Senior Horticulture Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2023, FAO will contribute to the humanitarian components of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025 through four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. FAO will also contribute towards resilience building activities and longer-term transformational processes as part of the implementation of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025.

Background

The Household Food and Livelihoods Security (HFLS) project has been implemented in 55 districts of 8 provinces since 2010 with generous support from the Government of Luxembourg. The overall goal of the HFLS Project is to contribute to household food security and address malnutrition and deprivation. The current phase of the project focuses on five districts of 4 provinces - Paghman and Char Asyab districts of Kabul province, Jabal Seraj of Parwan province, Qarghayee of Laghman province and Mohmmad Agha of Logar province. The immediate objectives of the project are: (i) to promote and enhance sustainable and resilient livelihoods among the most food insecure and vulnerable households; and (ii) to enhance institutinal capacities and market linkages. The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support in the development of horticulture-based livelihoods.

Technical focus

This assignment aims to provide technical support in horticulture development under the various programmes and projects of FAO Afghanistan. Furthermore, the assignment also aims to develop several technical and training manuals for establishing and managing orchards in relevant agro-ecological zones.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the National Professional Officer (Programme) or as may be assigned. The National Professional Officer (Programme) or as assigned, will be responsible for all day-to-day supervision, technical guidance, and the performance evaluation.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical information, guidance on identifying climate smart horticulture-based marketable livelihoods in project targeted area. • Draft technical specifications for the procurement of agricultural inputs and plan the quantities of inputs to be procured under the project. • Analyze and conduct technical evaluation of bids under guidance of FAO technical units at RAP and HQ. • Provide technical training packages for horticulture-based ToT trainings. • Undertake regular missions to the various projects’ areas pertaining to the training, demonstration, extension, and other such priorities pertaining horticulture activities. • Provide specialized technical assistance in the implementation of the project activities and supervision/monitoring of horticulture sub-projects in targeted areas. • Support CIGs to find their way to the market by collecting and collating information on horticulture growing, harvesting and marketing conditions in the project areas. • Prepare relevant manuals and information, communication, and education materials for horticulture beneficiaries on the best plantation and field management practices. • Assist in the preparation of project reports, case studies, success stories; Contribute to/edit reports, manuals, guidelines, and other relevant specialized publications. • Provide technical guidance in the broader areas of the horticulture related activities and its impact on food security. • Perform any other tasks requested by the FAOR and the Supervisor as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) or University degree (Bachelor) in Agriculture, Horticulture or other agriculture related subject; • For Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) at least seven (7) years of professional experience in Horticulture or Agriculture including the design and implementation of agricultural emergency and resilience projects; • For university degree (Bachelor) at least ten (10) years of professional experience in Horticulture or Agriculture including the design and implementation of agricultural emergency and resilience projects; • Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari); • National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience of working with the United Nations or other international organizations (especially those working in the field of agriculture) is preferred; • Ability to work independently, to organize and coordinate with demonstrated ability to write clearly and concisely in working languages; • Experience of work under emergency conditions is preferred; • Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops with various partners; • Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.