Horticulture Development Expert

Job description

Invitation for Applications
Country Somaliland
Project Holder Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD)
Project Climate Smart Agriculture in Sanaag Project
Fund Somaliland Development Fund Phase 3
IFA Title Horticulture Development Expert – MoAD
Duration 12 months renewable contract based on performance
IFA No P103-035
The Somaliland Development Fund – Phase 3 (SDF3) covers the period 2025-2028, with the possibility
of a two-year extension. SDF3 aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in
Somaliland while creating increased income and job opportunities, thereby helping to reduce poverty.
SDF3’s ambitions are aligned with NDP3 and reflect the priorities set out in Somaliland Vision 2030.
SDF3 funding is provided by Denmark, Norway and United Kingdom (UK).
The SDF3 Joint Steering Committee has approved the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Project in
Sanaag, which aims to shift subsistence farming to resilient, inclusive, and market-oriented systems.
Targeting 4,500 households in Erigavo and El-Afwein districts, the project will address climate and
market challenges through climate-resilient infrastructure, drought-tolerant crops, good agricultural
practices, integrated pest management, and solar-powered irrigation. Complementary actions will
include capacity building, cooperative strengthening, and value chain development. Guided by a triple
dividend approach, the project seeks to enhance climate resilience, raise farmers’ incomes, expand
market share, and promote social inclusion for women, youth, and marginalized groups.
Following the approval of the project, the SDF intend to recruit a Horticulture Production Expert to
join the Project Management Team (PMT), in accordance with the approved proposal and the SDF3
Operational Guidelines (September 2025). The Horticulture Production Expert will lead climate-smart
horticultural interventions under the project, providing hands-on technical leadership to improve
productivity, resilience, and farmer incomes across seven target locations. The SDF Secretariat therefore invites qualified professionals to apply for this position.

Skills and qualifications

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications and skills
• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Protection, or a
closely related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in facilitation and training skills
• Evidence of experience with Farmer Field Schools.
• Demonstrated excellent command of spoken and written English.
General professional experience
• At least eight years’ experience in climate-smart horticulture, including drip irrigation,
greenhouse systems, and regenerative practices.
• A minimum of five years’ proven experience working on horticulture projects in rural, semi-arid,
or resource-constrained environments.
Specific professional experience
• At least five years’ experience working with farmers or farmer groups on irrigated horticulture
farming involving Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), seed
systems, and post-harvest management.
• At least four years’ hands-on experience in assessment, technical design, training, and
supervision of at least one irrigated horticulture project involving rural farmers within the last
five years.
• Evidence of hands-on experience in production scheduling to align planting calendars with
market demand, and in leading crop yield assessments, including sampling design, data
collection, and statistical analysis in at least one project within the last five years.
• Evidence of competence in horticulture related technical specifications, cost estimates and
selecting agricultural inputs (seeds, bio-pesticides, and fertilisers) that meet Global G.A.P.
standards in at least one project within the last five years.
As part of the selection process, the candidates may be requested to provide examples of verifiable
project reports from their most recent or relevant assignments. Links to reports which are available
online can be provided as a part of the application.