Agriculture and Food Security Expert

USAID Tayar Nepal Improved Disaster Risk Management Project

Scope of Work

Agriculture and Food Security Expert

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments. More information about DAI can be found on the DAI website (www.dai.com).

Project Background

Nepal is prone to a range of natural disasters, including floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks. In the wake of recent tragedies in the country, including the massive 2015 Gorkha earthquake, USAID introduced the Tayar Nepal activity. Tayar Nepal is USAID’s flagship disaster preparedness and response project for Nepal. Tayar—which means “prepared”—strengthens the capacity of Nepal’s disaster risk management (DRM) and preparedness institutions. At the national level Tayar Nepal builds the capacity of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) institutions, which includes Ministry of Federal Affairs (MoFAGA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). At the municipal level, Tayar Nepal’s interventions support municipalities to fulfill their DRM roles in the broader federal disaster management system by building capacity in preparedness, response, and helping them understand and address the risks that face their constituents. Moreover, Tayar Nepal also implement innovative activities focused to climate change adaptation and food security linking income opportunities to the most vulnerable people for climate and business resilience.

Position Overview 

The Agriculture, and Food Security Expert is responsible for designing, implementing, monitoring, and supervising agriculture, food security-related, and climate smart interventions in close consultation with USAID’s Tayar Nepal's working municipalities and Tayar Nepal team.

Essential Duties

• Support in codesign workshop for annual planning and implementation of Tayar Nepal's activities specially related to the Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Security, Food storage and Food Transportation.
• Design and Support to implement climate resilient income generating activities for the disaster vulnerable communities.
• Coordinate with working municipality's agriculture unit, agriculture knowledge center, agriculture office or other relevant stakeholders to implement the planned activities timely in a qualitative way.
• Provide technical guidance to implement organic agriculture, climate smart agriculture, soil nutrient management technologies, efficient water use systems, integrated fish farming, integrated agriculture market system development.
• Work closely with municipality to identify key gaps and develop appropriate interventions to reduce post-harvest, and transportation losses of agricultural produces. Support to implement appropriate interventions such as climate friendly rustic stores for potato seed storage, rehabilitation of irrigation system, improve storability of grain and fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Take initiation to adopt and replicate other innovative technologies related to agriculture, food security and climate change adaptation. 
• Work proactively to seek opportunities for the public, private sector, and community engagement in relevant activities/interventions.
• Support the farming community and relevant stakeholders in promoting Index Based Flood Insurance, Agriculture Insurance, Business insurance, or other innovative insurance products for risk transfer of disaster-vulnerable people. 
• Work closely with the MEL team to collect MEL indicator data for periodic reporting, and support the MEL team to prepare essential documents for innovation reporting in the sector of agriculture, food security, and climate change adaptation.
• Work closely with the integration team to develop knowledge management products, case stories, photo stories, and digitized products.
• Ensure GESI integration thoroughly during the implementation of agriculture, food security, climate change adaptation, and Disaster Risk Financing interventions in Tayar Nepal.
• Frequently visit the Tayar Nepal municipalities for technical support to the Field Coordinator, municipal team, and grantees and ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and supervision of agriculture, food security, and climate change adaptation-related interventions. 
• Support Tayar grantees, sub-contractors, partners, and consultants to undertake their municipal-level activities as required.
• Other duties requested by direct supervisor.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Science, Food and Nutrition Security, or related disciplines.
• Working knowledge and clear understanding of Disaster Risk Financing, Risk Transfer mechanisms, and existing agriculture-related insurance products.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience. (For excluded group a minimum of 8 years with a master’s degree or 12 years with a bachelor’s degree)
• Practical skills in developing, implementing, and monitoring climate-smart agriculture technologies, food security, post-harvest technologies, and Agro-based climate change adaptation interventions. 
• Prior experience and skills in coordinating with different levels of government especially with municipalities will be preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with local communities, vulnerable and most vulnerable groups, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Location and Reporting

The employment contract will be for a year. The Agriculture, and Food Security Expert reports to the Field Team Director Eastern. The position is based in Tayar Nepal’s Office, Manbhawan Lalitpur, and requires frequent travel to Tayar Nepal’s municipalities as per the requirement.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit an updated CV to TayarRecruitment@dai.com by June 16, 2023.

Women and persons with disabilities, marginalized and disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.