Agriculture & Livelihood Officer Verified listing

This role is part of the "Integrated Climate Risk Management for Strengthened Resilience to Climate Change in Buner and Shangla Districts" project, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as the Accredited Entity, with Muslim Hands as the implementing partner.

Component 2 of the project focuses on increasing climate resilience through local adaptation plans and diversified livelihoods. A central pillar of this component is strengthening the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in Buner District through Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), alternative livelihood options, and sustainable natural resource management.

The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will liaise with the Agriculture Department to assess alternative livelihoods and Climate-Smart Agriculture potential in the target Union Councils (UCs) of Buner District, and identify the tools required for implementation — ensuring livelihood interventions are context-specific and evidence-based.

The role will also support the design and delivery of agriculture and livelihood activities under the project, in alignment with WFP and GCF requirements, national climate adaptation priorities, and the project's Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) commitments.

The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will be responsible for the assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring of agriculture and livelihood interventions under the project in Buner District. This role is central to ensuring that vulnerable communities, particularly smallholder farmers, women, and marginalized groups, have access to context-specific, climate-resilient livelihood opportunities that enhance their adaptive capacity and long-term resilience.

Livelihood and Climate-Smart Agriculture Assessment
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will liaise with the Agriculture Department and other relevant line departments (Livestock, Irrigation, Forest, On-Farm Water Management, Social Welfare) to assess alternative livelihoods and Climate-Smart Agriculture potential in the target Union Councils of Buner District.

He will lead the conduct of rapid livelihoods assessments, market analyses, and value chain studies to identify viable, climate-resilient livelihood options suited to the local agro-ecological and socio-economic context. He will identify the tools, inputs, equipment, and technical support required for the implementation of identified livelihood interventions, ensuring that all recommendations are context-specific, evidence-based, and aligned with the project's logical framework and GCF adaptation objectives.

He will also contribute to the identification and selection of beneficiaries for on-farm and off-farm livelihood activities, ensuring inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

Design and Implementation of Climate-Smart Agriculture Activities
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will provide technical assistance to the project team in designing and implementing on-farm and off-farm activities, including Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, off-season and homestead gardening, crop improvement, seed bank development, soil health management, organic fertilizer production, fodder preservation, and climate-smart livestock management.

He will support the establishment of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for both male and female farmers, develop session plans, organize meetings with community lead farmers, conduct training sessions, and prepare FFS reports.

He will supervise the establishment of climate-resilient demonstration plots, community seed banks, homestead gardens, and off-season gardens in target villages, ensuring these serve as practical learning and demonstration sites for the wider community.

He will also support the development of guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Climate-Smart Livestock Management, ensuring compliance with national and international sector standards and best practices, and with WFP and GCF technical guidance.

Coordination with Line Departments and Stakeholders
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will engage proactively with government line departments, including Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, Forest, On-Farm Water Management, and Social Welfare, as well as private sector organizations, research institutions, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to establish and operationalize Knowledge and Business Hubs at the district level.

He will organize and participate in quarterly district-level coordination meetings to provide ongoing technical support for project climate adaptation activities and to ensure alignment with government priorities and systems. He will coordinate with line departments and academia for research activities, finalization of reports, and dissemination at relevant forums, and will foster working relationships with relevant government and non-governmental agencies to leverage resources and maximize impact.

He will also coordinate with technical service providers and private sector institutes to support skills training and market linkages for project beneficiaries, in close collaboration with the Business Hub and the Training Coordinator.

Support to Nature-based Solutions and Community Infrastructure
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will provide technical support for the planning, design, and implementation of small- to medium-scale Nature-based Solutions (NbS) infrastructure and climate adaptation activities, such as flood retention walls, infiltration basins, terraces, check dams, watershed management, irrigation channels, afforestation, and bioretention swales, in coordination with the Project Manager and relevant technical specialists.

