competencies Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of agribusiness and agricultural marketing.
• Understanding of post-harvest management and cold storage systems.
• Experience in market systems and value chain development.
• Business planning and financial management skills.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and networking abilities.
• Excellent report writing and analytical skills.
• Ability to build partnerships with private-sector actors and cooperatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong knowledge of agribusiness and agricultural marketing.

Strong knowledge of agribusiness and agricultural marketing.

Understanding of post-harvest management and cold storage systems.

Understanding of post-harvest management and cold storage systems.

Experience in market systems and value chain development.

Experience in market systems and value chain development.

Business planning and financial management skills.

Business planning and financial management skills.

Strong facilitation, negotiation, and networking abilities.

Strong facilitation, negotiation, and networking abilities.

Excellent report writing and analytical skills.

Excellent report writing and analytical skills.

Ability to build partnerships with private-sector actors and cooperatives.

Ability to build partnerships with private-sector actors and cooperatives.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Language Requirements

Language Requirements Language Requirements Language Requirements

• Fluency in Pashto and Dari (required).
• Good working knowledge of English (required).

Fluency in Pashto and Dari (required).

Fluency in Pashto and Dari (required).

Good working knowledge of English (required).

Good working knowledge of English (required).

Computer Skills

Computer Skills Computer Skills Computer Skills

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook

Applications that do not include the position name and vacancy number (APBHO-KAB-LOG-2026-05) in the email subject line will not be considered. Interested and qualified applicants should submit their resume, application form, and letter of interest as a single PDF file to jobs@apbho.org by June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Please ensure the attachment size does not exceed 2 MB to avoid disqualification.

Applications that do not include the  position name and vacancy number (APBHO-KAB-LOG-2026-05) position name and vacancy number (APBHO-KAB-LOG-2026-05) in the email subject line will not be considered. Interested and qualified applicants should submit their resume, application form, and letter of interest as a single PDF file to  jobs@apbho.org jobs@apbho.org by June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM June 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM . Please ensure the attachment size does not exceed  2 MB 2 MB to avoid disqualification.

Download link to the application form: Click here, https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC

Download link to the application form: Click here,  https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1cpj7nD-_ctd2gKw8fAPrkUH1ILbIjkcC

Applications with insufficient, incomplete, and inconsistent information to make a determination will not be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the large number of applications, only those short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted. 

Applications with insufficient, incomplete, and inconsistent information to make a determination will not be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the large number of applications, only those short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted. 

APBHO is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, or physical or mental handicap.

APBHO is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, or physical or mental handicap.