Agriculture Director (D2)

POSITION TITLE: Agriculture Director (D2)

LOCATION: Kathmandu, Nepal

UNIT: Agriculture

REPORTS TO: Chief of Party

BACKGROUND:

The USAID/Nepal funded KISAN project is improving food security in twenty Hill and Terai districts in the Western, Mid-Western and Far-Western regions of the country. The project is in its third of five years. The goal of the project is to sustainably reduce poverty and hunger in Nepal by achieving inclusive growth in the agriculture sector, increasing income of farm families, and improving the participation of the private sector in promoting agriculture growth. Many farmers in Nepal, particularly smallholder farmers in rural areas, lack access to quality inputs, technologies, information, and markets. KISAN is interested in improving the efficiency of key supply and value chains, and expanding their reach to rural farmers, to help increase smallholder farmers’ productivity and income.  To ensure sustainability, the KISAN project is working with the private sector to take on the role of engaging famers in commercial or semi-commercial agriculture.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Agriculture Director will be responsible for overseeing all technical activities and results under Component A (Inclusive agriculture sector growth)/Intermediate Result 1 (Improved agricultural productivity) of the KISAN Project. S/he will be responsible for working with farmers groups, cooperatives, local service providers, extension workers, and other value chain actors within the 20 KISAN project districts to help farmers receive improved and increased agricultural inputs; adopt improved production and post-harvest technologies and practices in order to increase farmers’ income; and improve capacity of agriculture extension workers, service providers, and farmers. KISAN employs a market-driven approach, increasing smallholder access to markets by strengthening linkages between input suppliers, farmers, service providers, traders, wholesalers and other key value chain actors. The targeted commodities are vegetable, rice, maize and lentil. S/he will monitor partner and staff activities, assess budget expenditures against activities, contribute to/review routine reports, and coordinate with the Business Opportunities Director, Grants and Procurement Manager, National Advisor, and others to ensure activities are integrated throughout the project. The Agriculture Director will monitor agriculture-related activities to ensure that the project is on track to meet targets and will develop plans to adapt approaches as necessary. The Agriculture Director will be responsible for overseeing a large field staff of approximately 200 people across 20 districts. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for performance results of Component A/IR 1;
• Responsible for all the deliverables set out for the Component A/IR 1 (DIPs, subsector analysis, training curriculum, input provider training and establishment of effective LSP)
• Manage a large field staff, ensuring they are performing duties on time and have the necessary training and orientation
• Conduct detailed implementation planning sessions with staff of the project.
• Implement a comprehensive, sustainable agriculture approach to increase smallholder farmer incomes;
• Develop work plan pieces and provide input on this component to COP for quarterly and annual reports.
• Develops TORs for local/international short term experts and other for positions under your supervision;
• Management of partnerships with other collaborating organizations /develop MOUs with implementing partners
• Develop and submit monthly progress report demonstrating major work accomplishments and progress. The report is to be prepared and submitted to the Chief of Party
• Manage and monitor partner and staff activities;
• Regularly review and analyze budget expenditures;
• Collect data that measure progress, track effectiveness/impact, and provide continuous assessment of activities’ progress toward project targets and benchmarks, and provide solutions to any inefficiencies or other issues identified;
• Contribute to/review project deliverables including monthly and quarterly reporting;
• Coordinate with other KISAN staff as necessary.
• Carryout field visits for monitoring and supervision
• Give direction on project activity planning

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQURIEMENTS:

Education: B.S. or equivalent university degree in Agriculture or related field.

Experience: The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

• At least 8 years of experience agriculture project management
• Experience implementing and adapting sustainable agriculture approaches under donor-funded projects, USAID strongly preferred
• Experience with/knowledge of markets (increasing access, linkages, dynamics)
• Experience monitoring activities and progress against project targets;
• Knowledge of smallholder agriculture in the West, Mid-West, and Far-West of Nepal required;
• Experience managing office and large number of field staff required;
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written with fluency in both English and Nepali required. 

OTHER: High level of English and of Nepali is required.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can post their CV to Jobs.KISAN@winrock.org within May 1, 2015. Mails received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.