He will ensure that these interventions are technically sound, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the project's ESS commitments, and that they contribute directly to the resilience of agricultural livelihoods and community assets in Buner District.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will collaborate with the MEAL & Reporting Officer to develop technical tools for monitoring and evaluating climate adaptation and livelihood activities, ensuring that data is gender, age, and disability-disaggregated. He will monitor project outcomes related to agriculture and livelihoods, facilitate cross-learning of best practices, and contribute to the preparation of case studies and success stories for the project.

He will provide technical input for needs assessments, context analyses, baselines, reviews, and evaluations, and will contribute high-quality inputs on agriculture and livelihood progress, successes, and challenges to project reports for WFP and GCF, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. He will ensure that all reporting incorporates updates on Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) compliance and gender-disaggregated results.

Capacity Building and Community Engagement
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will support the capacity building of project staff, Social Mobilizers, and community members on Climate-Smart Agriculture, livestock management, and sustainable livelihood practices, in close coordination with the Training Coordinator.

He will deliver training sessions, demonstrations, and field days for farmers and community members, with particular attention to ensuring the meaningful participation of women and marginalized groups. He will support the formation and strengthening of Farmer Field Schools (male and female) and will work with community lead farmers to ensure the sustainability of climate-resilient agricultural practices beyond the project period. He will also support the mentorship of female farmers and women's groups in climate-smart agriculture and livelihood diversification.

Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Safeguarding
The Agriculture & Livelihood Officer will ensure that all agriculture and livelihood interventions are designed and implemented in line with the project's Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) commitments, ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups have equitable access to project benefits.

He will support the development of strategies to enhance women's participation in climate-smart agriculture, livelihood diversification, and market linkages, and will ensure compliance with Muslim Hands' and WFP's safeguarding, PSEA, and child protection policies in all project activities.

• The candidate must hold a Master's or Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Climate Change, Livelihoods Development, Agribusiness, Rural Development, or a related field. He must have at least 5–7 years' relevant experience in climate resilience programmes, climate adaptation, Climate-Smart Agriculture, food security, and livelihoods programming, preferably with an INGO or UN agency.
• He must have proven expertise in Climate-Smart Agriculture, Nature-based Solutions, Farmer Field Schools, and sustainable livelihood interventions.
• He must have demonstrated experience in conducting livelihoods assessments, market analyses, and value chain studies, and in identifying context-specific livelihood opportunities.
• He must have experience in multi-stakeholder engagement with government line departments and private sector entities, and familiarity with Pakistan's climate policies, DRR frameworks, and early warning systems. He must have strong planning, decision-making, leadership, and networking skills, and experience in donor reporting and PM&E mechanisms.
• Excellent computing skills, including proficiency in Excel, Word, and email, are required. Fluency in English and Urdu is required; proficiency in Pashto and other local languages is an advantage. The candidate must demonstrate adherence to Muslim Hands and WFP policies, and a commitment to equal opportunity, gender equality, and equity.

Key Competencies

The candidate must possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong decision-making capacity.

He must have the ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines. He must have strong interpersonal, facilitation, and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities, government counterparts, and private sector partners. He must demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding, PSEA, gender equality, and inclusion.

He must have the ability to work independently and in a multicultural team environment. Cultural sensitivity and understanding of local dynamics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are essential. Willingness and ability to travel frequently to remote villages across Buner District, including overnight stays as required, is essential.

Muslim Hands maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and unequal power dynamics and is fully committed to equity, inclusion, and safeguarding (PSEA). As part of our Safeguarding Policy, all applicants must present a valid CNIC and proof of qualifications/experience at the time of the test/interview.

Muslim Hands has a ZERO-tolerance policy on the prevention of Physical and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Safeguarding, and child protection/GBV, which is part of MH code of conduct and Ethics. As part of the application process, all candidates must complete and submit a Self-Declaration of Criminal Convictions Form (attached with this Job Description).

We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all qualified individuals, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organization.

If this role aligns with your skills and values, we encourage you to apply by submitting a detailed CV and a cover letter. Please note that we will contact only shortlisted candidates. We reserve the right to close the recruitment process early and make appointments before the closing date.