Vacancy for the post of Manager at Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, India

Job Title: Manager Livelihood (Agriculture & Allied), Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)

Location: Bihar

Organization’s profile:

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme – India (A programme of the Aga Khan Development Network) is a non-denominational, non political, non government organization working for the development of rural areas in Gujarat since 1984. In year 2004, AKRSP(I) expanded to Madhya Pradesh and commenced operations in Bihar in year 2008. With a mission ‘to enable the empowerment of rural communities and groups, particularly the under-privileged and women, to take control over their lives and manage their environment, to create a better and more equitable society’, AKRSP(I) currently has its presence in 3 states, 18 districts, 46 blocks reaching out services and inputs to 1,64,000 beneficiary households.

Poverty in Bihar is multi structural and multi dimensional:

1. Bihar’s per capita income is $94 a year against India’s average $225
2. A total of 46% live below poverty line against India’s average of 26%
3. The vast majority of share croppers in Bihar are either small and marginal farmers or landless
4. Only 47% are literate against India’s 65%
5. As many as 22 out of 38 districts are flood prone

To address this complex and severe poverty situation, AKRSP(I) developed a multi dimensional approach called MIAD (multi input area development approach) to improve quality of life indicators by providing inputs and services for increasing access to quality education and health, skill development, agriculture and allied activities, micro finance, water and sanitation, access to green energy and institution building, in Muzaffarpur and Samastipur districts of Bihar. As a part of its efforts to promote livelihoods through strengthening of agriculture and allied services, AKRSP(I) has pioneered an innovative system of organic agriculture called Amrit Krishi, with a special focus on organic vegetable cultivation. In addition, livestock development (goatery and dairy) and fishery are also a part of AKRSP(I)’s on-farm livelihood development programme.

To provide impetus to its on-farm livelihood promotion initiatives, AKRSP(I) is seeking a committed and visionary manager with multi disciplinary experience in agriculture, dairy, goatery and fishery/aquaculture, and a passion to work in rural Bihar.

Job Description:

The role

1. Establishing linkages for strengthening the ongoing organic agriculture and fishery activities.
2. Developing risk reduction strategies by promoting micro irrigation schemes for small and marginal farmers.
3. Developing strategies for goatery and dairy development.
4. Establishing market linkages for agriculture, goatery, dairy, and fishery.
5. Linking up with government departments at state level
6. Writing proposals for obtaining sanctions under various government schemes
7. Networking with other NGOs and agencies to improve sectoral sharing of knowledge
8. Providing training to spearhead teams (SHT)
9. Providing monitoring inputs to spearhead teams (SHT) to strengthen activities and develop new implementation areas
10. Overseeing farmer enrollment
11. Developing institutional structures for benefiting small and marginal farmers
12. Overseeing events such as Kisan Mela, AGM, BOD meetings, BOD training
13. Analyzing regular and periodic MIS and reports, and providing inputs to SHT
14. Identifying research and documentation areas
15. Developing appropriate IEC
16. Ensuring on-time donor reporting

Eligibility:

Qualification: Pre-requisite

1. BSc in Agriculture with 8 years of multidisciplinary experience in promoting livelihoods through agriculture and allied activities
2. Strong presentation and information management abilities
3. An effective trainer
4. Passion for working in rural Bihar
5. A keen ability to make agriculture and allied activities remunerative for the poorest of the poor.

Desirable

1. High levels of compassion and empathy for small and marginal farmers, and the landless to improve their quality of life.
2. Keen desire and ability to frequently travel to remote tolas to understand the situation of poor / underprivileged households.

How to apply: shweta_sonbhadra(at)rediffmail.com

Last date for the application: 18^th Dec, 2013

Reference: Aga Khan Foundation