Livelihoods and Food Security Officer Afghanistan Kabul central

Purpose of the Job:

Livelihoods programmes support NRC’s broader strategy to promote short-term emergency assistance – and to prevent further displacement. These programmes seek to enable vulnerable internally displaced people, returnees as well as small portion of vulnerable host communities focused on home based livelihood intervention to start their own businesses, so they can support their families.

The LFS Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation and reporting of LFS project being implemented in Kabul.  This will include participating in data collection field work; overseeing the beneficiary selection process in coordination with communities, local stakeholders and other NRC units and CC in terms of integration in the kabul office. Ensuring that projects are being implemented on schedule; ensuring that monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans are being implemented, and immediately flagging any challenges or delays to the LFS Coordinator.

The LFS Officer will support NRC’s Agriculture based -food production development projects, as well as other private sector and market based livelihoods projects as needed. He/she will work under the direct supervision of Livelihoods & Food Security (LFS) Coordinator.

The LFS Officer will be responsible in conducting need assessment, Household food security assessment for agriculture interventions, conduct the capacity assessment of smallholders farmers and facilitate private sector engagement, mentoring and coaching in the household level.  

For more details please do click here: Job Description and NRC Grade Structure

Generic responsibilities:

• Adhere to NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines.
• Adhere to NRC‘s Code of Conduct, Standard Operating Procedures, and Guiding Principles to uphold the highest professional ethical obligations.
• Assist with the implementation of the support function portfolio according to plan of action.
• Prepare status reports as required by management.
• Share ideas for improvement and necessary changes in the activities.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy.

Specific responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of Food Security & Livelihoods projects in Kabul, including:
• Conducting need and village assessment, Household food security assessment for agriculture interventions, overseeing the beneficiary selection process, conduct the capacity assessment of smallholder’s farmers and facilitate private sector engagement, mentoring and coaching in the household level. 
• Working closely with Ministry of agriculture, FSAC, and other stakeholders to implement NRC’s Agribusiness livelihoods activities.
• Ensuring that baseline assessments are carried out on time, including participating in data collection and data analysis as needed.
• Support the LFS team on technical as well as extension methodology and the introduction of staple food crops, off-season production as well as exploring opportunities and models for contract farming.
• Support the LFS team on Integrated Pest and Diseases Management (IPM) Techniques, Surface irrigation, Storage and transportation techniques.
• Good Agricultural Practices for Staple vegetable crops such as Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes and Promoting staple crop production opportunities
• Ensuring that LFS plans are implemented on time, working closely with the M&E team in the Kabul Central Office.
• Provide regular report and immediately report any challenges or implementation delays to the LFS coordinator.
• Assess existing situation for market based programming and cash based intervention, highlight the challenges and risks and report to the management.
• Prepare training materials and provide vegetable relevant training to the staff and project BNFs as required. 
• Work closely with WASH, Shelter and ICLA CCs in terms of integration, to ensure same beneficiaries received a full package support.
• Maintain clear and up to date records of beneficiaries and activities (beneficiary numbers, locations, contact details, activity progress)  
• Supervise and manage the work of LFS Assistants if asked to do.
• Attend coordination meetings in governmental sectors whenever asked to do.
• Ensure, Market assessment are carried out whenever required.
• The LFS officer will also support private sector livelihood projects and Provide business and life skill trainings to beneficiaries enrolled in small-enterprise development project, in small groups (at beneficiaries’ houses or in communal spaces within the community). Helping beneficiaries identify what type of business they want to establish, where, and with who.
• Assist LFS officer in drafting a business plan and budget for the new microenterprise business who they want to establish; spend the start-up cash grants and the delivered livelihood kits in the most effective way;
• Support Emergency Coordinator. Or PM to Prioritize the emergency activities in different region such as field assessments, distribution, responses, PDM, risk monitoring, HR, Finance or Logistics and coordination.
• Performs any other task as assigned by supervisor.

Generic professional competencies:

• Bachelor Degree from, agriculture faculty and graduates from Horticulture, extension departments will be preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience from working as in managing agriculture based livelihood projects, income generation activities, business development or similar role in a humanitarian/recovery context with i-NGOs.
• Excellent written & spoken Dari, Excellent spoken & written English and Pashto an advantage
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Experience establishing and managing agriculture based livelihood projects and a small business.
• Good knowledge on home based livelihood intervention and good knowledge about local market.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Ability to be highly mobile and spend a lot of time in the field (beneficiary households, visiting local businesses, meeting with local authorities etc.).
• Creativity and willingness to try new things.
• A positive and collaborative attitude and willingness to work in a team.
• A willingness to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge of cash-based interventions and market based programmes.

Behavioural competencies:

• Managing resources to optimize results
• Managing performance and development
• Handling insecure environments
• Empowering and building trust
• Team player & working with people
• Flexible and creative
• Long term committed, honest & straightforward thinker.

We Offer:

• Monthly Salary based on NRC Afghanistan Salary Scale.
• NRC has medical coverage for staff plus 4 dependents. 
• Eid Bonus once per year.
• Leave and Holidays accordingly Afghanistan Labour Law.
• Top up Credit card on monthly basis.