Agriculture Specialist

Job Description Role Overview The Agriculture Specialist will be responsible for providing technical expertise in the design, implementation, and evaluation of agriculture-focused projects. The incumbent will lead the assessment of agricultural value chains, farm productivity, and market systems, and contribute to the formulation of evidence-based recommendations through economic and impact evaluation lenses. The role requires a strong understanding of agri-economics, farm systems, sustainable agriculture practices, and livelihood diversification, coupled with hands-on experience in conducting impact assessments, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluations related to the agriculture sector. Key Responsibilities Evaluation Design & Technical Inputs o Lead the design and implementation of impact evaluation studies and baseline/midline/endline surveys for agriculture-related programs. o Define evaluation frameworks aligned with OECD DAC criteria, SDG indicators, and national agricultural development goals. o Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) across productivity, sustainability, income diversification, and climate resilience dimensions. Agri-Economic Analysis o Conduct agri-economic and value chain analysis to assess productivity, profitability, and sustainability of farming systems. o Evaluate cost-effectiveness and socio-economic returns of agricultural interventions (e.g., irrigation systems, FPOs, crop diversification, input support). o Develop models to assess farm-level income, inputoutput ratios, and benefitcost structures. Stakeholder Engagement o Liaise with farmers, producer organizations, government departments, agri-input providers, and financial institutions to gather qualitative and quantitative insights. o Facilitate participatory rural appraisals (PRAs) and focus group discussions with farming communities. Research & Knowledge Generation o Lead secondary literature reviews and prepare thematic notes on agricultural trends, policies, and market linkages. o Generate policy briefs, research papers, and evaluation reports highlighting evidence-backed insights for program improvement. Monitoring & Learning o Support in designing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems for agriculture projects. o Integrate climate-smart agriculture and sustainability indicators within project results frameworks. Required Qualifications & Skills Educational Background: o Master's degree or higher in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Development, Rural Management, or related fields. Experience: o Minimum 710 years of experience in agriculture sector programs, preferably with exposure to evaluation, research, or consulting assignments. o Demonstrated experience in impact assessments, cost-benefit/SROI analysis, or policy evaluations of agriculture and livelihood projects. o Prior experience working with CSR initiatives, multilateral agencies, or government missions (e.g., RKVY, NRLM, NABARD, or World Bank projects) preferred. Technical Competencies: o Strong grasp of agricultural economics, value chains, and farm-level financial modeling. o Knowledge of climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture practices. o Proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, SPSS, STATA, or R) and ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative data. Soft Skills: o Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills. o Strong ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and field partners. o Willingness to travel to rural and remote locations for fieldwork. Desirable Attributes Exposure to agri-enterprise development, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), or agri-finance. Understanding of gender and inclusion aspects in agriculture and livelihoods. Experience in developing knowledge products such as policy notes, best practice documentation, and impact stories.