National Consultant to support organic farming development in Kyrgyzstan (Roster Call)

Background:
The agricultural sector plays a vital role in the economy of Kyrgyzstan, contributing significantly to employment, rural livelihoods, food security, and export potential. Smallholder farmers constitute the majority of agricultural producers, and sustainable land management remains a national priority.

On 15 May 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted the 2025–2029  Organic Production Development Programme (Programme) in order to ensure environmental and food security, develop organic farming practices in Kyrgyzstan. The Programme aims to expand certified organic farmland and boost exports with pilot implementation in Naryn and Issyk-Kul regions. The Programme is a national policy document aimed at boosting organic agriculture through legislative support, capacity building, and market development in Kyrgyzstan.

In 2026, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) will support the Department for Processing Industry and Organic Farming (Department), a structural body of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry in advancing organic agriculture in Kyrgyzstan. Based on the seminar results conducted with POiB’s support in 2025, the Department has identified that farmers need more hands-on, field-based training sessions in order to achieve better outcomes.

In this regard, the Department intends to focus more on practical activities, including setting up demonstration plots and field-based practical seminars. To support this initiative, the POiB will provide expert and capacity-building assistance to the Department. This will include the organization of seminars among farmers and local village administrations on organic production to create favourable conditions for the production of high-quality bio products by agricultural producers, enhance the export potential of local producers, and develop organic platform for discussion on unified system of standardization and certification of organic products. The establishment of pilot organic agriculture demonstration plots in the Issyk-Kul region will be part of the supported activities.

The POiB will support the delivery of one-day seminars for farmers in the regions. The seminars will focus on organic production, its methods and requirements, biological protection of the plants, and certification of organic products. The event aims to benefit more than 440 farmers and local administration officials in five districts in Naryn, five districts in Issyk-Kul and one district in each of Chui, Batken, Osh and Jalal-Abad regions.  

Objective of Assignment: 
To support the Department for Processing Industry and Organic Farming under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry in the implementation of the 2025–2029 Organic Production Development Programme.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the National Environmental Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Collaboration with the Department for Processing Industry and Organic Farming (a structural unit of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry), representatives of organic “aymaks”  and local administrations in the regions, as well as international and civil society partners to develop strategies and approaches for implementing the Organic Production Development Programme for 2025–2029 and to carry out capacity-building activities in organic farming;

2. Conducting consultative meetings with representatives of key government agencies and other stakeholders;

3. Providing support to pilot organic “aymaks”, including the organization of online and in-person working meetings with representatives of local administrations, relevant departments, and heads of the Ministry’s regional subdivisions;

4. Preparation of interim and final reports in the OSCE reporting template;

Training sessions / seminars:

1. Development of a training programme and module for training sessions and seminars in the regions;

2. Prepare presentation materials for training sessions;

3. Conduct desk reviews and undertake research on organic agriculture, bio-safety, biodiversity, livelihoods, and certification systems, etc.

4. Development of surveys, feedback forms, pre- and post-tests for training sessions;

5. Conducting one-day training sessions on organic production, its methods and requirements, biological protection of the plants, and certification of organic products in five districts in Naryn, five districts in Issyk-Kul and one district in each of Chui, Batken, Osh and Jalal-Abad regions benefitting more than 440 farmers and local administration officials;

Establishment of demonstration plot:

1. Provide technical guidance on organic farming systems, certification processes, and sustainable agricultural practices;
2. Provide recommendations in line with organic farming and agricultural forestry principles for establishing the demonstration plot based on agro-climatic and logistical considerations in coordination with local stakeholders;
3. Develop a practical layout and technical plan for the demonstration plot, including crop selection and agroforestry components appropriate to local conditions;
4. Prepare technical specifications for demonstration equipment and materials, including composting units, organic seed varieties, irrigation systems, and soil analysis kits.

Deliverables:

1. Submit Monthly Progress Report (MPR);

2. Provide a list of participants, agenda, and report on outcomes of the meetings conducted;

3. The monthly and final reports are submitted in the OSCE reporting template, attaching relevant supporting documents;

4. Submit developed training programme and module in Kyrgyz or Russian languages;

5. Submit presentation materials in the Kyrgyz language;

6. The report on the conducted research is drafted;

7. Provide a survey and evaluate test results;

8. Submit the training report with the respective documents;

9. A report with recommendations for establishing the demonstration plot is drafted;

10. A report with a practical layout and technical plan for the demonstration plot is drafted;

11. Report on technical specifications is drafted.
     

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, please see: OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in environmental economics, agronomy, agricultural sciences, environmental management, sustainable development, or other related fields;

• At least five years of working experience in the field of organic agriculture, sustainable development and/or environmental protection;

• Good understanding of the social, economic, agricultural and political situation in Kyrgyzstan;

• Demonstrated knowledge of national agricultural policies and institutional frameworks in Kyrgyzstan;

• Excellent analytical and writing skills;

• Experience in conducting training on agriculture and bio-safety, as well as in facilitation and stakeholder engagement;

• Experience of co-operation with international experts, institutions and organizations would be an asset;

• Previous experience working with smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and producer groups would be an asset;

• Previous experience of conducting research, data collection and analysis would be an asset;

• Professional fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz, both oral and written, knowledge of English is desirable;

• Digital literacy and proficient use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint);

• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;

• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.