Background and Partner Organization

SHEN NGO is an important player, facilitator and guarantor of quality: over the past 25 years, the NGO has established the concept of organic agriculture, organic agriculture laws and national criteria for organic agriculture, as well as a Master’s Degree Program in organic agriculture at the Armenian National Agrarian University.

SHEN NGO, which means „prosperous village”, particularly focuses on creating vibrant communities, for example, by strengthening skills and employment, community-based organizations and agricultural cooperatives, and by improving infrastructure and market access.

Based on the above successes in spreading organic agriculture, SHEN NGO is motivated to digitalize it.

Already, a pilot project transferring real-time weather data to smartphones and computers has been successful: farmers and cooperatives have been able to anticipate and respond to weather events such as hail, floods and drought. Equally well received was information on plant diseases and pest control.

SHEN NGO is looking for an international professional for the follow-up of the above mentioned pilot project and further pilot projects, e.g. for methods of cropping, time of planting, pricing, nutrition, small livestock breeding.

The position is located in Yerewan, headquarters of SHEN NGO, Armenia.

Job Scope

At SHEN NGO, you will contribute to the establishment, further development, implementation and management of agroforestry projects by analysing the need for further training of colleagues and strengthening their skills through creative workshops. In cooperation with universities, you will contribute to the capacity development of knowledge/skill building in agroforestry. You will contribute to the conceptualisation of innovative agroforestry projects and the development of a national and international agroforestry network.

In particular, you are responsible for the following:

Support in planning, establishing and managing agroforestry systems, designing plots and selecting species
Implementation of water management and erosion control concepts
Needs analysis to strengthen the expertise of colleagues
Conception, organisation and implementation of on-the-job training/workshops
Designing learning materials for the adaptation of agroforestry systems
Establishing a national and international network for the protection and restoration of forest landscapes, for example together with local partner organisations of SHEN and associations
Supporting alliances and cooperation, e.g. for the identification of needs, including through the organisation of round tables with relevant stakeholders from science, ministries and public administration as well as civil society, e.g. non-governmental organisations
Supporting the policy and strategy development of state actors in the areas of forests and biodiversity

Profile

Master’s degree in agriculture/horticulture/forestry or Bachelor’s degree in agriculture/agriculture/forestry
Work experience in the development and management of agroforestry projects
Knowledge of agroforestry concepts
Very good knowledge of English
Intercultural communication skills and sensitivity
Enjoy promoting colleagues through collegial counselling/workshops
Openness for social integration into the culture of Armenia and for business

Please note that citizenship of a Member State of the European Union or Switzerland is a formal requirement; also that this vacancy is subject to final approval by the end of March.

Benefits provided by Bread for the World and Dienste in Übersee
Bread for the World provides a framework in which the professionals of Dienste in Übersee share their knowledge and skills with people of another culture.

Supportive cooperation, mutual learning and intercultural exchange are enabled by: