Job Summary
The Value Chains Specialist will support the administration and implementation of value chain activities. This role involves tracking the progress of activities and grants managed by Objective Leads and Regional Directors while coordinating with the Value Chain Director and the Grants, Subcontracts, and Procurement Director. The Specialist will ensure timely development, approval, and delivery of activity mechanisms, meeting key milestones within each value chain.

Duties & Responsibilities
The role includes, but is not limited to:

• Supporting the technical direction of project activities alongside the Value Chains Director.
• Conducting detailed analyses of livestock and agricultural value chains to identify challenges, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Mapping value chain actors and assessing market dynamics, power relations, and systemic gaps.
• Designing and implementing interventions to enhance value chain efficiency, productivity, and resilience.
• Facilitating partnerships between farmers, cooperatives, suppliers, and processors to establish sustainable market linkages.
• Introducing innovative business models and technologies to boost productivity and resilience.
• Managing grants to support capacity building, infrastructure development, and technology adoption, ensuring alignment with market systems development (MSD) principles.
• Monitoring grant-funded activities to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Promoting alternative livelihoods through high-value crops and sustainable livestock practices.
• Training farmers in crop diversification, climate-smart agriculture, and improved livestock management.
• Strengthening market access by fostering buyer-seller connections and organizing trade events.
• Engaging with the private sector to develop solutions like contract farming and supply systems.
• Tracking the impact of interventions on production, income, and market participation.
• Documenting lessons learned and success stories to guide future programming.
• Ensuring inclusivity, with a focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• Promoting climate-smart and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.
• Collaborating with local stakeholders to address systemic bottlenecks and enhance value chain competitiveness and resilience.
• Supporting linkages among value chain actors and advocating for policy changes through Afghan industry groups.
• Collecting data for value chain analysis using focus groups and interviews.
• Identifying constraints and opportunities within value chains and recommending solutions, including training and technical assistance.
• Raising awareness of food safety and certification requirements.
• Preparing Statements of Work (SOWs) for technical assistance when necessary.
• Attending technical discussions and traveling to project areas as required.
• Contributing to project planning, reporting, and deliverables.

Job Requirements

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., agriculture, agribusiness, economics, marketing) or a bachelor’s degree with five years of relevant experience.
• Minimum five years of experience in donor-funded projects, focusing on market systems and value chain strengthening.
• Expertise in Afghanistan’s agriculture sector and alternative livelihoods, with a strong background in market-based solutions.
• Experience in designing interventions for high-value agriculture and transitioning from illicit cultivation.
• Proficiency in Dari or Pashto and fluent English, with excellent report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and a proven ability to work collaboratively and solve problems creatively.

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