The three-year USAID program aims to increase income for Afghan participants in the grape and pomegranate value chains by meeting domestic, regional and international product quality standards.  Activities include rapid appraisals and baseline surveys of the two value chains, identification and implementation of technical training among trainers and participants in the value chains, establishment of demonstration plots and pilot projects, evaluation of value chain bottlenecks and gaps, and the facilitation of linking producers, traders and processors to markets.  The program focuses strongly on activities with alliance partners.  Such activities include technical visits, trainings, meetings and identifying opportunities and needs.  The Program Manager is responsible for the day-to-day responsibilities of the program. S/he will work closely both with management and support staff (including finance, administration and program) in Kabul and the south (Kandahar and Helmand) to ensure the day-to-day activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Agri-business Program Specialist

In the AABAD program, funded by the US Department of Agriculture, Mercy Corps has monetized 10,000 MT of soybean oil and, over an approximate period of three years, is using the proceeds from such sale to implement the following activities in Afghanistan: Build the capacity of farmers and entrepreneurs in defined clusters in the North and South of the country by
(1) establishing cooperatives, agro-enterprises and associations, (2) strengthening fruit and nut tree nurseries, with the possibility of also exploring pilot projects in organics, (3) improving and rehabilitating irrigation systems, feeder roads and related agriculture infrastructure to enhance the production and marketing value chain of selected products; (4) strengthening provincial government support by training local officials on improved extension services; and improve livestock services and animal health by supporting Veterinary Field Units (VFUs) in close cooperation with Mercy Corps' ongoing EC-funded Animal Health program; and conducting a feasibility study and pilot for resumption of artificial insemination services. The AABAD program is implemented in three provinces of northern and southern Afghanistan, covering a wide territory, both in terms of geography and programmatic focus.The Agri-Business Program Specialist is responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination, administration and direct supervision of the day-to-day implementation of this large and ambitious multi-location agribusiness market development program.

Programme Manager - Kunduz

The Kunduz Integrated Water Initiative (KIWI) aims at improving crops productivity in irrigated areas of the Kunduz River Basin by enhancing the social water management and on-farm water management sectors of the Kunduz River Basin, hence contributing to foster poverty alleviation through improved food security. Through the Programme, beneficiary communities are assisted in improving the social and technical management of their irrigation schemes as well as in developing better access to the participatory mechanisms of Kunduz River Basin Management institutions.  The Programme Manager is overall responsible for the coordination, administration and direct supervision of day-to-day implementation of the KIWI Programme.

More information on the positions can be found at http://www.mercycorps.org

Contact Kristi Tabaj- (ktabaj@af.mercycorps.org).