Agriculture and Livelihood Officer (Subject to Donor's Approval)

The Afghanistan Social Improvement Organization (ASIO) is a non-governmental and non-profit organization established in 2010. Registered with the Ministry of Economy under registration number 1579, ASIO operates as a domestic NGO. Committed to compliance with Afghanistan’s government laws, rules, and regulations, ASIO also adheres to donor guidelines and regulations.

ASIO considers itself accountable to the government of Afghanistan, partnering agencies, and the communities it serves. Our mission is to provide developmental and humanitarian services to those in need, regardless of their race, political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, or any other dependency.

Our Objectives:

• Creating a Productive Work Environment: ASIO aims to foster a highly productive work environment and professional relations. We encourage open and honest communication among our employees.
• Employee Growth and Capacity Building: We provide opportunities for growth through in-house trainings, workshops, and exposure to other agencies and organizations. By enriching their capacity and skills, our employees actively contribute to the development of education systems, agricultural productivity, livestock production, vocational training, and construction projects.
• Standard Quality Services: ASIO is dedicated to improving the livelihoods of the needy people in our country. We strive to provide standard quality services that positively impact their lives.

Gender-Inclusive Policies: ASIO has established a set of policies to guide employees in creating a suitable work environment for all genders.

Areas of Expertise: ASIO is renowned for its expertise in implementing livelihood programs, agricultural development, animal husbandry healthcare, skill improvement training for internally displaced persons (IDPs), education projects, and construction initiatives. Our team of experts plays a crucial role in achieving our organizational goals.

Join ASIO and be part of a dynamic team committed to make a difference in the lives of Afghan communities.

Position Overview

The Agriculture and Livelihood Officer will play a key role in designing, implementing, and monitoring agricultural and livelihood programs aimed at improving food security, income generation, and sustainable development for target communities. The officer will ensure that project activities are aligned with organizational goals, donor requirements, and community needs.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Implementation:

• Identify the gaps in agriculture sector and development of skilled labor force for the sector, enhancement of practical knowledge and skills, enabling graduates to provide better services on the farm.
• Provide training and technical support to local farmers, cooperatives, and community groups on modern agricultural practices, climate smart techniques, and entrepreneurship.
• Support farmers and communities with technical guidance on crop production, livestock management, irrigation, and natural resource management.
• Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and awareness campaigns on modern agricultural techniques and livelihood opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance on natural resource management and reforestation in watershed.

Community Engagement & Capacity Building

• Work closely with local communities, cooperatives, and farmer associations to strengthen their organizational and technical capacities.
• Promote inclusive participation, ensuring women, youth, and vulnerable groups benefit from livelihood initiatives.
• Conduct participatory training sessions for community groups on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable farming.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Collaborate with M&E team to track the progress and impact of agriculture and livelihood interventions. 
• Develop monitoring tools and conduct regular field visits to assess project progress and impact.
• Prepare and submit regular reports on the status of agricultural programs, including progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvements.

Coordination & Partnerships

• Collaborate with government agencies and private sector stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.
• Represent the organization in agricultural and livelihood forums, meetings, and coordination platforms.

Resource Management

• Ensure efficient use of project resources, including financial, human, and material assets.
• Contribute to proposal writing and fundraising efforts for agriculture and livelihood projects.

Market Linkages and Economic Empowerment

• Facilitate market linkages for farmers, livestock producers, and processing groups 
• Establish supply systems linking villages to local markets for agricultural, livestock, and processed products
• Support formation of savings groups and revolving funds for ongoing maintenance costs
• Build capacity of producer groups on collective marketing, negotiation, and market access 
• Identify private sector opportunities and connect youth to employment/internship opportunities

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Agronomy, Rural Development, Livelihoods, or a related field is required.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture, food security, or livelihood programming.
• Strong understanding of agricultural value chains, market systems and rural livelihoods.
• Strong technical knowledge of crop production, livestock management, irrigation systems, watershed and climate-smart agriculture.
• Experience in community mobilization, training, and participatory approaches.
• Excellent project management, reporting, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities, with fluency in English and local languages (Dari/Pashto) preferred.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in challenging field environments.

Organizational Responsibilities: 

Notice to Applicants: Please be aware that as part of our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of professional conduct, all candidates applying for a position with our organization will be subject to comprehensive background and reference checks. This is to verify the accuracy of the information provided and assess suitability for the role. In addition, we place a strong emphasis on ethical behavior and integrity in our work environment. As such, adherence to our code of conduct forms an integral part of our annual performance appraisal process. We encourage all prospective applicants to bear this in mind when applying.

Policy Adherence

Adhere to the Code of Conduct, all applicable policies of the ASIO, maintain humanitarian principles and respect international humanitarian law.

Fraud prevention:

Committed to fraud prevention, detection, reporting and fraud risk reduction as per ASIO policies and procedures, donor regulations and local laws.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA):

The Afghanistan Social Improvement Organization (ASIO) strictly prohibits any form of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by its staff towards the individuals they serve. Such actions are in direct violation of the universally recognized norms, values, principles, and standards that form the foundation of our organization. The responsibility of safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) lies with everyone, and all potential candidates must adhere to ASIO’s PSEA Policy without exception. Consequently, candidates under consideration will be subjected to thorough reference and background checks concerning any past incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse. They may also be asked to furnish additional information as part of the selection process. 

Compliance & Ethics:

Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout and within Afghanistan Social Improvement Organization “ASIO”. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of within Afghanistan Social Improvement Organization “ASIO” and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.  Conducts tasks with the highest level of integrity. 

Safeguarding:

It is all staff’s shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. We must ensure that our staff and partners do not engage in any conduct that could harm or exploit these individuals. This includes sexual exploitation and abuse, neglect or abuse of children and adults at risk, and any form of human trafficking.