Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist (Lead)

Job Description

Title: Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist (Lead)

Company Name: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ An Advanced /Master's degree in Agriculture, Climate Change, Environmental Sciences, or other closely related field.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist (Lead)-Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity
∎ IFDC is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable climate-smart agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
∎ IFDC is recognized by the Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh as an International Organization. IFDC established its Asia Divisional Office in Dhaka Bangladesh and enjoying diplomatic status under the same Government declaration.
∎ IFDC is recruiting for the above project in Bangladesh.
∎ The Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work in 21 Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) Districts targeting 900,000 farmers and 2,485 private sector enterprises including 10-20 big companies. The Activity`s purpose is to: facilitate farmers, firms, and public sector actors to increase the sustainable productivity and diversity of smallholder farmers through a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture production system in Bangladesh. The goal is to sustainably improve food security and the nutritional status of the rural population, decrease the incidence and severity of poverty among the rural poor, and better adapt agriculture systems to meet the threats and challenges linked to climate change-related events, thus transforming farming systems through climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Mainstreaming women and inclusive development presents a significant opportunity. Meaningful participation of women is essential to purpose and goal achievement.
∎ The Activity will result in marked improvements in smallholder farmers` access to and use of high-quality CSA technologies and practices as well as CSA inputs, to improve the productivity of target crops such as rice, pulses, legumes, and vegetable, and other suitable crops. More than 200 model CSA villages will be developed in the ZOI districts with a village farm area group seeking advice on how to set up and operate an agriculture cooperative to serve area farmers with CSA input supply and sale of harvested crops by linking farmer-members to buyers. These 200 villages will be advertised as model villages and gradually spread all over the country. Farmers` incomes will increase, bolstering food and nutrition security.
∎ The three intermediate results (IR) of the Activity are:
∎ IR 1: Increased availability of climate-resilient varieties of target crops through seed system strengthening.
∎ IR 2: Enhanced market delivery of climate-adapted innovations of agro-inputs, including seeds, practices, and climate information services.
∎ IR 3: Increased smallholder farmer application of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices.
∎ IFDC is seeking to recruit a qualified and self-motivated national Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) expert to fill the position of CSA Specialist, who will lead the technical team of the above Activity, to be based in Dhaka.
∎ Supervision and Team Collaboration
∎ The CSA lead is supervised by and reports to the COP and DCOP. She/he works in close collaboration with Activity colleagues, other IFDC staff and colleagues from other consortium members.
∎ Position and Duty Station
∎ The CSA lead is a national position with a duty in the IFDC office in Dhaka.
∎ The position requires intensive travels (up to 50% of the time) in the target Feed the Future ZOI districts in Bangladesh and may require some international travel to other IFDC countries.
∎ ID: 20121044
∎ Full-Time/Regular

