Job Detail

Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to rid the world of landmines and other remnants of war by transforming toxic minefields into thriving farmland and communities, through a focus on sustainable, organic farming practices. Roots of Peace is implementing the 3-year, USAID-funded Agriculture Marketing Program.

AMP Project Description:

The Agriculture Marketing Program (AMP) is a three-year USAID-funded program that follows on the successes of the ten-year USAID Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP). The program works in 12 provinces of Afghanistan, focusing on increasing farm production and domestic sales through interventions aimed at farmers and agribusinesses. During the first two years of the program, AMP worked with leading Afghan processing and export firms to increase export volumes and values, introduce new agricultural products to the market, diversify export markets and increase value-added processing. The program's market-based, demand-driven approach focused on supporting private sector growth and sustainability, thereby creating demand for agricultural products that drive job growth in rural areas. Women are incorporated into all areas of program implementation.

In its final fiscal year of implementation, AMP has pivoted to an approach that addresses food security challenges precipitated by the emerging economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. This approach comprises three key strategies:

1. Connecting Farmers to Domestic Markets
2. Increasing Value-Add of Agriculture Products, Extending Shelf Life of Products
3. Support for Remote Rural Areas

Activities include:

• Increasing farm productivity and food security through Farmer Field Schools and other activities aimed at building farm capacity.
• Expanding the number of agricultural products through value addition and product diversification, such as processed jams and sulfur dried apricots.
• Linking farmers with traders, and traders with buyers in domestic markets, such as through domestic food expos and B2B meetings.
• Building the capacity of agribusinesses to maximize output and quality for domestic markets.
• Supporting initiatives such as improved post-harvest handling infrastructure for traders, including packing houses, cold storage, and improved packaging.
• Addressing important supply chain and trade impediments that restrict the sale of high value agriculture products.

AMP works primarily with private sector agribusinesses, farm producers and other USAID-funded agricultural programs. Specific attention is given to support the participation of women and youth in AMP activities.

• Identify potential farmers for establishing trellis systems for high density orchards, quality improvement of existing orchards, and off-season production of fruits and vegetables in Greenhouses.
• Evaluate current farmer production practices of high value crops, conduct data collection of existing pre- and post-harvest practices in targeted areas.
• Conduct farmer training on appropriate horticultural and agronomic techniques and  technologies to improve the quality of high value crops while increasing productivity
• Instruct farmers on modernizing traditional agricultural practices through delivery of effective extension programming technical support services.
• Train the horticulture assistants and orchard owners on appropriate horticultural and agronomic techniques and technologies to improve the quality of high value crops and increase productivity.
•  Identification of opportunities and challenges of farmers in targeted villages and districts and finding appropriate solutions.
• Frequently travel to project sites and work closely with targeted communities of CBARD-East and West.
• Coordination and cooperation with other project colleagues to achieve targets
• Submit weekly and monthly progress reports to supervisor on activities carried out in targeted district
• Assignments given by supervisors and top management from time to time

Applicants should copy and paste the relevant Vacancy Announcement Number and Position Title into the email subject line when submitting their application. Please do not add any other information in the subject line of your email except the Position title and Vacancy Number. Applications received without a VA Number will not be considered. 

Important Note: Roots of Peace does not want to disrupt government functionings and therefore cannot hire government staff.