Horticulture Development Expert – MoAD

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.

 

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.

 

How to apply

 

Interested candidates should send their application (cover letter and CV) to the Somaliland Development Fund Secretariat through e-mail jobs@sdf-secretariat.org. Candidates should indicate in their cover letter how they fit the criteria outlined in the advert. All applications must be received by 26th of January 2026 at 1600hrs East African Standard Time. Applicants should clearly indicate theposition they are applying for in the email subject line. Full Terms of Reference can be accessed on the SDF website through the link: https://somalilanddevelopmentfund.org/opportunities

 

Any attempt by a candidate to influence the outcome of the recruitment process in any way which can be interpreted as canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification from being considered for this position.

 

This role is open to both International and Somaliland nationals

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply