Capacity Building for Results (CBR)

Vacancy No: ARTF/GDPDM/CBR/142/12/2013

Post title: Director, Private Sector Development

Grade: 2

Employer: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL)

Duration: 3 Years (Extendable)

Location: Kabul

Contract Type: National

Announced Date: 17/12/2013

Closing Date: 14/1/2014

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock

The establishment of strong state institutions at central and sub-national levels capable of achieving measurable improvements in the delivery of services of all Afghans is at the core of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). The Government’s Public Administration Reform (PAR) strategy encompasses a range of reforms needed to achieve this objective, including financial and economic management and civil service reform. A core element of this strategy is to continue with capacity building within the civil service so as to create a modern, well functioning and affordable administration. Reforms underway include the restructuring of ministries and other government bodies and introducing changes in the way human resources are mobilized and managed.
The long-term nature of the tasks ahead is recognized. In the interim, government policy is to recruit highly qualified persons at higher levels of remuneration than those presently available within the civil service. This is necessary in order to compete with the salaries and benefits paid to national staff by international organizations already working in country, as well as to make it possible for expatriate Afghans with relevant managerial experience to return to contribute their skills at home.
The Independent Administrative Reform Civil Service Commission Capacity Development Secretariat (IARCSC-GDPDM) has been occupied with several programmes aimed at channeling the available resources. With assistance from Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) an Afghanistan-based lateral entry programme (LEP) has been operating, as also an Afghan Expatriate recruitment programme (AEP). A Capacity for Afghan Public Service (CAP) programme has added to the flow with assistance from the European Union and UNDP. The Capacity Development Secretariat is responsible implementing all of these programmes, including now its flagship Management Capacity Programme (MCP) from 2007 till 2012 and now it is flagship Capacity Building for Result (CBR).
The Capacity Building for Results (CBR)
Capacity Building for Results “CBR” is an Afghan led reform and capacity building program, funded through Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) under the Afghan National Budget.
The CBR aims to assist the government in improving the capacity and performance of select line ministries in carrying out their mandates and delivering services to the Afghan people through National Priority Programs. This will be achieved through the implementation of specific capacity and institution building programs, which include systematic monitoring of and reporting on results. All line ministries can participate in the CBR, while the level of support is based on results.
The CBR facility has four inter-related components:
I. Technical Assistance Facility for the Preparation and Implementation of Capacity Building Programs: line ministries will lead and be responsible for developing and implementing holistic reform plans, with some targeted TA support.
II. Building Human Capacity: line ministries will receive funding to recruit, pay and manage skilled national staff which will be part of the line ministry’s civil service. A feature of CBR will be the creation of a senior civil service cadre, along with the training of several hundred management interns, to become future civil service managers.
III. Civil Service Training: custom made public administration management training programs will be developed and offered for civil servants to ensure their have the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver Ministry’s mandate.
IV. Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation: CBR program coordination, evaluation and monitoring will be conducted through two Project Support Units based in the Ministry of Finance and IARCSC. World Bank will facilitate and supervise the delivery of the program as the ARTF administrator.
CBR program will be managed by the Ministry of Finance and Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Services Commission and it will be supervised by a Steering Committee which is composed from the Minister of Finance and the Chairman of IARCSC. Line Ministries will get support from CBR program against their progress on reforms and indicative results. CBR program will be coordinated with all current on-budget and off-budget technical assistances which are being provided to the Line Ministries to improve the synergism and avoid from duplication.
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) was established 90 years ago. Following almost three decades of turmoil, war, droughts and a dramatic increase in opium production MAIL’s mandate is to restore Afghanistan’s licit agricultural economy by assisting women and men farmers to increase production and productivity ; to manage and protect Afghanistan’s natural resource base for sustainable growth; to improve rural agricultural infrastructure and irrigation systems; and to expand agricultural markets and develop human resource capacity. The goal is to reduce poverty throughout Afghanistan and assure food security for all. Thus the new direction for agriculture growth is anchored in increased productivity focusing on agricultural products that have a comparative advantage through various value chain approaches.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is one of the keysectoral ministries of the Afghan government. Following almost three decades of turmoil, war, drought and a significant increase in opium production, MAIL’s current mandate is to restore Afghanistan’s licit agricultural economy by assisting farmers, both men and women, to increase production and productivity[1]; to manage and protect Afghanistan’s natural resource base for facilitating sustainable growth; to improve rural agricultural infrastructure and irrigation systems; to expand agricultural markets and develop human resource capacity. Its overall goal is to reduce poverty throughout Afghanistan and assure food security for all. Accordingly, the renewed direction for agriculture growth is anchored in increased productivity and a focus on agricultural products that have comparative advantages through appropriate value chain development approaches.

Overall Purpose of the Position:

Ensure adherence to the National Agricultural Development Framework (NDAF) Implementation Principlesthrough activities ofthe Private Sector Development Directorate, and contribute to and support the continued development of the policy framework for private sector development in Afghanistan.The NDAF places the Ministry in charge of policy and strategy and the legal and regulatory framework, and makes MAIL the key decision-making and supervisory body for the agriculture sector. This clarification releases MAIL from its former role as main implementing party in the sector.

The aim of the Ministry is also toenable the private sector to lead the agriculture and agri-business development, and to bring about a market-oriented agriculture system with MAIL playing the role of a policy-making and an oversight entity with some involvement in the research, extension and development in areas where the private sector is weak. In the long-term, some of the current services provided by the Government will be transferred to the private sector, from direct action to removing constraints, while continuing to play a key oversight and administrative role.While the Ministry is assuming to address interventions in the coming years with a public-sector approach, responsibilities will be increasingly shifted to private sector actors, e.g. cooperatives, farmers’ organizations, agriculture depots, farm mechanization centers, research consultants, agribusinesses, investors, and so on. This will provide the basis for the government to reduce its focus on on-field activities and assume a more policy-driven and regulatory role within the agriculture sector.

Furthermore, relevance and impact, efficiency and sustainability require that agricultural development be driven by local consumer needs and market demand, adapting to Afghanistan’s changing conditions and agro-ecological, social and cultural diversity. The incumbent will therefore be required to respond to demand driven, diverse and flexible operational requirements.

This position is being recruited as part of MAIL’s Capacity Building for Results reform program. The CBR program is an ambitious, whole of ministry reform effort which aims to improve significantly the delivery of MAIL’s mandate, through institutional strengthening and capacity building.

Staff recruited through the CBR program are expected to be reform orientated, proactive and engaged to enable the ministry to better deliver its mandate. They will need to be results focused and prepared to lead the efforts of the ministry to meet its CBR targets. As part of the CBR program, CBR recruits will have specialized training and capacity building opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Policy. Assume leadership within MAIL for facilitating the development of the private sector through appropriate policy development and program implementation. The policy in this respect should aim to create an enabling environment for the development of private sector in relation to agriculture.Specific attention should be given to the following areas:

Responsibilities: Facilitate technical support to private sector companies;facilitateaccess to agriculture finance through the Agriculture Development Fund, and catalyzing business-to-business partnerships with farmers, cooperatives and companies within and outside the country;

a)Guidance: To facilitatetechnical assistance to the private sectorin developing ventures for increased value added and greater market access for agricultural products”.

b)Technical Support:To facilitate theprovision of technical and professional consultation services to private investors for enhancing productivity and effectiveness of Afghanistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors.

c)Access to Finance:To facilitate access to agriculture financing through the Agriculture Development Fund and other financial institutions or sources of credit.

d)Oversight:Coordinate, facilitate and monitor the implementation of‘on-budget’ projects related to private sector development.

  1. Coordination. Develop and establish an effective mechanism of coordination with relevantstakeholders, andimprove accessibility and availabilityof agriculturalservicesthroughpublic-private partnerships. Additionally,facilitate and attract private investments, from both nationaland overseas sources, inrelation to the agriculture and livestock sector. More specifically:
  1. Organize annual national andinternational agriculture fairs to promote Afghanistan’s agriculture sector and niche products.
  2. Develop and sustain linkages and partnerships with international businesses through Afghan embassies abroad, foreign embassies based in Kabul, and through a customized mailing list of relevant private sector actors.
  3. Facilitateongoing business-to-business matchmaking between local and international businesses;
  4. Lead the development of an ‘Investment Manual’ to guide foreign and domestic investments inAfghanistanfrominternational and national businesses.
  5. Lead the development of communication and outreachmaterials to promote Afghanistan’sagriculture sector and related agri-business opportunities.
  6. Ensure that all programs and projects supported under multilateral and bilateral funding in the sector adhere to prevailing private sector policies of MAIL.
  1. Capacity Building.Facilitate capacity buildingprograms for private sector investors,and implement necessary reforms and process improvements within the Directoratefor more efficient and effective service delivery. More specifically:

a)Facilitate training of private investors in developing business plans as well as implementing and evaluating projects.

b)Facilitate provision of technical and professional consultationservices to private investors, notably on enhancing productivity and effectiveness of agriculture and livestock projects, including integrated value chain development.

  1. Operations. Ensure conceptual consistency of initiatives aimed at supporting the private withinMAIL’spolicy framework. Additionally, ensure appropriate phasing of activities along the development path, with clear and realistic definition of outcomes and targets, and with each subsequent phase building on the investments, achievements and lessons learnt of previous ones. More specifically:

a)Review and assess initiatives that relate to private sector development to ensure that their operations are in line with relevant laws and regulations.

b)Issue work permits and ensure that agriculture and livestock projects that relate to private sector developmentare effectively registered in MAIL’s MIS database.

c)Control, coordinate and monitor implementation of central and provincial agricultural and livestock projects that relate to private sector development.

  1. Management and Leadership. Lead, plan and evaluate the Private Sector Development Directorate’s strategic action plan and work plans. Prepare the Directorate’s work plan and performance reports for the Director General on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. More specifically:
  1. Develop high-level output, outcome and impact indicators to track progress of PSDD activities and progress towards its overall objective;
  2. Build capacity of civil servants within the Private Sector Development Directorate and improve service delivery to the private sector through formal and informal trainings.
  3. Improve processes for service delivery within the Directorate.

Deliverables:

  1. Well organized annual agriculture fairs with participation from atleast 10 international businesses
  2. Development of an ‘Agriculture Investment Guide’ to support investments in Afghanistan’s agriculture sector
  3. Approved annual work plan with high-level indicators to track progress
  4. Support access to credit for at least 5 business ventures related to Afghanistan’sagriculture sector
  5. ‘On budget’ private sector programs are properly implemented as evidenced by on-time execution rates
  6. A proper mechanism of coordination with loan providers and private investors is established to ensure satisfactory private sector service delivery across the country
  7. Establish an effective and efficient private sector policy model for the expansion of private sector services and to increase collaboration with national and international investors.

Reporting Obligation:

The Private Sector Director shall reportdirectly tothe Director General of Planning and Program Coordination in MAIL

Qualification and Experience:

The minimum eligibility for this position is mentioned in the articles no. 7 and 8 and attachment no. 2 of the Civil Servants Law.

  1. Minimum Education Level:

At least a Bachelor’s degree in Agri business, Management and Economics required though a Master’s Degree in Agri-Business, Economics, and MBA is preferred.

  1. Required Experience (type and duration of experience):

At least 3 years of relevant work experiencein either of the following areas, with a strong preference for candidates with additional years of relevant experience:

  • Experience working forthe private sector in sales and marketing, preferably with aninternational company at senior level, developing marketing strategies and leadingsales;
  • Experience organizing agriculture fairs or similar business-to-business matchmaking events; and
  1. Other Skills:

Proficiency in Dari and Pashto required.Fluency in English is required as job involves dealing with international businesses.Experience using MS office and internet isrequired.

Should have good communication, Coordination, Planning and time management skills.

Notice of Revision:

These terms of reference may be revised subject to operational needs.

Submission Guidelines:

Interested Afghans with the required qualifications and experience can approach to General Directorate of Programs’ design & Management Office Gul Bahar Towar, Shah Mahmood Ghazi Watt, Kabul – Afghanistan (Telephone: 075-2023637, 020 2302976) to collect Application form or can visit or to download the soft copy.
Along with the completed application form, attach only your educational documents (attested by the Ministry of Higher Education) and a copy of Tazkera (National ID).
Only those who submit their applications a long with the requested documents either in hard copy or electronically within the set timeframe are considered for the next phase. Incomplete applications will be disqualified from the process.
Also, Applicants who prefer to apply electronically can send scanned copies of all requested documents, a cover letter clearly mentioning to which position they are applying and the application to applicants from the provinces in Afghanistan may submit hard copy applications to the civil service commission provincial offices or apply electronically as explained.
In all cases applications must be made using the prescribed application form: submissions of curriculum vitae alone cannot be considered.
Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
For more information please contact:
Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Service Commission
General Directorate of Programs’ Design and Management
Gulbahar Tower, Shah Mahmood Ghazi Watt, Kabul – Afghanistan
Telephone: 075-2023637
020 2302976
Email:
Note: Lobbying for a position, whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced. All applications have the right to appeal recruitment decisions if they feel that their applications have not been treated fairly.

[1]The National Agricultural Development Framework places the Ministry in charge of policy and strategy and the legal and regulatory framework, and makes MAIL the key decision-making and supervisory body for the agriculture sector. This clarification releases MAIL from its former role as main implementing party in the sector.