Agriculture Officer

Vacancy Announcement

1. Agriculture Officer(1)

Location: Jumla, Nepal

Position Status: Regular Staff

About Rupantaran

Rupantaran is a non-government organization dedicated to transform people’s lives and living by mobilizing and managing resources, promoting social justice and nurturing collaboration. It envisions a transformation in natural resources, resource users and resource institutions through knowledge, actions and relationships. The organization is established by a group of Nepalese development professionals and social activists having diverse experience in Climate Change, Community Development, Social Development, Livelihoods and the Forestry Sector. It builds on experiences, expertise, and systems of more than 20 years, coupled with modern innovativeness to become a competent, professional, and value-based institution that contributes to improving the livelihoods of poor and excluded communities.

Rupantaran, national NGO is implementing Building Hope along the Karnali River Basin (BHAKARI) Program, in the leadership of Mercy Corps Nepal funded by USAID under Food for Peace (FFP). Rupantaran is a key programme partner in the consortium where it is responsible for providing technical support in BHAKARI Agriculture activities implementation in Surkhet, Achham, Dailekh, Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu Districts.

Program and Team Summary

Rupantaran, in the leadership of Mercy Corps Nepal, is managing the BHAKARI program, supported by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). BHAKARI is a unique model as a Multi-Year Emergency program, focusing on both increasing long-term food security while also responding to short-term emergency shocks, via an integrated, multi- sectoral approach with a strong emphasis on gender and social inclusion. Key sectors include disaster risk reduction, integrated agriculture, watershed management, and emergency assistance, and is implemented in partnership with six district-level implementing partners, three national-level technical partners, and one international social enterprise partner, taking careful advantage to leverage work with other USAID implementers, donor programs, and key initiatives from the Government of Nepal.

The BHAKARI activity will establish mechanisms for short-term cash support—through both the activities and government’s systems—while linking longer-term resilience to agriculture, water, financial inclusion, DRR and community capacity strengthening. Concurrently, BHAKARI layers an intentional focus to address the root causes of gender inequity and social exclusion

Rupantaran, as national technical partner, is responsible to provide technical support to implement agriculture activities in 6 BHAKARI districts;Surkhet, Achham, Dailekh, Jumla, Kalikot and Mugu.Agriculture component under BHAKARI program is focused on Increased household level food availability and access, Increased access to and availability of nutritious food, Increased agricultural production and income through various intervention at district and community level.

Position Summary for Agriculture Officer

The Agriculture Officer will be working as a full-time staff employee representing Rupantaran in BHAKARI Program Office, Jumla. The overall responsibilities will be programme planning, ensuring smooth implementation of the project, carrying out monitoring, reporting and quality assurance of the activities delivered in the field. Further he/she will be responsible for providing backstopping support to the cluster team. 

As gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), safeguarding, governance and environmental sensitivity are cross cutting and core components of the BHAKARI program, the Agriculture Officer is required to own these components and ensure these components are integrated into their work area.

More specifically s/he will be responsible for the following

Program Planning and Implementation:

• Represent Rupantaran to effectively plan and implement BHAKARI Agriculture program in project districts. 
• Assist in preparing and implementing strategy, plans and guidelines for project and its activities at the cluster and district level 
• Work closely with cluster and central team (Mercy Corps Nepal and Rupantaran) to prepare annual Detail Implementation Plan and Annual Work Plans of the project 
• Assist in preparing periodic/quarterly plan with the central and regional team and facilitating its timely and effective implementation 
• Ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the project activities by the cluster team 
• Assist Focal Person- “BHAKARI” for effective implementation of Agriculture Program 

Coordination and capacity building:

• Support and provide technical back stopping to Cluster programme Officers in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance in Agriculture activities
• Coordinate and capacitate multiple stakeholders at district and regional level to create enabling environment for planning, mainstreaming and integration of the project activities. 
• Coordination and collaboration with Provincial Government and civil society and private stakeholders for leveraging of programme fund, sharing and replication of best practices
• Represent in and backstop cluster team to organize and share program progress and plan in different forums.
• Maintain effective coordination with consortium partner organization, governmental institutions and others at regional level as required to implement program. 
• Work closely with DCOP, and all thematic Managers based in BHAKARI Programme Office – Surkhet

Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting:

• Regular field visit to assist backstopping, monitoring and reporting of the project accomplishments.  
• Participate in joint monitoring involving different stakeholders and donors as required in the field 
• Maintain or compile database, case studies and reports as acquired from cluster level, analyze and report as necessary
• Document and share program learning and experiences in different forums and media and promote replication of best practices
• Prepare communication and extension materials for publication
• Support central team in preparation of project compliance documents as required
• Ensure timely accomplishment of targets Vs indicators as per the project proposal and Performance and Monitoring Plan 
• Support visitors, guests and representatives from donors and other Stakeholders as per need.

Financial Management:

• Ascertain proper use of project resources and finances ensuring value for money
• Assist Agriculture Focal Person- “BHAKARI” and finance section at Rupantaran to regularize financial planning and reporting

Required Qualification:

• Bachelor degree in Agriculture or equivalent from a recognized university with at least three years of practical experience in the sector. 
• Updated knowledge of key issues in rural development (gender, social inclusion, equity, empowerment etc.)

Essentials:

• Ability to lead/coordinate a multi-disciplinary team of partners and stakeholders
• Pro-active and innovativeness
• Experience of directly supervising and backstopping program staffs
• Experience in CCA, Agriculture, social mobilization and good governance
• Updated information on national and sectoral policies
• Good understanding on participatory programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluationsEmpathy to poor and marginalized smallholders’ farmers and climate vulnerable communities
• Strong knowledge and facilitation skills in training design and delivery related themes
• Good command on oral and written English and Nepali 
• Documentation and reporting skills
• Ability to say no in matters that harms organization or the project
• Knowledge of financial management and donor
• Computer proficiency in MS word, Excel, Power point etc
• Ability to work independently with minimum guidance

Desirable:

• Strong proficiency in English and Nepali language
• Willingness to work and travel in the field extensively
• Commitment to work for full project duration
• Understanding of database management skills
• Previous work experience on Improved agriculture practices, micro-irrigation technologies, watershed management, crop insurance/safety nets schemes
• Prior experience in complex donor funded programmes with joined consortium organizations. 

Remuneration and Benefit Package

• As per the organization norms commensurate with the project agreement

How to apply: 

Interested candidates who meet these criteria should Apply/Send the Application Letter with updated CV through email before 28th of October 2022 - 5 pm. Only shortlisted candidate will be notified for further selection process.

Please submit the application via e-mail with Position Title as Subject along with your updated CV and motivation letter. The Detail ToR can be requested through rupantaran2012@gmail.com.Please send your documents to ngo@rupantaran.org.np  and CC to rupantaran2012@gmail.com.

Local, Women, Dalits, Marginalized and Differently Able are highly encouraged to apply for the position. Only the short-listed candidates will be notified for the further assessment. No telephone calls will be entertained.