Smallholder/Livelihood Expert Job Vacancy In Zambia: ACDI/VOCA – July 2017
For over 50 years and in 146 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in order to promote broad-based economic growth and vibrant civil society. ACDI/VOCA currently has approximately 34 projects in 26 countries.
Smallholder/Livelihood Expert, Zambia
We are currently seeking a Smallholder/Livelihood Expert for an anticipated USAID-funded Scaling Up Nutrition – Technical Assistance (SUN TA) project based in Zambia. SUN TA will focus on reducing stunting by integrating agriculture, nutrition, and water and sanitation. Interventions will increase access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food, adoption of better child feeding and women’s diets, water and hygiene practices to improve food safety and utilization, and access to clean water and a healthier, cleaner environment. The project will also prioritize cross-cutting issues pertaining to improving intra-household joint decision-making and women’s control over resources, as well as building capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.
The Smallholder/Livelihood Expert will directly report to the DCOP in activity implementation and management. The Smallholder/Livelihood Expert will oversee the implementation of smallholder agronomy and livelihood activities as stipulated in the menu of activities and give guidance on how they will be implemented to achieve results. This position will be responsible for sectoral leadership in agronomy.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership, oversight and capacity development in establishing ACDI/VOCA’s nutrition focused agricultural production and market system activities.
- Analyze all aspects of relevant agricultural market systems related to both input supply and marketing of targeted nutrition dense crops, animal and/or aquaculture production.
- Provide expertise to GRZ in areas of agriculture and livelihoods activities at the household and community levels.
- Facilitate the development of inclusive supply chains linking producers to value-added markets in Zambia and the region.
- Design and tailor commercially viable agricultural service delivery and extension models, as well as other livelihoods activities, to be part of selected service delivery to project areas.
- Oversee any agronomic training and dissemination of new practices and technologies including conservation farming protocols, GAP, and post-harvest handling practices.
- Responsible for linkages to input supply, off-takers (buyers), and commodity exchanges.
- Integrate gender mainstreaming activities through value chain interventions.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a relevant technical field.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant and progressive work experience in developing countries, in the area of agronomy, agribusiness, and/or agricultural trade and investment.
- Demonstrated progressive experience with increasing responsibility focused in the area of smallholder agriculture and improving livelihoods.
- Demonstrated progressive experience in providing technical expertise to host government(s) for the areas of agriculture and livelihood activities that focus on household and community levels.
- Proven knowledge of production and agribusiness systems in Zambia.
- Knowledge of local and regional government initiatives supporting agriculture interventions.
- Excellent communication skills for a wide audience of stakeholders.
- Fluency in English required.
Please apply online at www.acdivoca.org/international-jobs. No phone calls, please. Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted. ACDI/VOCA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply.