Requisition ID: req52019

Job Title: Agriculture Training Facilitator

Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Al-Raqqa, Syria

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC is seeking a highly motivated Agriculture training facilitator to play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of our agriculture projects. The ideal candidate will be responsible for a diverse range of tasks, including field assessments, beneficiary selection, input distribution, training facilitation, and project monitoring. This role requires strong organizational, communication, and agriculture expertise to ensure the project's success.

The agriculture training facilitator will be an integral part of the Syria response team. This position supports the delivery of agricultural assistance to those affected by the conflict in the target areas of Al-Raqqa.

Responsibilities:

• Engage in field assessments and surveys to design project approaches, target groups, and beneficiary selection criteria.
• Conduct thorough verification and registration processes for farmers in targeted project locations.
• Organize the distribution of agricultural inputs to beneficiaries.
• Contribute to market assessments and vendor verification to enhance project effectiveness.
• Facilitate farmer training sessions, field visits, and engagement through WhatsApp groups.
• Assist the agriculture officer in training coordination, module preparation, and leading agriculture-open day training sessions.
• Contribute to the development of agriculture messages and brochures.
• Conduct frequent field visits to assess crop progress, monitor smart agriculture practices, and collect data from seed multipliers and testers.
• Ensure transparency in accounting, reporting, and documentation of cash assistance and input distribution activities.
• Address questions and concerns from seed testers within WhatsApp groups, offering guidance on agricultural topics.
• Foster engagement by posing challenges and questions for seed testers and multipliers to solve.
• Follow up with seed testers to collect biweekly notes and progress updates, including measurements and crop photos.
• Schedule regular one-on-one check-ins and field visits with seed testers and multipliers.
• Provide constructive feedback on results and data submitted by seed testers.
• Collaborate with safety and security focal points to ensure field activities align with safety protocols.
• Generate weekly and monthly project progress reports.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of all agricultural activities using approved tools.
• Provide data and information for assigned projects in alignment with jointly designed MEAL plans with the MEAL department.

Qualifications

• University degree in agricultural engineering or agriculture studies /institute.
•  1 -2 years of experience related to agricultural projects and in working with international NGOs or local NGOs.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• Arabic is required, while English and Kurdish are desired.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Agriculture Officer.
Position directly supervises: None

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Agriculture assistants
Key Internal Contacts: ERD team (livelihood, CFW and VSLA staff).

Key External Contacts: Community leaders, agriculture council and HAO.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.