Agriculture Marketing and business development officer , CARD-F

About CARD-F

The Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development Facility (CARD-F) works on behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GOIRA) to deliver sustainable economic development in the rural economy at the district level. 
CARD-F specifically seeks to provide a means of designing, coordinating and funding high-impact interventions through an integrated Economic Development Package (EDP) for each targeted district. EDPs address issues of markets, agricultural production and infrastructure in an integrated manner to promote growth and build on, as far as possible, existing programs and projects. Such programs and projects are predominantly those of the Afghan Ministry of Agricultural Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD). 
CARD-F functions under the auspices of an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising MAIL, MRRD, and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Counter Narcotics (MCN). While presently externally funded through development cooperation, CARD-F seeks to be an “on-budget” mechanism that enhances Afghans’ own capacity to design and implement effective strategies for growth and development. 

Job Summary

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Duties and Responsibilities

Working closely with the other team members and in particular with the Program Officer Agriculture (POA), the Agriculture Marketing and Business Development officer(MBDO) will have responsibility for: 
• Identifying all the major stakeholders in the marketing of agricultural commodities in Helmand and in particular the poultry, small ruminant (with special emphasis on the Kuchi community), fruit and vegetable, wheat and cotton sub-sectors;
• Identifying the constraints to marketing in these value chains;
• Proposing project interventions that will address these constraints;
• Liaising with other projects/programs operating in the agriculture sector in Helmand to identify the development activities currently being undertaken and propose activities for CARD-F that will compliment those development activities;
• Design specific production interventions to be supported by CARD-F, which may involve other input suppliers, animal health services, credit providers etc;
• Make recommendations on the development of producer organizations that will empower producers within the value chain;
• Identify entrepreneurial individuals or groups who will have the capacity and potential to invest in production, processing and/or marketing enterprises that will lead to increased income and employment in the project area;
• Assist entrepreneurs to develop business proposals and link them with business service providers including management consultants, credit providers and etc, 
• Link producers to markets through arranging business to business events, support participation in Ag Fairs, Trade Fairs and etc;
• Monitor all business development and marketing activities and make recommendations for modification, improvement or the introduction of new activities;
• Keep CARD-F management fully informed of production development activities, including the activities of other donors and projects, in the project area

Qualification

Qualification:

• Bachelors degree in Agriculture, Marketing, Economics, Rural Development or equivalent. Masters degree or equivalent in the above subjects or Business Administration is preferred 
• Knowledge of the principles of making markets work for the poor will be an advantage.

Skills:

• Be able to work as a member of a team of different specialists and can work towards a common goal;
• Have the ability to take a strategic view of the results to be delivered and to conceptualize how the CARD-F operation can fit into the overall development objectives in the project area; 
• Be able to demonstrate a high level of initiative and be able to work with a minimum of supervision.

Experience 

• Over 5 years of relevant work experience is required with a minimum of 3 years demonstrated experience in the agriculture sub-sectors of interest;
• Knowledge or working experience with the other institutions that will be working with CARD-F in the project area, e.g. MRRD, MAIL, Danida, ADF will be an advantage.
• Ideally have experience in the development and implementation of donor funded projects. 

Skills

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Language(s) required

Good written and oral communication skills in English and local languages

Submission Guideline

You can apply for this post in two ways:
1. By Electronic submission:

Ideally, you should apply electronically by sending your CV and a one-page covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the position to: 
jobs@cardf.gov.af
PLEASE SPECIFY THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR E-MAIL. 
2. By Hard Copy

Alternatively, you may submit a hard copy of your application – your CV and a one-page covering letter. – in an envelope marked “Confidential”. Please note clearly on the envelope the position for which you are applying. The envelope should be addressed to:

Noorullah Aria
CARD-F Human Resources Manager
Address: CARD-F Office
Jamal Meena, Kart-e-Sakhi square, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)
Kabul-Afghanistan

PLEASE NOTE:

1. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

2. ONLY SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.