Job Detail

Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to rid the world of landmines and other remnants of war by transforming toxic minefields into thriving farmland and communities, through a focus on sustainable, organic farming practices. Roots of Peace is implementing the 3-year, USAID-funded Agriculture Marketing Program.

AMP Project Description:

The Agriculture Marketing Program (AMP) is a three-year USAID-funded program that follows on the successes of the ten-year USAID Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP). The program works in 12 provinces of Afghanistan, focusing on increasing farm production and domestic sales through interventions aimed at farmers and agribusinesses. During the first two years of the program, AMP worked with leading Afghan processing and export firms to increase export volumes and values, introduce new agricultural products to the market, diversify export markets and increase value-added processing. The program's market-based, demand-driven approach focused on supporting private sector growth and sustainability, thereby creating demand for agricultural products that drive job growth in rural areas. Women are incorporated into all areas of program implementation.

In its final fiscal year of implementation, AMP has pivoted to an approach that addresses food security challenges precipitated by the emerging economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. This approach comprises three key strategies:

1. Connecting Farmers to Domestic Markets
2. Increasing Value-Add of Agriculture Products, Extending Shelf Life of Products
3. Support for Remote Rural Areas

Activities include:

• Increasing farm productivity and food security through Farmer Field Schools and other activities aimed at building farm capacity.
• Expanding the number of agricultural products through value addition and product diversification, such as processed jams and sulfur dried apricots.
• Linking farmers with traders, and traders with buyers in domestic markets, such as through domestic food expos and B2B meetings.
• Building the capacity of agribusinesses to maximize output and quality for domestic markets.
• Supporting initiatives such as improved post-harvest handling infrastructure for traders, including packing houses, cold storage, and improved packaging.
• Addressing important supply chain and trade impediments that restrict the sale of high value agriculture products.

AMP works primarily with private sector agribusinesses, farm producers and other USAID-funded agricultural programs. Specific attention is given to support the participation of women and youth in AMP activities.

The Sr Grants Specialist is senior person responsible for managing the ROP CBARD grants portfolio and staff. S/he takes the lead in all issues related to grants management for the project and reports to the COP. In coordination with ROP CBARD Procurement and Technical Units, He/she will oversee the design and administration of In-Kind, Simplified and Fixed Amount Award grants. The Grants Unit, under the leadership of the Sr. Grants Manager will be responsible for maintaining records documenting the grant/grantee identification, selection, award and grant administration. The  Sr. Grants Specialist will perform due diligence work to ensure current grants are aligned with donor compliance and make recommendations, as needed.

Task & Responsibilities

• Develop annual strategy for the identification of potential beneficiaries and file management system for the ROP CBARD Grants Unit.
• In coordination with the ROP CBARD Technical units, develop and conduct training workshops in CBARD provinces that outline the CBARD Grant award processes and procedures.
• Maintain and manage grant files/folders (paper and digital) for all CBARD Grants.
• Review and analyze grant budget estimates for allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and consistency.
• Manage and support the grants requirement and implementation for the organization.
• Develop complete grant packages with the required back-up documentation for each grant (i.e., In-kind Grants, Fixed-Award Amount, and combinations of these grants etc.) and obtain the required Contracts Management Services (CMS) and UNDP Approval.
• Draft for review and signature pre- and post-award documents (i.e., grants applications/proposal, contracts, plans/justifications, pre-award).
• Routinely review and verify grantees’ statements of expenditures to ensure the accuracy of sub-grant-related data and assist in preparing spending status for each sub-grantee on a schedule determined by the COP.
• Assist in the preparation/modification of sub-grantee budgets, keeping a track record of any changes during the award period.
• Create correspondence to grant applicants and grantees as necessary.
• Prepare reports and participate in the review of grant applications.
• Request final reports from grantees if reports have not been filed in a timely manner.
• Oversee the preparation and timely submission of grant applications/proposal, contracts amendments, and budget transfers.
• Provide regular updates on the status of implementation of subcontracts to DCOP and COP.
• Other responsibilities and tasks as assigned by Project leadership.