I. Job Context:

ICCO Cooperation is a leading INGO working for securing sustainable livelihoods and justice & dignity for all in Bangladesh since 1972 and also has innovative interventions in more than 42 countries since 1965.

ICCO Cooperation, Salt Farm Texel (SFT) and CODEC   are jointly implementing Salt Solution Project with support of the Netherlands Postcode Lottery (NPL) in coastal districts (Khulna, Bagherhat, Patuakhali, Barguna) of Bangladesh. The aim of the project is to increase the food production of vulnerable farming families by introducing salt tolerant crops and technology, to enhance their food security and income by March, 2020.

The Agriculture officer   is the entry position under this project of ICCO Cooperation will closely work in a harmony with   the technical guidance of Senior Agriculture Officer (SAO). The overall responsibility is to provide   technical supports to project staff and Lead farmers (LFs) intern famers through establishing demos at village level under Khulna project operation areas. More specifically, the position is also responsible to developing or contributing in developing   appropriate training  module(s) & conduct training, contribute in development of IEC materials for Lead farmers and other farmers’ training with SAO, establish demonstration and monitoring performance of research plots as per technical guidelines of SFT, provide technical guidance to the CODEC field staff through regular field visits, regular salinity related data collection and documentation, introduce new variety and technology  for saline soil. Facilitate to linking with market actors for inputs and sales, linkage & collaboration with DAE, SRDI and BARI under operation areas. The position needs to contribute to develop visit plan and accompany visitors as needed.

With the Project Coordinator  of ICCO and  Area Coordinator(s) of CODEC, the Agriculture  Officer  will demonstrate professional coordination, communication and cooperation of  technical aspects in particular and other needs of ICCO in general to  enhance  performance of  implementing partners to meet project DIP are achieved in time with quality in his/her operation area.

• Assist to PNGO & ICCO  to prepare annual project  activity plan particularly  agriculture activities for the assigned region
• Contribute to prepare detail implementation plan (DIP) for ICCO part &  PNGO's in relation to agriculture activity
• Assist in preparing  Program Implementation Guideline (PIG) in relation to agriculture activity

• Assist Agriculture based Technical   training module development, IEC materials for Farmers training (Movie kits, video doc. Rolling stone etc.)
• Assist and Coordinate to organize PNGO staff training organization
• Facilitate PNGO staff training particularly in agriculture components as and when required and provide on job training & technical guidance to CODEC field staff during in regular field visits.
• Assist CODEC field staff   as well as model farmers/Lead farmers during in organizing and facilitating beneficiary training.

• Assist in developing technical  lay- out of the demo plots with technical specification of SFT ( in particular), BARI and SRDI ( in general) , and assist  lead farmers to establish demos.
• Ensure capacity building training for Lead Farmers, Farmers and extension agents to establish demo plots.
• Assist to introduce new technology for water and soil management to cultivate the crops in high salinity area as suggested by SFT and other authentic source like SRDI.
• Ensure salinity related data collection and prepare to send to SFT in regular basis.
• Assist to establish research on water management technique to reduce salinity.
• Visit regularly and monitor producer group meeting to disseminate the experience of demo plots through farmer’s field school.
• Attend and present the major findings in field days, thus to disseminate results and good practices to other farmers who are present in field days.

• Provide Technical Support to the PNGOs staff, beneficiaries and stakeholders to establish demos and extension
•  Facilitate program support for extension of 1:3 strategy (direct farmers’ extension) FFD ( Indirect Farmers’ extension)
• Assist CODEC Field Officers to understand technical aspects of the project activity and SFT data monitoring guidelines through regular field visits.
• Assist to orient project interventions & seeking project needs  to  market actors including collection point establishment and extension agents (Sub Assistant Agriculture Officers)
• Assist PNGO staff to implement collection points for the producer group
• Identify the Input/output market actors of selected Value Chain
• Develop strong linkage with DAE (District & Upazila), research Institutions (BARI, SRDI etc. ) and other    
  service providers in respect to program implementation and contribute in organizing advocacy events/seminar/workshop at regional & national level ;
• Attend/represent ICCO at region level and contribute in different forum like Private sector forum, market development forum, etc. as needed.

• Regularly do field visits, critically monitor to identify technical problems in fields and provide on job training to the field staff.
• Monitor  beneficiary of agriculture production  and Model Farmer selection
• Monitor and visit to demonstration plots of both SFT and local seed plots in a regular way
• Monitor  & visit PNGOs beneficiary training and provide supportive  feedback to improve as needed
• Monitor input purchase and input quality  used for project at field implementation
• Assist in prepare monthly, quarterly and annual program report
  
• Write up case studies and assist PNGOs in writing of case study  & success stories at field level
   and share with others
• Assist in financial aspects including procurement, purchase, taking advance and adjustment as per compliance policy for program event and office running at regions.

• Working days from Sunday to Thursday with 40 hours per week. At least 80% field visits to monitor technical performance of demos and other agriculture/networking/coordination activities going in fields.
• Working in a team concept is a must condition
• This position may be required to work sometimes beyond office hours to comply with organization priority such as visitors, piloting work, emergency responses, annual Audit.
• This position needs to travel & provide technical support for both operation area by field visits.
• Willing to ride motor bike with valid license
• Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor from time to time.
• Assist to implement other projects of ICCO.
• May renewable the contract based on fund availability and performance.

• At least Honors degree on Agriculture from renowned public university;
  
• At least 5 years working experience in agriculture /technology dissemination/farmers training/research/extension/agri-marketing fields and  also were engaged in building technical  capacity  of implementing partners’ field staff;
  
• Skills in developing training module/Training facilitation/establishing demo plots/doing research & piloting on new technical ideas/collaboration & linkage with DAE/BARI/SRDI/Private sector market actors/farmers field schools /advocacy.   
  
•  Working experience in coastal area ( Salt affected lands)  of Bangladesh for agriculture field will be an added preference.
  
• Excellent interpersonal communication skill, problem solving skills, strong value based commitment to right based approach
  
• Good computer skills in MS Office, power-point
  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Bangla, including ability to present the project findings to different audiences.