ABOUT ORGANIZATION:

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF), formerly known as the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), boasts a remarkable 40-year legacy as a Swiss-based not-for-profit organization. Our unwavering commitment centers around a compelling vision: “a world in which smallholders, communities, and nature thrive together.” We deliver demand-led innovations in agriculture, ensuring sustainable market access. Since 2011, our Bangladesh office has spearheaded groundbreaking projects across agriculture, climate change, risk mitigation, carbon offset, nutrition, and rural economic development. These initiatives have positively impacted over a million smallholder farmers through strategic collaborations with local, regional, and international partners.

In July 2024, SFSA Bangladesh underwent a transformative rebranding, emerging as the “Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh (SAF Bangladesh).” As a legacy organization of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, we remain steadfast in our mission “scaling up collective action on markets and innovations so that farming can better serve smallholder families, rural communities, and nature”. Our ongoing and upcoming projects continue to enhance smallholder farming and agrifood systems in Bangladesh. Join us in shaping a sustainable future—one where agriculture thrives, communities flourish, and nature prospers.

ABOUT PROJECT:

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) initiated a project on Nutrition in Secondary Cities, “Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE),” in August 2021. The project is being implemented by a Swiss consortium comprising the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, ETH Zürich, Sight and Life Foundation and Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. Now, the partnership is continued with Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh instead of Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. The goal of the NICE project is to improve the health and nutrition of city populations, with a particular focus on women and youth. It will facilitate multi-sectoral action for nutrition, foster local public-private partnerships, and introduce social business models to strengthen the demand and supply of local, nutritious, agroecological foods. The project is implemented in selected secondary cities in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Rwanda. To learn more, please visit nice.ethz.ch

SAF Bangladesh is looking for a qualified “Project Officer – Agroecology” for the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project.

Number of Position: 01 (One)

Type of Contract: Full term

Location of Posting: Dinajpur with a frequent field visit.

JOB SUMMARY:

Project Officer – Agroecology will work to contribute to smooth operation of overall activities of Nutrition Farmers’ Hub to ensure production and supply of safe and nutritious agroecologically produced food for the targeted beneficiaries in secondary cities. Project Officer – Agroecology will work collaboratively with the Bangladesh team of SAF and partners to meet the needs of Farmers’ Hub for producing agroecological food production, build linkages with forward market for those produces through maintaining network, promote agroprocessing activities through Farmers’ Hub activities, strengthen the city food system and improve access to safe and nutritious food. S/he will work with the Project Manager (NICE) and is also expected to work closely/coordinate with consortium partners on technical matters/inputs.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in mapping geographical location for identification, and selection of Nutrition Farmer’s Hub.
• Facilitate in capacity building of FH owners on organizing farmers for agroecological food production, providing technical assistance and regular monitoring of crop fields.
• Support Implementation Partner (IP) staff and FH to create facilities of input and output market
• Ensuring eHub operation by FH owners.
• Conduct training sessions, meetings with FH owners and farmers.
• Work closely with the respective IPs staff, farmers and farmers group members, local government, private sectors and other stakeholders.
• Represent project activities especially agroecological food production facilitated by FH in different forums.
• Linking demand and supply side as well as facilitating for establishment of urban and rural connection in the aspect of agroecological and nutritious food.
• Work closely with supply chain actors for production and marketing of agroecologically produced food.
• Documentation of significant insights aligned with project objectives.
• Support to any other relevant activities in the role of project manager, including inputs to project communications, and accompanying implementation research.
• Maintain effective liaison with partners and project team to ensure nutrition sensitive agricultural activities and women empowerment.
• Additionally, the incumbent will be responsible to perform any other assignment(s) given by the management of SAF Bangladesh.

RELATIONSHIPS:

S/he will be reportable to the Project Manager and work in close coordination with the teams of other portfolios of SAF Bangladesh.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelor/Diploma in Agriculture and/or Nutrition.
• Incumbent must have at least 02 years of relevant job experience with reputed NGO/ INGO and donor-funded agriculture and/or value chain development project and Nutrition.
• Experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments with an understanding of the local, regional and national landscape and efforts to improve nutrition.
• Experienced and skilled in facilitating & dealing with partner staffs, farmers groups, and nutrition sensitive agriculture aspect.
• Experienced in collecting field data and prepare project documents;
• Basic computer skills in MS Office, MS Excel and emailing;
• Good written and oral communication skills in English and Bangla;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work in a team; and maintain the targets and deadlines, and
• Ability and willingness to drive motorcycle and must have a valid driving license.

An attractive salary package will be offered according to the organization policy.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTION:

Only those who meet the above requirements are requested toemail CV (maximum 4 pages), one recent passport size photograph and Motivational letter with competency related to job circular to the procurement.safb@gmail.com mentioning the position applied on the subject line by 4, August 2024.

APPLY NOW

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
SAF Bangladesh is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be treated according to the merit and with strict confidentiality.