Value Chain Senior Specialist (Ghazni, Afghanistan)

Purpose

The Value Chain Senior Specialist will be based in the RADP-East office in Ghazni and is primarily responsible for value chain activities in RADP-East target provinces (Ghazni and Wardak). The Value Chain Senior Specialist reports to the Value Chain Manager for technical and programmatic guidance. As a member of the larger RADP-East technical team, the Value Chain Senior Specialist is expected to implement and arrange technical affairs and support RADP-East program initiatives in their respective provinces, including leading efforts to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on RADP-East anchor firms in the tomato value chain, and design and implement solutions to support their continuity of operations and production. This position will also be responsible for leading and representing RADP-East at the provincial level on cooperation/coordination efforts with Provincial Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (PAIL) departments, donor projects and other stakeholders to maximize the sustainable impact of RADP-East grants and activities in the tomato value chain. The Value Chain Senior Specialist will have a thorough knowledge and understanding of all value chain actors including Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, implementing Partners, Ag-input suppliers, Agro-processors, wholesalers, farmer organizations and farmers.

Objective and Duties

The Value Chain Senior Specialist will be responsible for the following:

Coordination with stakeholders                                  
 

Keep continuous contact with target PAILs/Technical departments in Ghazni and Wardak provinces to allow smooth completion of RADP-East grants and activities.
Coordinate with public and donor funded projects in target provinces for better leverages and sustainable impact of implemented grants and activities after RADP-East close out.
Represent RADP-East technical team in any provincial event, conference or coordination meetings in order to discuss/maintain sustainability of the project grants and activities.

Administrative Activities

As RADP-East is in its final year of implementation, the project needs extensive efforts to document the project grants and activities’ impact, sustainability parameters, and provide close out documents to closed grants and activities, therefore, the Value Chain Senior Specialist will have extensive responsibility of overseeing project administrative affairs at the provincial level.
Manage project resources as per the contract.
Take the required decisions, planning and finding solutions for various problems and challenges.

Technical Activities

In year five, RADP-East plans to implement a large number of innovative activities that will contribute to different value chain actors, therefore, there will be several technical activities to implement.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed position will have significant contribution to the implementation of COVID-19 remedial measures throughout the year.
Evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on RADP-East anchor firms in the tomato value chains, and design and implement solutions to support their continuity of operations and production.
Identify lead firms in designated value chain, implement activities, and cultivate relationships with firms and other market actors.
Provide technical support to all grant implementation processes including: solicitation, selection, pre-award assessment, negotiation, budgets, implementation planning, oversee/monitoring, and proper closeout.
Contribute to the design of activities with the Value Chain Lead and Value Chain Manager.
Manage technical activities related to value chain.
Make informed decisions when planning or finding solutions for various problems and challenges.
Provide professional/technical advice to Value Chain Leads and Value Chain Manager in specialized areas.
Develop concept notes for technical assistance, creating technical activity descriptions, value chain impact, objectives, cost benefit analyses, coordination with other line department, budget analyses, milestone settlement, and market surveys for determining reasonable prices and development of specifications.
Partner with crosscutting technical advisors to address gender integration, environment concerns, access to finance, and market linkages.
Work with agribusinesses owned by women to increase their capacity, sales and profitability.
Work with value chain actors to improve their accounting and organizational structure, supply chain, and distribution channels.
Promote good relationships between RADP-East and its stakeholders (private sector, donor projects, MoWA, and MAIL/PAIL).
Participate in meetings and conferences as required.
Coordinate activities with other value chain specialists within the office and provinces. 
Work closely with the M&E team to incorporate feedback and learning into the activities with Value Chain Leads.
Contribute to the development of organizational strategies and implement them across the project. 
Performs any other related tasks that support the overall project, as assigned by the supervisor.

The Regional Agriculture Development Program – East (RADP-East) is a 5-year USAID funded program designed to address the demand for agricultural goods and services by partnering with the private sector to develop inclusive, growth-oriented apricot, dairy, poultry and tomato value chains in the central and eastern provinces of Ghazni, Kapisa, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Parwan, Wardak, and Kabul. To boost agricultural-led economic growth in targeted provinces and value chains, RADP-East will provide technical services to increase the competitiveness of selected value chains, expand the number of enterprises that can compete and upgrade products and services in selected markets and improve relationships and linkages between those firms and other market participants throughout the value chain.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Master’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience or a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years of relevant working experience.

Bachelor’s degree in a related Agricultural field (Agribusiness, Value Chain, Horticulture, Economics).
At least 5 years of prior working experience in value chain development, private sector development, market facilitation activities, and/or grants etc.
Ability to prepare documents in the technical fields and to represent it at meetings.
Ability of managing and liaising with individuals outside the project.
Experience working with other donor funded agriculture development programs.
Ability to prepare and plan for project or department and to be responsible for managing technical activities.
Possesses strategic problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrated experience in organizing and/or conducting facilitation activities, including trainings, B2Bs, workshops and seminars.
Knowledge of all major Microsoft processing programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point).
English language proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with other donor-funded agricultural development programs.
Possesses a network of acquaintances within agribusinesses in RADP-East target provinces.

Reports to: Value Chain Manager, RADP-East

To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter, with the position name (Senior Value Chain Specialist) in the subject line, by email to RecruitmentRADP_East@DAI.com

To apply for any of RADP East vacancies, please make sure you put the title on the subject of your email, or your application will be disregarded by the system.

Please note that applications received after the closing date and without Subject line will not be given consideration. Only shortlisted candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for test/interview.

Ps. Females are highly encouraged to apply for the DAI /RADP East Open positions.

Submission Email
RecruitmentRADP_East@DAI.com