Agriculture Technical Assistant (National only ) At Norwegian Refugee Council

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes & beliefs guide our actions and relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Role and responsibilities

The Norwegian Refugee Council in Iraq is looking for a Ramadi-based Project Assistant for field implementation of agricultural livelihoods programming. This role focuses on providing support to agricultural value chains, technical training for farmers, and strengthening linkages between crop producers and local markets.

The South Area Office portfolio currently focuses on integrated livelihoods, legal assistance, and education programming. Livelihoods interventions include agriculture and water infrastructure rehabilitation combined with material and capacity support to farmers and business owners, and emergency cash assistance in areas with immediate needs. The legal assistance programme entails information, counselling, and legal assistance to individuals and households on legal civil documentation as well as housing, land and property rights issues. NRC’s education projects entail material support to schools, rehabilitation of key educational infrastructure, and capacity building of teachers, including in addressing children’s psycho-educational needs.

Generic responsibilities

Ensure adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines.
Implement delegated Livelihoods project portfolio according to plan of action.
Prepare and develop status reports as required by management.
Ensure proper filing of documents.
Ensure that projects target beneficiaries most in need, and explore and asses new and better ways to assist.
Promote and share ideas for technical improvement.

Specific responsibilities

Support in community sensitization and awareness raising of project activities in targeted communities.
Conduct registration of beneficiaries for the agriculture support, markets, and skills development components of the Agriculture livelihoods project.
Ensure that the most vulnerable beneficiaries are selected in line with the approved beneficiary selection criteria.
Conduct data collection activities where assessments such as market assessments, price monitoring, crop harvest assessment etc. are done
Support in the distribution of in-kind assistance, direct cash or cash vouchers to selected beneficiaries and monitor utilization of the items distributed.
Follow up on all beneficiaries regularly to ensure that they implement activities in line with the schedules provided.
Supervise and or support training of beneficiaries e.g. business management, vocational skills training, agriculture extension training.
Participate in the preparation of weekly and monthly plan and schedules to be submitted to the immediate supervisor within given deadlines;
Actively promote community participation in project activities with particular attention to gender representation in all activities;
Prepare and submit reports and other updates as required
Support with referrals to other NRC sectors or through external referral mechanisms

Any other tasks required by the line manager

QUALIFICATIONS

2. Competencies

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

1. Professional competencies

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

Generic professional competencies

2-3 years’ experience of working Experience from working as a Project Assistant in a humanitarian/recovery context
Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
Some knowledge of English

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience

A degree in either agronomy, crop science, animal production, agricultural science, agricultural systems and management, veterinary science, agribusiness or other related fields.
Experience conducting beneficiary identification, verification and registration.
Experience supporting referrals and/or identifying service providers.
Knowledge of local agricultural practices and value chains
Understanding of principles of crop farming and livestock management
Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical and negotiation skills.
Overall good knowledge of geography, local population and local language in the areas of operational interests.
Previous experience working in cash and Livelihood Programme at a non-governmental organization (NGO).
Fluency in Arabic both spoken and writing.
Competencies in all computer related tasks including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Good understanding of community participation, and very good ability to communicate with beneficiaries.
Ability to manage high/low workload depending on emergencies.
Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision in a challenging environment.

2.2 BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:

Communicating with impact and respect
Planning and Delivering Results
Empowering and building trust
Handling insecure environments

2.3 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the NRC Performance Management Manual. The below documents are used for performance reviews: