Agricultural Development Consultant

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country. In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods. Mercy Corps is launching the “Improving Food and Agricultural Systems in the Bekaa (IFAS)” project. The overall objective of the project is providing Sustainable stabilisation of food consumption for vulnerable households impacted by the Syrian crisis.. The project will be implemented in the Beqaa and it is funded by the World Food Programme /WFP for a period of 9 months. It will focus on improving access to food and income opportunities and reducing negative coping mechanisms for targeted households during project implementation. Moreover, it will emphasis on collaborating with market actors within value chains—inputs providers, producers, agro-businesses, and end-buyers—in the agriculture sector to protect the incomes of small and medium producers. In addition, the project will strengthen coping mechanisms of both Lebanese and Syrian households through increased household resource management skills nutrition and food security. Lastly, IFAS will help increase the household cash flow of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian households through cash-for-work activities and also strengthen the agriculture infrastructure in the targeted areas. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: The agricultural development consultant will provide consultancy services to IFAS farmers on vegetable crop plantation and ensure the implementation of the IFAS project. He/she will ensure that the project meets its targets and deliverables on-time and within budget. He/she will closely work with farmers in Bekaa and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps’ policies and donor rules and regulations. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Program Implementation: • Contribute to the farmers selection • Conduct technical and equipment needs assessments • Perform field visits throughout the growing season for insects, diseases, fertility, plant populations, irrigation scheduling, etc. • Recommends proper timing of in-season fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, and foliar product application. • Diagnose agricultural practices throughout the growing season • Makes crop protection products, and seed recommendations SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Project Manager KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: • BS degree in Agricultural engineering or equivalent • Advanced level of understanding of vegetable crop production (minimum 10 years) • Communication skills required, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues • Strong written and oral communication skills in Arabic, including report development, writing and editing • Positive, respectful attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving • Demonstrated attention to detail; ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently as well as cooperatively with team members • Knowledge and understanding of the current political, economic, cultural and historical context of the Beqaa, including prior experience DURATION: Submission guidelines: Applicants are requested to submit the related proposal and the following documents by email to reception@lb.mercycorps.org. submission deadline: May 5, 2016 .Please mention the title “IFAS Agricultural Development Consultant” in the subject of the email. 1) Consultant’s CV 2) List of consultancies conducted in the last three years. Please include: 1. Client name 2. Brief description of services performed 3. Client phone number and email 4. Number of days worked 5. Substantiated daily consulting rate 6. A scan/copy of applicant’s registration at the Ministry of Finance In case applicant cannot provide this document, and is selected for this consultancy, Mercy Corps will deduct the 7.5% services tax imposed by the Ministry from submitted invoices. Payment: In bank checks or wire transfer, after the successful delivery of the service based on monthly invoices and timesheets submitted (to include work days and hours. 8 hours = full day and 4 hours = half a day), with an approved consultant deliverable report. Incidentals, including transportation, per diems and communications costs, will not be covered separately by Mercy Corps, as they should be included in the consultant’s daily rate.