The Agriculture Specialist is reportable to JACK Project Manager. The Agriculture Specialist will spend some of his/her time to provinces for supporting the projects. The following items are the main responsibilities of Agriculture Specialist:

• Technical inputs in planning, organizing and implementing operational plans of
  agriculture including cereal crops with concerned communities, line
  agencies and stakeholders.
• Facilitate and participate in designing of good agriculture practices, curricula, training
  manuals and extension methodologies and modalities.
• Develop sustainable methodologies and techniques for assisting farmers with
  planning and execution of crops, directed at improving rural livelihood.
• Review sector interventions and implementation methodologies and suggest specific
  recommendations for their improvement.
• Ensure quality assurance of activities and inputs.
• Ensure that the implementation of the agriculture component of the project is technically sound.
• Be able to estimate the income benefits to families using improved technologies.
• Provide necessary technical resources to support project implementation.
• Identify training needs, prepare materials, and conduct training for staff and the communities.
• Support the Project Manager to prepare and submit quality and timely Monthly Management
• Reports by supplying technical activity implementation progress.
• Prepare training materials on crop production, preservation, and dry-land farming technics.
• Work in coordination with the project Manager and area supervisor of the project for the distribution of wheat crop input to farmers of the target area.
• In collaboration with the M&E officer ensure the monitoring system and tools are developed and used to track the progress of project implementation and to capture learning.
• Provide technical inputs to extension while focusing: soil health and fertility, cropping
  systems, plant diseases, crop pests, weed management, alternative crops, decision
  support systems for agriculture, or farm business management.
• Any other tasks given by the Project manager.

Qualifications:

Education: University Degree in Agriculture

Experience: Minimum of four years of professional experience in designing, implementing &
Monitoring & evaluating of Agriculture projects/activities in Afghanistan. Strong background
in social & Agriculture issues affecting rural development, including gender.

Other qualifications’ an advantage Well written communication skill, especially in drafting
evaluations, assessments & reports
Languages: Dari, Pashto and English

Other skills required:

  Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• High degree of initiative, flexibility and creativity

Practical agricultural skills, preferably applied in the tropics
• Ability to work well within a small team and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Experience in capacity development and/or mentoring an asset
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills