Consultant - Agricultural Engineer (Rmaich)

About Chemonics
Chemonics International is an international development company based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive and more independent lives. Since 1975 we have worked in 149 countries around the world, and currently implement 113 contracts in 68 countries. Our main partner is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), but we occasionally work with foreign donors as well. We have over 600 staff based in our Washington, DC office and over 3000 staff in our project offices around the world.

USAID/Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP)
This 5 year project aims to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence in Lebanon. We’re a regionally based program, based in Beirut with activities in Bekaa, North, and South Lebanon. Chemonics is the sole owner of the Lebanon Community Support Program IDIQ contract. We currently have two Task Orders. Task Order 01 (which covers Operations and Management) and Task Order 02 (covers our technical community support work). We may be awarded more task orders in the future.

1. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct meetings with the mayor, municipal members, head of the cooperatives, individual key farmers; and Lebanese tobacco “REGIE” representatives in the area, to understand the situation of agriculture in general in Rmaich and the tobacco agriculture in specific in Rmaich. (1 day)
• Conduct FGDs with the local community farmers; to understand their farming techniques, norms, habits, and customs. (1 day)
• Conduct a study (Survey) with random sample of local community farmers in addition to the winery owners, to test the ability/willingness/readiness of farmers to switch to an alternative to tobacco leaves farming. (3 days) 
  1. If no, to see why, and how to support them to have more yield. (1 day)
  2. If yes, identify the alternative farming practices and detect the challenges and obstacles hindering the switch to another alternatives, (1 day)
  3. Conduct needed tests or studies to verify the results. Example: (Soil test, water test, …) (1 day)
• Conduct field visits to verify results and to support in creating a clear set of technical requirements for farmers to get more yield, or switch to another agricultural practices. (2 days)
• Report on findings and recommendations; and draw a detailed plan of implementation for the farmers to increase their yield, or switch to tobacco leaves alternatives. (1 day)

2. Specific deliverables:

The engineer will be responsible for providing:

• Detailed action Plan
• Number of hours worked/day
• Copy of the survey to be conducted
• Results Analysis
• MOM of all meetings containing questions to interviewees.
• Final report containing:
  • Summary of all meetings conducted
  • Detailed solution plan (new farming techniques for tobacco farming or alternatives)
  • Detailed draft plan

3. Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; masters preferred, in a relevant area such as agricultural engineer
• At least 5-7 years of relevant experience working in development context
• Previous experience working with local authorities and local farmers
• Ability to analyze details, conduct studies, report, develop, and present recommendations to promote solutions to be implemented by local farmers
• Ability to illustrate technical data and information easily and clearly.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, reasoning skills and ability to articulate logic behind decisions.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.

4. Level of Effort and Period of Performance

This assignment will take place from March 11th to March 26th. The consultant will work on a part-time basis and will be eligible for up to 15 days of LOE during the period of performance.

5. Place of Assignment

Rmaich, Bint Jbeil District, Nabatieh Governorate, South Lebanon.

6. Reporting

The agricultural engineer will report directly to the CSP - Regional Program Manager in South Lebanon.