Assistant Agriculture Officer

The incumbent will be responsible for implementing agriculture and climate-resilient activities, modalities, and approaches in district Thatta, Sindh.

The agriculture assistant will support the FSL and Climate Change Officer in planning, development, execution, and monitoring of field-level activities in order to improve food production through different modalities and approaches.

Technical Level

• Carry out different types of need assessments and surveys as and when required for the project implementation.
• Facilitate team members in strengthening and formation of Community Organizations with particular focus on ensuring the active role in agricultural schemes implemented during the project.
• Support/Assist in the development of new project proposals development to diversify the livelihood options by introducing innovative activities.
• Effective coordination and planning of livelihood activities.
• Follow up visits and analyze the impacts of all interventions & share reports with all concerned.
• Provide Technical pieces of training as and when required, develop ToRs for short-term trainers as per project requirements, and utilize their services effectively.
• Facilitate during consultative sessions for intervention prioritization
• Holding/Organizing discussions/dialogues with target communities to suggest different types of project interventions/inputs to meet the project objectives
• Provide regular feedback to the project lead from key persons, including partners, community groups, and vulnerable groups, on project activities.
• Assist the team and actively participate and contribute to the development of plans and budgets.
• Assist in identifying, developing, or acquiring appropriate resources to support technical components of the project.
• Assist & and participate in the development of monitoring and evaluation tools, and compile and enter data into a computer database for program monitoring and evaluations, and surveys.
• Provide requested narrative information for analysis and reporting
• Identify successfully operative, viable, sustainable, and income-generating agricultural model
• Develop session plans at each stage of the crops and vegetables production cycle grown in the project area
• File, document, and report work progress to the project lead
• Participation and facilitation in the implementation of IR seasonal programs
• Responsible for completing any other task assigned by the project lead.
• Conduct broad-based community meetings (BBCM) / stakeholders workshops at the community level
• Conduct needs assessment/baseline/surveys for data collection in the defined project areas
• To form a seasonal calendar and suggest climate resilient seed against the seasonal Initial contacts & Programme introduction of the project in the targeted village
• To suggest salt-tolerant variety seeds, and soil texture, and demonstrate green manure.
• Conduct regular meetings with community organizations to raise awareness about their entitlement i.e. social, economic & rights.
• Capacity building of communities in terms of development of new proposals, FSL interventions in coastal belt Thatta, Sindh
• Facilitate & support other sectorial leads on the ground in need of identification/prioritization & verification of the project interventions/activities.
• Close coordination with relevant stakeholders working in the project-targeted areas.
• Facilitate in arrangement of IRP / donor visits to project areas.

Operational Level

• Surveys, Data Collection & report generation
• Record management at the CO level, field visits, CO meetings, beneficiary data, distribution lists, etc.
• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and ERP systems
• Communication, Planning & Scheduling, Time, Stress & Conflict Management, Situation handling, Leadership Skills, People & team management.

Organizational Level

(Only key points to be mentioned rather than activities) It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with the organizational values & principles, vision, and mission as well as commitment to its PSEAH (preventing sexual exploitation abuse and harassment) protocols. IR has a zero-tolerance policy towards PSEAH and doesn’t support any action that promotes or encourages PSEAH.

IR is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, lack of integrity, and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom IR engages. IR expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with Islamic values and principles as well as commitment to Islamic Relief Worldwide's vision, mission, and core values.

Qualification:

Bachelor / Master's Degree in preferably in agronomy/environment science

Experience:

Minimum experience of a similar role in NGO setup:

2 years with a Master's degree and/or 4 years with a Bachelor's degree

Computer Skills:

MS Office, Outlook, ERP systems familiarity

Language:

Urdu, Sindhi, and English

Key Personal Qualities:

• Strong emotional intelligence and resilience, and able to maintain self-control in difficult situations.
• Able to work under extreme conditions in field areas.
• Good communication skills in local as well as English / Urdu and Sindhi language which delivers information with clarity in a wide range of situations.
• Has a positive nature and is able to overcome issues that create hindrances in the achievement of entrusted goals/objectives.
• Has a learning attitude and a continuous improvement philosophy.

Value Added Skills

•       Advanced level Food Security and Livelihood

•       Climate change and environment

•       PRA / RRA Tools

•       Inclusion

•       DRR / Resilience / Climate Change

•       Advocacy & Campaigning

•       Monitoring & Accountability