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Position Summary : The CSA Specialist will act as the Technical Lead for the Activity. The expert with experience and/or knowledge of climate adaptation options in CSA technologies/inputs and practice management for smallholder rice, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables, and other suitable crops will guide the Activity technical team in championing interventions that will increase productivity and enhance climate change resilience. He/she will be responsible for designing and implementing the Activity's strategy to identify and promote scalable CSA technologies and practices in the 21 Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) focus districts in direct coordination with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party. The incumbent will introduce climate-smart interventions which will foster the capacity building of stakeholders along the agricultural value chain (including farmers' co-operatives, government extension officers, agro-dealers, tree nursery farmers, equipment suppliers, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs [SMEs], micro-entrepreneurs, and rice, pulses, legume, and vegetable farmers) that increase resilience and adaptive capacity, foster eco-efficient practices while reducing businesses' footprint on the environment. He/she provides support to management to strengthen inclusive business models through partnerships, with specific attention to the terms of inclusion of resource-constrained farm households, women, and the youth (both women and men). The CSA expert will build and coordinate ongoing public and private sector and USAID support to climate-resilient smallholder production, value chain coordination, and market access.
∎ Duties and Responsibilities :
∎ In close collaboration with other Activity technical staff and collaborators, develop, implement, monitor, and document a strategy for the selection, and scaling of inclusive CSA technology and practices.
∎ He/she will work with lead farmers, farmers cooperatives/groups/committees including irrigation management committees, and USAID's innovation platforms, in close collaboration with the USAID's MI and other related projects, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and Activity identified research institutions.
∎ In support of the COP and other staff, organize gender and youth-sensitive assessments in target farming systems and value chains, including appraisals of climate change risks, environmental impacts, CSA capacity-building gaps, and other barriers to the adoption and scaling of eco-efficient technologies and practices.
∎ Develop value chain-based CSA packages, deploy, and monitor their implementation in the Activity selected districts.
∎ Assess and adapt tools developed by partners for introducing and scaling CSA technologies/inputs and practices for farmers, businesses, and service providers. Building on existing materials, assist extension specialists and training officials to develop and implement tailored CSA training and coaching interventions targeting households, smallholder farmers (especially women and the youth), their organizations, and other entrepreneurs.
∎ Assist the 20 farm development center officers in building 200 model villages.
∎ Coordinate the promotion of context-specific Indigenous and new CSA technologies and practices, and green innovations throughout the core- and supplier value chains. Specific attention should be given to innovations that contribute to empowering women and the youth (as farmers, other entrepreneurs, and laborers) on-farm and off-farm. Ensure innovations do not increase women's workload and constraints.
∎ In close collaboration with USAID and IFDC Specialists and other USAID and IFDC-led projects, facilitate the introduction and adoption of climate-smart nutrient- and water innovations, reducing nutrient losses and increasing water productivity.
∎ Promote private investment opportunities for the roll-out of proven cases of best-fit CSA
∎ Report on the progress of the CSA strategy in the Activity and development of business studies, field stories, fact sheets, and other outreach materials. Disseminate evidence-based knowledge products on climate-smart technologies and practices in supported inclusive business models, including investments and return on investment (ROI) scenarios.
∎ Develop a close collaboration with other IFDC and donor-funded programs, and identify complementarities and synergies in common focus value chains.
∎ Promote and increase stakeholder capacities in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) solutions for smallholder farmers.
∎ Support the switch by companies, SMEs, and others to reorient their products and services to cater for a more climate-resilient market for the respective agribusinesses/ value chains.
∎ Support Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning activities.
∎ Produce quarterly CSA practice implementation status reports.
∎ Participate in national dialogues on CSA to share knowledge and best practices from the Activity.

Additional Requirements:
∎ At least 5 years of implementing climate-smart agriculture practices for smallholder rice farmers.
∎ Experience with climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector.
∎ Experience working with government institutions and local communities.
∎ Excellent communication and analytical skills.
∎ Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and Climate Change Adaptation.
∎ Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams.
∎ Good understanding of national government priorities, policies, and planning processes in climate change in Bangladesh.
∎ Project cycle experiences within USAID and GOB systems will be considered an asset.
∎ Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods, and techniques of climate-smart sector development activities, including training, capacity building, agribusiness development extension services, and the technical activities mentioned above for improving crop productivity, agribusiness, and rural agricultural development.
∎ Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts, and grant-making programs with all needed reporting requirements.
∎ Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in small audience and large audience settings.
∎ Fluency in written and spoken English is required, and proficiency in multiple local languages is an asset.
∎ Ability to work independently under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
∎ Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment.
∎ Strong interpersonal skills, and team working skills with the ability to maintain effective work relationships.
∎ Previous experience as a CSA expert or any relevant experience in a USAID-funded project.
∎ Excellent communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and effectively.
∎ Ability to assess priorities and work on own initiative.
∎ Great organizational skills and attention to detail in CSA technologies and practices.
∎ Good communication and interpersonal skills.
∎ Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the achievement of goals.
∎ Good teamwork skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 29 Jun 2023

Company Information:
∎ 30 May 2023
∎ International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Category: NGO/Development

:

Source: bdjobs.com

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