Horticultural Policy Advisor to assist the Deputy Minister, Technical Affairs Office and Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)

GRM International is seeking short-term position as Horticultural Policy Advisor to assist the Deputy Minister, Technical Affairs Office and Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).   The contract will be for 2-3 months.

The key responsibilities include:

• Review all existing plant production and plant protection policy documents within the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). 
• Organize stakeholder meetings to determine important policy issues.
• Interact with all plant related directories and departments to understand the future functions of each entity.
• Revise and / or formulate draft policies covering plant-production and plant-protection including, but not limited to, the following six aspects:
  1. Issues related to Commercialization / Privatization of government-owned- horticulture-gardens and the seed industry.
  2. Issues related to creation of frameworks for viable joint ventures in order to facilitate the foundation and/or expansion of public-private-partnership (PPP) principles.
  3.  Issues related to creation of an export-oriented horticulture industry in Afghanistan.
  4. Issues related to the rehabilitation of existing orchards/vineyards that help regain lost local and global markets.
  5. Issues related to embracing the essence of organic farming pertinent to environmentally sustainable fruits like cherry, apple, peach, nut-trees,  grapes/raisins, olive, pomegranate, vegetables, plants, flowers, and other plants production, processing and marketing for public and private consumption.
  6. Issues related to varieties selection, protection of genetic resources and certification of seeds based on horticultural law.
• Organize stakeholder meetings for presentation of the draft policy document(s) to obtain buy-in and endorsements; and,
• Organize presentations to MAIL senior management and relevant technical directorates and departments within the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).

To succeed in this role you will have:

• Have a university degree in horticulture, plant production and protection; or in a related field;
• 10-15 years experience in the plant production and protection fields including both public sector and private sector responsibilities and provision of services and inputs; value chain development and associated requirements
• Extensive experience in identifying policy matters and formulating and presenting policy papers pertinent to plant production and plant protection in an understandable format.
• Ability to work under pressure including working in a conflict/post conflict area
• Ability to work as member of a team and interact with other programmes and projects
• Working experience in Afghanistan
• Knowledge of the Afghanistan Agriculture sector and particularly plant/horticultural production
• Ability to speak/understand Farsi/Pashto

How to apply: 

If you have what it takes to make a difference, please email your CV to Shanawaz.Abdulrehman@grminternational.comstating ‘Horticultural Policy Advisor– EU - Kabul’ in the subject line.

Deadline for applications: Close of Business 8^th October 2012, Monday