Overview/Background

Concern Worldwide was founded by John and Kay O Loughlin-Kennedy in 1968, in response to the famine in the breakaway province of Biafra in Nigeria. The widespread conflict that followed Biafras attempt to secede from Nigeria caused the displacement of millions and a blockade of food, medicine, and basic necessities by the Nigerian authorities. At the height of the crisis in the summer of 1968, it was estimated that 6,000 children were dying every week.

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Currently, Concern has been working in Afghanistan since 1998, when it responded to an earthquake disaster in Takhar province.  Currently, Concern has been working in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces undertaking both emergency response and long-term developmental work in the areas of livelihood security, primary education, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. 

In Afghanistan

We respond rapidly to emergencies, but we also build resilience so that communities are better prepared to withstand the shocks caused by climate change and on-going conflict. A commitment to social inclusion and gender equality is central to our work.

Why are we in Afghanistan? Concern has worked in Afghanistan since responding to a major earthquake in 1998. Today, Afghanistan continues to face one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world. Prolonged poverty, recurring environmental disasters and insecurity pose significant challenges to Afghans, with lasting political, economic and social implications. Concern is responding with emergency, resilience and long-term development programming.

Almost two thirds of Afghans live in areas directly affected by conflict

Despite development advances in recent years, Afghanistan remains an extremely volatile and fragile country following nearly four decades of instability. Violence continues to undermine the country’s development, with almost two thirds of the Afghan population living in areas directly affected by conflict, prompting ongoing internal displacement that erodes people’s resources and coping mechanisms over time.

These challenges are compounded by the limited capacity of communities, government and humanitarian actors to withstand the impact of repeated natural disasters including floods, landslides, earthquakes and drought.

As one of the world’s least developed countries, Afghanistan’s institutions are faced with an ever-changing and challenging context marred by both conflict and disaster, while also having to implement environmental policies, adapt to climatic shocks, and effectively respond when disasters occur.

Year of establishment

1968

Address: 52–55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, D02 H425

Telephone for queries: +353 1 417 7700 

Telephone for donations: 1850 410 510

Email: info@concern.net 

Fax: +353 1 475 7362

We are looking for a talented and creative candidate to take over the position and transfer all the creativity with credits of perfection to the ground.Hosting the selected candidate will help us to recover the potential of the project. We have described the abilities,qualification,experience,softskills and other necessary of the positon below.Please read it with attention to be sure you are the candidate we are looking forward to you.

Qualification & Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, value chain, business and marketing.
• At least 3 years’ experience in value chain development in Saffron.
• Local knowledge and staff management is an advantage.

Competencies & Skills:

• Computer skills preferred (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point).
• Excellent Dari and English speaking and writing ability. Uzbek language is an advantage.
• Possess good interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in remote communities throughout Takhar province.
• Ability to work with community members and spend at least 90% of time in the field as committed.
• Strong documentation skills

Experience using digital devices such as computer

The selected candidate will be appointed for the accurate and proactively performance of the following duties here but not limited to by the manager.Different projects and monitoring of the completion of the task has to be done in the time frame given by the responsible authorities. You are kindly advised to go through the main duties and responsibilities briefly given below by the team. Please make sure if you are selected all the duties can be done by its best possible way.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Project Implementation and management:

• In collaboration with Consortium partners, adapt the agricultural value Chain training manuals and guidelines.
• Facilitate and monitor creation of new Women Agro-business Collectives (WABCs) and existing women agro-businesses in the project location.
• They will ensure WABCs quality implementation of enhanced agricultural production, post-harvest handling, storage, and processing, improved food safety and security, improved market linkages, business development, new product marketing and branding.
• Build the capacity of value chain actors through training, mentorship and coaching in basic business management and life skills.
• Program management related to distribution of input provision, backward linkages and forward market linkage activities to ensure sales through WABCs and existing women agro-business groups.
• Facilitate technical expert’s consultancy services to respective targeted WABCs and existing women agro-business groups on the relevant value chain knowledge and skills required.
• Identify appropriate local agencies, government departments, and academic institutions, training partners to ensure sustained technical support and buy in with the project implementation.
• Provide training and coaching to WABCs, existing women agro-business groups and self-help groups on processing, marketing, packaging, and selling approaches.
• S/He will develop value chain strategies with targeted SHGs and establish linkage or coordination with other community producer groups, cooperatives, associations, companies, businesses and other intermediaries.
• Supporting WABCs and existing women agro-business groups to develop into federation at community level to sustain key value chains.
• Facilitate project team members to organize exposure visits, trade missions, value chain working group platforms and broader stakeholder forums to enhance market linkage.
• Promote exchanges of knowledge and lessons learned in connection with activities under the EC project, and more generally with the development of efficient and inclusive value chains
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Project Officer and Business and Value Chain Development Specialist related to EC project outcomes

Reporting and Communication:

• Submit accurate compiled reports, monthly, quarterly work plans and sharing with the final draft with Business and Value Chain Development Specialist.
• Liaise with logistic and finance team and other program team in case of required.
• Participating in stakeholders meeting at national and provincial level if required.
• Ensure government coordination for agribusiness related activities including technical liaison where required.
• Support Business and Value Chain Development Specialist and MEAL unit in developing of success stories/ case studies each year on successful value chains and businesses