Consultancy on the Extension/Advisory Service Mechanism development – Empowering Rural Economies in Agriculture, EREA programme in Kosovo

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Consultancy on the Extension/Advisory Service Mechanism development – Empowering Rural Economies in Agriculture, EREA programme in Kosovo

Caritas Switzerland is an independent Swiss NGO, engaged in Switzerland and more than 20 countries worldwide, including Kosovo. Our mission is to prevent, combat and sustainably eradicate poverty. To achieve this goal, Caritas employs a policy of equity: we support inclusive communities with opportunities for everyone regardless of their ethnic background, group affiliation or gender. Caritas Switzerland has been working in Kosovo since 1999, focusing on social inclusion, rural development and rehabilitation. Based on the Strategy 2021-2025, our central themes are Income, Climate Change and Migration. Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo is implementing a highly regarded agricultural project which aims at contributing to the socio-economic development of the country by supporting farmers and the sector in income generation and new employment opportunities, funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and Prishtina municipality. In particular, the EREA programme contributes to more sustainable and inclusive market systems by increasing the participation of producers and market actors and enhancing their income and productivity, thus contributing to poverty reduction for rural populations, particularly women and marginalized groups.

The main Objective/Purpose of this assignment is to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the existing agricultural extension services in Kosovo (both public and private), engaging key stakeholders to identify challenges and areas for improvement. This process will include collaboration with programme partners and international benchmarking to develop an innovative model for extension services.

Deliverables and Timeframe

The activity will commence once the contract has been signed by both parties and will end by the end of 30.06.2024. For this activity, the consultancy amount shall not exceed 20`000 € unless negotiated in advance with the EREA Project Manager and approved by the Caritas Switzerland Country Director.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agroeconomics, Public Administration, or other fields relevant to the assignment. Knowledge on climate-smart agriculture or organic agriculture is a plus.
• At least 5 years of experience in advisory/extension service in the agriculture sector.
• Good knowledge in developing strategic action plans for Advisory Services, agriculture projects, rural development, and other strategic development documents.
• Having completed at least three similar assignments, specifically in the field of extension services in agriculture;
• Experience in implementation of projects and programs in the field of implementation of standards and EU’s “acquis” in agriculture and rural development.
• Recognition of the advisory/extension service sector framework of the country and the EU.
• Technical expertise in the field of agriculture sector development, private sector and business development;
• Experience working in Kosovo is an advantage;
• Fluency in English, while knowledge of the official language of Kosovo is an asset.