Horticulture Production Expert

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: 12months renewable contract based on performance

IFA No: P103-035 (Re-advert)

DevelopmentAid, in collaboration with Mott MacDonald, is recruiting on behalf of the Somaliland Development Fund Phase 3 for a Horticulture Development Expert to support the Ministry of Agriculture Development’s Climate Smart Agriculture Project in Sanaag.

The expert will join the Project Management Team and provide technical leadership for climate-smart horticulture activities aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening climate resilience, and improving farmer incomes across the project’s target locations. This is a 12-month position, renewable based on satisfactory performance.

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).

Under SDF3, the Joint Steering Committee has approved the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Project in Sanaag, which seeks to transform subsistence farming into resilient, inclusive, and market-oriented agricultural systems. Targeting 4,500 households in Erigavo and El-Afweyn districts, the project will promote climate-smart infrastructure, drought-tolerant crops, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), solar-powered irrigation, cooperative development, and value chain strengthening.

To support implementation, SDF seeks to recruit a Horticulture Production Expert to join the Climate Smart Agriculture Project Management Team (PMT) in accordance with the approved project proposal and the SDF3 Operational Guidelines (September 2025). The Expert will provide technical leadership for climate-smart horticulture interventions aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and farmer incomes across the seven target locations. The SDF Secretariat therefore invites qualified professionals to apply for this position.

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.