Details of Agronomy Assistant

Job Summary

The Agronomy Assistant will play a crucial role in ensuring the effective and timely implementation of agricultural activities and related tasks in the IR Somaliland office as directed by IRS management. The Agronomy Assistant will report to the Senior BM Officer, who is based in Hargeisa, and will work closely FS-Livelihood Officer, WASH officer, and Logistics, Finance, Admin, HR, and other team members.

The primary responsibility of the Agronomy Assistant is to ensure that all agricultural activities and other Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) related tasks are implemented at the highest technical level. This will require the agronomy Assistant to possess a strong knowledge and experience of agronomy and related fields, and the ability to apply this knowledge to project implementation at project target sites.

Scope of Role

·  The Agronomy Assistant is responsible for the implementation of all agricultural activities in the IRS project of Somaliland, specifically in the Marothi Jeh region.

Key Responsibilities

•          Develop and implement agricultural projects to improve crop production and soil health in alignment with Islamic Relief's objectives and timelines.
•          Provide technical guidance to farmers on best practices for growing crops, managing soil and water, and preventing pests and diseases.
•          Monitor agricultural projects to ensure all activities are conducted according to industry standards and produce intended outcomes.
•          Assess farmers' needs and current practices to develop strategies for boosting yields and incomes in a sustainable manner.
•          Support formation of farmer cooperatives and training on modern techniques.
•          Advice the team in construction of green houses technology with installation of drip irrigation technology
•          Design demonstrations of innovative crops and methods and train farmers.
•          Advise on cultivation of staple crops, vegetables, fruits and fodder.
•          Assist farmers in post-harvest handling and marketing of produce.
•          Help communities set up effective water user groups.
•          Contribute to environmental and social impact assessments of projects.
•         Coordinate training programs for farmers on agriculture and disaster risk reduction.
•          Collaborate with government experts and researchers to ensure project success.
•          Monitor progress regularly and submit reports to management.
•          Ensure all activities respect humanitarian principles and do no harm

Collaboration:

•          Work closely with other team members, partners, and local authorities to promote sustainable agriculture and community development.
•          Represent Islamic Relief in meetings, workshops, and events related to agronomy and agriculture.

Budget Management:

•          Assist in the preparation of budgets for agronomy-related activities.
•          Monitor expenses and ensure cost-effective use of resources.

·         Community Mobilization and Beneficiary Selection

•          Carry out community mobilization and sensitizations on cash transfer, agriculture input, and other livelihood distributions.
•          Assist the Business Development officer and FSL Officer in identification of direct project beneficiaries in collaboration with local community representatives and stakeholders.
•          Manage beneficiary selection, registration, and verification through the Electronic Beneficiary Management system (EBMS).

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

·         Assist in collecting and analyzing data on crop production, soil fertility, and other relevant topics.

•          Participate in project monitoring and evaluation processes.
•          Collect and analyze data on agricultural activities to measure impact and effectiveness.
•          Prepare reports and documentation on progress, challenges, and lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders
•          Prepare and submit regular activity plans and reports to the Senior BM Officer.
•          Representation and Coordination with Stakeholders
•          Represent Islamic Relief in project-related meetings and knowledge-sharing events when delegated.
•          Participate in assessments and data collection for planning and project proposals.
•          Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in the community to ensure services are not duplicated.

·         Accountability and Transparency

•          Work independently on tasks related to beneficiary registration and mobilization, with periodic reporting to the supervisor.
•          Ensure proper management of resources, equipment, and project utilities.
•          Adhere to IR's policies and procedures.
• 
  Core Values
•          In this position, you are expected to demonstrate IR's five core competencies:
•          Sincerity (ikhlas): Driven and motivated by sincerity to God and duty to humanity.
•          Excellence (ihsan): Committed to excellence in operations, programs, and conduct towards vulnerable people.
•          Compassion (rahma): Focused on easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty, and injustice.
•          Social Justice (adl): Empowering poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and achieve their potential.
•          Custodianship (amana): Valuing and protecting the Earth and its resources, including people, and being transparent and accountable.

Skills and qualifications

o   At least bachelor’s degree in community development, Social Work, Business Administration, Social Science, agricultural science, agronomy or any other related discipline.

o   Minimum of 2 years work experience in Humanitarian work in the INGO/LNGO and UN environment, including exposure to field operations in both emergency and development programs based on cash transfer programming.

o   Strong reports writing skills.

o   Proficiency in computer applications including Word, excel, power point and other applications.

o   Proficiency in English (Written and spoken) is essential.

o   Good IT skills.  Knowledge of Microsoft Office Word and Excel is essential

How to apply

Islamic Relief Somalia/Somaliland Program is inviting applications from qualified and motivated candidates. If you are interested please submit your updated CV and cover letter as a single PDF document (maximum 3 pages) to hr.mogadishu@islamic-relief.so  on or before 19th March 2025.

Apply to  hr.mogadishu@islamic-relief.so