Citizen Organization for Advocacy and Resilience, COAR (formally Coordination of Afghan Relief) CoAR is an Afghan, independent, non-political, non-sectarian, and non-for-profit organization established in 1989 and registered formally with the ministry of Economy. COAR actively bridging between donors of humanitarian aid and rural Afghan communities severely affected by almost four decades of wars, internal conflicts, natural and manmade disasters, and complexities. COAR endeavors to reach the unreached and embark on strengthening local coping mechanisms to enable communities to find durable local solutions to their local problems and encourage self-reliance and sustainability. COAR works with communities to proactively utilize their own scarce and limited resource in the most efficient and effective way and discourage a culture of aid dependency, except in times of disasters and extreme poverty. COAR has maintained the access of beneficiaries to basic services with strict observation of humanitarian principles of Independence, Neutrality, and Impartiality in practice.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Value Chain Officer is responsible for identifying, analysing, and improving legumes crops value chains within the project. The role focuses on enhancing and increasing legume crop products from production to the final consumer by improving legume production, post-production, processing, fortification, grading and packaging standards.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Primary Responsibilities

·         Conduct comprehensive value chain mapping and analysis for the legume-selected crops in the five targeted districts of Balkh.

·         Deliver specialized technical training packages focused on production, post-production and value addition for legume producer groups.

·         Oversee the provision of improved agricultural inputs and small tools tailored to enhance specific value chain nodes.

·         Design and implement value chain development interventions addressing key constraints and leveraging opportunities across the entire legume value chain from input supply to production, post-harvest handling, processing, marketing, and consumption.

·         Facilitate the development and strengthening of inclusive and sustainable value chains, ensuring meaningful participation of farmers, women, youth, and marginalized groups.

2. Technical Support and Expertise

·         Design and implement appropriate cleaning, grading, processing, and packaging facilities to increase legume product values.

·         Identify and promote appropriate food fortification methods and product diversification to meet market demands.

·         Provide technical support to the project manager and program manager in designing and implementing innovative legume trials and demonstration plots

·         Provide support to develop technical training packages and curriculum in close coordination and with the support of the agribusiness development officer.

·         Link legume producers and farmers with Agricultural Resources Centers (ARCs), buyers, wholesalers, and other market actors.

·         Provide technical support to women business members to boost and expand their business, increase legume crop productivity and product quality.

·         Provide technical support in improved and certified legume seed selection, crop improvement and seed maintenance.

·         Provide technical guidance on the trial of innovative adaptation measures, such as legume inoculants, to improve primary production quality.

·         Provide technical support to legume producers in crop cultivation and agronomic practices, and post-harvest handling.

·         Support the establishment of Agriculture Resource Centers (ARCs), identify and map existing resources and bring innovation in agro-techniques to increase legume crop yield quantity and quality.

·         Conduct comprehensive legume value chain analyses, including mapping of actors, functions, relationships, flows of goods and services, and identification of constraints, opportunities, and leverage points for selected commodities.

·         Analyze market demand, supply dynamics, price trends, quality requirements, and competitive positioning of selected legume value chains to inform intervention strategies.

·         Train producer groups and business members in operating, calibrating, and adjusting seed drills, planters, and other agricultural machinery.

·         Provide technical support to women businesses in relation to food fortification, nutrition and crop diversification

·         Develop detailed value chain profiles, intervention strategies, business models, and investment plans for selected commodities.

·         Facilitate vertical and horizontal coordination among legume value chain actors to improve efficiency, reduce transaction costs, and enhance value addition.

·         Promote value addition through processing, packaging, branding, quality certification, and adherence to food safety and quality standards.

·         Design, organize, and facilitate training programs, workshops, and learning events on legume value chain development, market-oriented production, post-harvest management, quality standards, and business skills.

·         Develop training manuals, booklets, guides, extension materials, and knowledge products on legume value chain development and market systems approaches.

3. Coordination and Collaboration

·         Work closely with MAIL technical departments to ensure legume value chain interventions comply with national standards.

·         Coordinate with the Agribusiness Development Officer to facilitate sales to diversified market channels and regional exhibitions.

·         Engage with influential community leaders to ensure a supportive environment for value chain activities, particularly for women's involvement.

·         Liaise with WHH technical team on legume value chain development strategies and climate-adaptive measures.

·         Establish and maintain strong working relationships with relevant government ministries (MAIL), provincial departments and agriculture extension services.

·         Coordinate with other projects, NGOs, UN agencies, and development partners working on legume value chain development to ensure synergies, avoid duplication, and leverage resources.

·         Facilitate participation of selected value chain actors in agricultural fairs, business exhibitions, business-to-business meetings (B2B), and market exposure visits.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

·         Track the performance and efficiency of established processing, grading, cleaning, and packaging facilities.

·         Monitor and oversee legume innovation with the support of Balkh University, agriculture institutes and legume producer groups.

·         Monitor the adoption of food fortification and product diversification methods among legume producer groups.

