SNV recruits 01 Agriculture- Consultant

Agriculture- Consultant

Kasama, Zambia

Full-time

Contract type: Short term consultancy contract

Company Description

SNV Netherlands Development Organization is a not-for-profit international development organizational founded in the Netherlands in 1965; and currently maintains a global presence in 30 countries;across Africa, Asia and Latin America. SNV has been present in Uganda since 1989 and currently undertakes donor funded programming within 100+ districts across the country. As an organisation, SNV focuses on the Agriculture, WASH and Energy sectors and maintains the belief that no one should have to live in poverty; and that all people should have the opportunity to pursue their own sustainable development. SNV contributes to programming within the Agriculture, WASH and Energy sectors by strengthening the capacities of targeted partners and communities at the field level; in order to realize increased skill sets and sustainable performance; reduce poverty levels, expand employment; improve food security; while paying special attention to gender equity, social inclusion of marginalized groups and stakeholder accountability.

Project background:

Improved nutrition is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Every year malnutrition claims the lives of 3 million children under five years and costs the global economy billions of dollars. Those who survive often live a life sentence with impaired growth and cognitive development. Stunting, the principal measure of chronic, or long-term malnutrition, has life-long consequences for health, human capital, economic development and prosperity. The steady decrease in stunting prevalence rates in children under 5 years signals progress. Zambia saw a reduction in stunting from 45.8% to 40% over a 10 year period. In Uganda, stunting has decreased from 45% in 1995 to 29% in 2017, however there are regional variations.1 Zambia is one of the seven countries suffering from Alarming rates of hunger, as reported in the recent Global Hunger Index (2017).2 Uganda is in the Serious hunger category.

Chronic malnutrition is an important example of a global challenge that spans multiple sectors, including health, agriculture and food systems, gender, water and sanitation. Although the links between the sectors are well recognised, in particular potential pathways between agriculture and nutrition, the evidence on how agriculture impacts on nutritional status is limited. Building on the results and reflections from Phase 1 Sustainable Nutrition for All, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, in partnership with the Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen UR (CDI) and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will be implementing the Phase 2 proposal in which the agriculture component.

Purpose of the job:

The Agriculture Consultant, together with targeted households in the three districts, will facilitate the application of interventions that are aimed at contributing to towards improved agro biodiversity, crop production, livestock production and strengthening supply chain linkages. The Consultant shall ensure to employ market driven interventions based on improving efficiencies and management of biological processes. Specifically the Consultant will facilitate Household production of a variety of crops, ensure households acquire CSA practices that enhance production and build resilience to climate and economic risks faced by the target communities in the three districts as well as organise sustainable market linkages. As much as possible, opportunities will be supported that increase youth and women incomes in potential value chains.

Job Description

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

The  Agriculture Consultant will work with key government and other partners to strengthen production of variety of crops among targeted Households, ensure household have appropriate agronomical skills that support crop and livestock production improvement and select potential value chains to support for market facilitation

Duties and Responsibilities include:

Assessment of existing value chains that have the potential to be sustainable with all the target communities in the three districts

Through existing strictures, strengthen the production of both crop and livestock to increase food access

Through existing structures, develop the extension system that is sustainable and meets the needs of the target households

Support the establishment of demo plots in all target hubs and Villages

Facilitate sustainable market linkages in the hubs with processing companies on the identified value chains

Livestock production skills

Monthly management reports

Competencies, Capabilities and Attributes: (Skills/behavioral (Special Training or Competence) :

Demonstrated creativity, willingness to innovate, think systemically and work independently high-level interpersonal skills

Strong background in gender integration and women empowerment desirable.

Team player

Relationship builder

Ability to work with a wide range of actors from different backgrounds (smallholder farmers, private sector companies, government, and NGOs)

Qualifications

Academic & professional qualifications, Knowledge and Experience: (detail Knowledge (Education & Related Experience)

A minimum of a diploma in agribusiness, Agronomy, Natural Resources Management, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development/ relevant discipline or a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Minimum of 3 years of experience in agricultural value chains, Climate smart Agriculture and market-led approaches.

Knowledge on conservation farming systems and approaches

Demonstrated success in implementing programs with a measurement for results framework.

Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development, climate change and policy development that reaches the women, youth, the poor.

Demonstrated experience in collaborating across projects.

Interested to undertake extensive field work

Additional Information

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae in English on or before the 20th April,2020.