Background

The long term strategic vision for agriculture and rural development is set out in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). The overarching Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) sector strategy is to ensure the social, economic and political well-being of rural communities, especially poor and vulnerable people, while stimulating the integration of rural communities within the national economy.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is in the process of transition from a traditional line ministry with direct involvement in production promoting activities, including government farms and delivery of free extension and input provision, to a modern, streamlined ministry providing effective public sector services to agricultural sector stakeholders. The key documents guiding the transition are the ANDS, the ARD  sector strategy and National Agricultural Development Framework (NADF).

NADF summarises the Ministry’s overall development objective: “Economic growth and food security depend upon natural resource management, increasing agricultural production and productivity, improved physical infrastructure and market development. This is the path to poverty reduction, licit crops and national security.”

NADF says that maximising Afghanistan’s agricultural potential requires improvements in three inter-related, mutually reinforcing areas: management of the natural resources on which agriculture depends, increasing agricultural productivity and better product processing and marketing. The NADF establishes the Natural Resources Management (NRM) program to focus on the first of these three areas, with particular reference to the need for water to be better harnessed and more efficiently provided.

The NRM program’s objective is, “to ensure that Afghanistan’s natural resource base is rehabilitated and used in a productive and sustainable way by Afghanistan’s rural population”. MAIL’s strategy for natural resource management includes establishing systems for natural resource management and systems of rights and access to natural resources.

Objectives of the Assignment

The objectives of the assignment are:

• MAIL able to address dry land farming  policy development, knowledge, management re-structuring and implementation techniques adopted and implemented at extension officers
• MAIL able to support coordination of appropriate dry land farming research programs and policy development systems are delivering timely research advice and policy proposals
• Increased MAIL support in the application of new skills in modern dry land farming techniques by Afghanistan farmers

Scope of the assignment

The scope of the assignment includes:

• Provide relevant policy advice to the Minister and senior MAIL staff
• Assist the Ministry to lead and coordinate activities in dryland farming
• Support the technical capacity of the Ministry in dryland farming research and training
• Develop strategies to improve support and delivery of dryland farming practices and training at the provincial level
• Reviewing dry land farming research and policy development activities in the Ministry to ensure the activities are relevant and take account of  international practice and developments;
• Identify  areas in which training  in effective research and policy development skills is needed and prepare and conduct training in those areas
• Reviewing and updating policy issues relating to the adoption and effectiveness of dry land farming techniques in Afghanistan
• Identifying organisational, structural and capacity bottlenecks which impede the effective use of dry land farm techniques and advising Ministry senior management on these
• Identifying new areas of necessary research on dry land farming  for Afghanistan
• Use the training on effective research and policy development skills identified above to identify staff able to undertake this work
• Improving the Ministry’s capacity to co-ordinate efforts by international organizations wishing to assist in dry land farming projects or programs
• Developing up to date training programs for MAIL national and provincial  staff on dry land farming
• Conducting those training programs, and
• Reviewing and revising the body of professional and technical material held by the Ministry on dry land farming for use by national and provincial staff to ensure that it is accurate, relevant and easily available to staff, particularly in provincial and district offices.

Outputs:

1. Timely and relevant advice to the Minister
2. Review of current policy emphasizing role of dry land farming in Afghan agriculture
3. Analysis of current constraints for dry land farming with policy revision recommendations
4. Review of current research policy and associated MAIL activities
5. Analysis of current research activity in Dry land farming with recommendations for future organisational coordination / joint activity
6. Curriculum and Technical training material for dry land farming
7. Workshops and training sessions delivered with participants drawn from  MAIL central office and selected provincial and district offices
8. Capacity building and Mentoring for key staff within MAIL
9. Minister and other senior MAIL provided with high quality advice on dry land farming.

Outcomes:

1. Dry Land farming appropriately reflected in MAIL policy review and endorsed new MAIL policy
2. Enhanced coordination of research by MAIL and amongst research organisations in dry land farming 
3. Increased ability of MAIL staff  at both central and provincial level to contribute to provision of services in the sub-sector

Duration and phasing

The assignment is planned to commence from July 2010 and will comprise 12 months of inputs over a 14.5 month period. The first phase, of approximately 6 weeks, will be preparation of a detailed Implementation and Work Plan. The Implementation and Work Plan will set out a staged approach to meeting the objectives of the technical assistance.  The Implementation and Work Plan will be submitted to the Senior Adviser to the Minister, the Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister and DAFA FM for approval.  The assignment will finish at the end of August or September 2011. 

Specification of the Advisory Support

The Dry Land Farming Adviser should have:

• A  relevant Masters degree in Agronomy with specialisation in dry land farming,  supplemented by practical experience in dry land farming management/implementation 
• At least ten years of experience in the identification of relevant dry land farming and arid and semi arid cultivation  techniques and advising on their adaptation and adoption in developing countries
• Substantial  policy development experience  in dry land farming  implementation
• Experience in advising on organizational issues  affecting the capacity of institutions effectively to improve dry land farming  technical capability 
• Extensive field experience
• Very good inter-personal skills, especially communication and training  skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

The Adviser must be able to demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of agricultural development issues, operational as well as theoretical.
• Proven ability to assess and develop research methodologies
• Ability to conceptualise, design and implement strategies and evaluate outcomes.
• Strong analytical and drafting skills
• Proven ability to develop and maintain good professional relations with a variety of stakeholders, especially staff members
• Initiative and proven ability to work with little supervision. 
• It would be desirable, but not essential, for the Dry Land Farming Adviser to have working experience in a post-conflict country

Reporting requirements

The Adviser will report to the Senior Adviser to the Minister and the Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister and will work closely with heads of relevant Directorates and Programs. The Adviser will submit a monthly progress report to the Senior Adviser, the Senior Policy Adviser and the DAFA Facility Manager. The primary documentation/reports in addition to the above to be generated:

1. Review of current policy emphasizing role of dry land farming in Afghan agriculture including analysis of constraints for dry land farming with policy revision recommendations;
2. Analysis of current research policy and activities and recommendations for new initiatives including an overview of current research activity in Dry land farming including analysis of current research and recommendations for future organisational coordination and joint activity.
3. Dry Land Farming Curriculum Technical training material for dry land farming

Applications

All applications must include the following:

1. a completed application cover sheet including contact details of two referees (generally current and immediate past supervisors/managers) who are willing and able to comment on your ability to meet the specification of advisory support and a price per month in $AUD for the professional fee only. Standard allowances and reimbursable expenses are provided in Standard Allowances.
2. a clear and concise cover letter (maximum three pages) addressing your suitability for the position against the specification of advisory support. The cover letter must demonstrate your understanding of the requirements of the position and ability to meet them, including both general information and specific examples and achievements. While writing your response, consider what you think the selection panel may be looking for. 
3. an up-to-date resume. It is important that the resume illustrates how your qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience will enable you to meet the duties set out in the Terms of Reference.

Applications must be in English and not contain any additional material.

Applications must be submitted to zohra.wafi@grminternational.com by 4pm Kabul (GMT +4:30) on 15th of June 2010.

Only compliant applications will be forwarded to the selection panel for assessment. The selection panel will not accept or consider late applications.

Please contact Zohra Wafi via email on: zohra.wafi@grminternational.com (+971 50 725 5628) if you have any questions.