ACBAR

ORCD (Organization for Research and Community Development) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit Afghan organization established in 2011 and registered with the Ministry of Economy.

Its mission is to empower communities using evidence-based best practices to set and achieve their own development goals, with a vision of prosperous families making informed choices.

ORCD focuses on health, education, women empowerment, rural development, and agriculture across over 20 provinces. It implements programs like the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Afghan Citizen Charter, partners with government ministries and UN agencies, and holds Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC (the first Afghan NGO to do so).

Position overview

The Team Leader - Agriculture Specialist will oversee the ORCD’s implementation of farmer support activities, ensuring alignment with project goals to improve irrigation access, agricultural productivity, and economic resilience in rural Afghanistan. This role involves leading a team to deliver capacity building, infrastructure upgrades, market linkages, and monitoring, while coordinating with stakeholders such as donor, DAIL, local shuras and local cooperatives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of all ORCD activities, including cash-for-work (CfW) for small infrastructure upgrades (e.g., land rehabilitation, irrigation channels, and water storage facilities).
• Coordinate the distribution of high-quality seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, and other inputs to targeted farmers, ensuring compliance with DAIL and UNFAO standards.
• Oversee training and capacity building programs on crop production, water management, soil fertility, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and post-harvest handling, including separate arrangements for female participants.
• Facilitate market linkages, including brokering input/output markets, forming farmer groups/clusters, and organizing B2B meetings to enhance access to profitable markets.
• Manage the grants program for value addition and agro-processing equipment, including entrepreneur selection, basic business training, and progress reporting.
• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) requirements (e.g., staff and participant safety during field activities), PSEA policies (e.g., creating a zero-tolerance environment for sexual exploitation), and social/environmental standards (e.g., women's participation in community engagement).
• Collaborate with stakeholders for smooth operations, permits, and field assessments; prepare reports and monitor project outcomes against targets like improved crop yields and farmer incomes.
• Supervise the Agriculture Master Trainer and Agriculture Economist, ensuring timely delivery within the 12-month project duration.

Required qualifications and experience

• At least a post-bachelor's or graduate-level education from an international university in Agriculture, Horticulture, or Agriculture Economics.
• Minimum five years of experience in similar assignments, preferably in rural development, irrigation projects, or farmer support initiatives in Afghanistan or comparable contexts.

Additional competencies

• Strong leadership and project management skills, with experience in multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Knowledge of solar-powered irrigation systems and sustainable agriculture practices.
• Proficiency in English, Dari/Pashto.
• Commitment to gender-sensitive approaches and ethical standards in humanitarian/development work.

CVs could be submitted through the following link: https://forms.gle/9EnvMWcSycDF2J1Y9 

Preference would be given to candidates who prepare their CVs in the format accessible from: https://orcd-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/info_orcd_org/IQCakndMMx9RSpZBvDybfNRCAdkcym4eFqlK7z37HeuRLdA?e=PbIsiN

https://forms.gle/9EnvMWcSycDF2J1Y9