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Country: Afghanistan
Region and duty station: Kabul (Badam Bagh) and others
Project / assignment duration: 4 months in two assignments, tentatively  end of February – April 2010, August -September 2010
Estimated project start: Ongoing since May 2006
Short project description:
The unique focus of the EU-Perennial Horticulture Development Project is on the production of planting materials to replant and extend the area of perennial horticulture crops in Afghanistan.
The project has five main outputs, one of which is the setting up of a national germplasm collection for perennial fruits and nuts in Afghanistan. The varieties and clones in this germplasm collection are being assessed for their agronomic traits and market acceptance and will be the basis for the education of the extensionists and the farmers about the best varieties, the best growing techniques, and the best production and harvesting methods.
During 2006-2009, the project collected virtually all the commercially propagated fruit and nut varieties in the country as well as a range of imported varieties. Altogether 956 in situ accessions have been identified and ex situ collections have been established for almost all species, with the remaining apple, pear and cherry national collections to be planted out by the end of February 2010.
The germplasm collections are held at six regional research stations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).  The whole or parts of the stations working on the perennial horticulture crops are designated as Perennial Horticulture Development Centres (PHD Centres), and also include work on adaptive research, and training and extension. (see also www.afghanistanhorticulture.org)

Job description:
The horticultural expert, shall, with the cooperation of the project team, and by providing leadership to the appropriate local Afghan specialists mainly by:
* Providing technical leadership to six field horticulturists who manage the six Perennial Horticulture Centres
* Ensuring provision of facilities for adaptive research at PHD Centres.
* Turning the germplasm variety collections and demonstration orchards into a reference centre for perennial fruit crops.
* Training the core staff in orchard and business management matters and in technical matters on crop husbandry, such as pruning, trellising, growing system, irrigation, fertilizer application
* Preparing training material and ensure that already available training material will be evaluated and, if needed, adjusted and incorporated.
* Preparing seminars and disseminate the results of the national variety collections and demonstration orchards.
* Providing support at the PHD centres for the implementation of the project strategies for the development of the nursery industry.
* Reporting on all activities in accordance with the Requirement of the client and as indicated by the TL
* Coordinating all activities with other members of the Project Team and Partners

Detailed requirements
Education: Master in Horticulture, or similar with a specialisation in horticulture
Country/Regional experience: Preferably Central Asia, South- or East Asia
Languages: English fluent in writing and speaking
Expertise/Profile:
Hands-on experience in the development and implementation of germplasm collections and demonstration farm for fruit trees as Grapes, Apricots, Peaches, Almonds, Apples, Citrus, Pomegranate, Walnut, Fig and others.
Others: Travel to the Perennial Horticulture Centres will be undertaken only if the security situation allows such and with the necessary precautions.

Contact
Please contact vacancies(at)aht-group.com to express your interest and to send your CV. For further information and direct contact, please call Mr. Servi Nabuurs, tel.: +49 201 2016-284.