·         Regularly monitor Agriculture Resource Centers (ARCs) and provide technical support in operating and sustainability.

·         Prepare detailed technical reports on legume value chain improvements, price margins, and market access achievements.

·         Collect data on the impact of technical training packages on legume production and post-production losses.

·         Collect, process, and analyze innovative trials and demonstration plots with the support of Balkh University professors and agriculture institutes or research farms.

·         Provide technical guidance to Balkh University and agriculture institute students in the collection of vegetative and productive data.

·         Develop and monitor value chain-related indicators, targets, and milestones in line with the project logical framework, monitoring and evaluation plan, and results framework.

·         Collect, analyze, and report on value chain data including production volumes, market prices, trade flows, income levels, employment creation, value addition, and beneficiary reach.

·         Conduct regular field visits to project sites to monitor value chain activities, provide on-site technical support, ensure quality assurance, and verify progress against targets.

·         Document success stories, case studies, lessons learned, and best practices from value chain interventions for knowledge sharing, advocacy, and donor reporting purposes.

·         Prepare regular progress reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual) on value chain activities and submit to the National Project Manager in a timely manner.

5. Adherence to Policies

·         Comply fully with COAR's organizational policies, including Safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Child Protection, Gender Equality, Anti-Fraud, and Code of Conduct policies.

·         Ensure that all project staff, partners, contractors, and beneficiaries are aware of and adhere to COAR's safeguarding and PSEA policies.

·         Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment, and report any concerns or violations in accordance with COAR's reporting mechanisms.

·         Ensure compliance with donor regulations, government requirements, and national laws and regulations in all value chain activities.

·         Uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and environmental sustainability in all project operations.

·         Ensure that value chain interventions are inclusive and address the specific needs, constraints, and opportunities of women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

·         Address social and cultural barriers that limit the participation of marginalized groups in value chains.

6. Other Duties

·         Facilitate access to finance for value chain actors by linking them to financial institutions, microfinance providers, and alternative financing mechanisms.

·         Support the development of bankable business plans, investment proposals, and financing applications for value chain actors and agri-enterprises.

·         Promote innovative financing mechanisms including matching grants, revolving funds, guarantee schemes, and impact investments for value chain development.

·         Provide business development services and advisory support to agri-enterprises and value chain actors at various stages of development.

·         Support the establishment of producer organizations and cooperatives with strong financial management and governance structures.

·         Contribute to policy analysis, advocacy, and reform processes to create an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable value chains.

·         Strengthen the capacity of government institutions and extension services to provide sustained support for value chain development beyond the project lifecycle.

·         Promote the adoption of digital technologies and innovative solutions for market access, traceability, and supply chain management.

·         Organize exposure visits, study tours, and learning exchanges to facilitate cross-learning and adoption of best practices.

·         Support the National Project Manager in the preparation of work plans, budgets, procurement plans, and donor reports related to value chain components.

·         Represent COAR and the project in value chain-related forums, conferences, technical working groups, and coordination meetings at provincial and national levels.

·         Foster a collaborative, results-oriented, and inclusive team culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

·     Support organizational learning by documenting and sharing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from value chain interventions.

·         Contribute to the development of proposals and resource mobilization efforts for value chain development initiatives.

Perform other related duties as required by the National Project Manager or Program Manager that would contribute to the better attainment of project objectives.

QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Academic background should include agricultural production, value addition, market systems, or agribusiness development.
• Additional professional training in value-chain development, post-harvest management, food processing, or market systems is desirable.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in agricultural value-chain development, agribusiness, or market systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with legume crops, including production, post-harvest handling, processing, grading, packaging, and marketing.
• Proven experience providing technical training and advisory support to farmers, producer groups, women-led businesses, and other value-chain actors.
• Experience working with government institutions, NGOs, private-sector actors, buyers, ARCs, and other market stakeholders is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Technical skills

• Strong technical knowledge of legume production, agronomic practices, improved seed selection, crop maintenance, and post-harvest management.
• Ability to develop technical training materials, business models, value-chain profiles, investment plans, and practical extension materials.
• Strong data collection, analysis, monitoring, reporting, and documentation skills, including preparation of technical and progress reports.

• Professional Skills

• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, coordination, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
• Strong ability to build effective relationships with farmers, women-led enterprises, government authorities, private-sector actors, and development partners.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, organizational, teamwork, and time-management skills with the ability to work independently in field settings.
• Strong technical knowledge of food processing, fortification, and packaging; ability to conduct market research; fluency in Dari/Pashto and professional English. 

WORK CONDITIONS

Working hours:

• Full-time from Saturday to Thursday (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM), with flexibility required for emergency reporting or donor visits.

Travel:

Frequent travel to project sites within Balkh province is required.

Interested and qualified Afghan nationals who are residents of Balkh Province are invited to apply for above position of (COAR).
Please click on the button below to submit your application: https://www.coar.org.af/jobs-single?id=50