Agronomists possess expertise in various aspects of plant biology, soil science, and environmental management to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of farming operations. The Agronomist directly provide livelihood enhancement training and supports the supervision and management of farmers’ livelihood activities in a diversity of agricultural and livelihood programs that VOSIEDA undertakes. Working under the guidance of the program manager, the agronomist must support farmers to improve the productivity of their fields by improving soil health and nutrition as the key to good plant health. Within this context, the agronomist is expected to: train farmers on good agricultural practices and soil conservation techniques; provide technical support in the preparation of nurseries for raising seedlings; and conduct continuous monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of agricultural production in the counties mentioned above. The agronomist must facilitate the production and dissemination of locally relevant community videos that feature good agricultural practices and nutrition behaviors that maximize the benefit for small-scare farmers. The agronomist identifies impactful practices by partnering with researchers and practitioners and by spending time in the field to understand the challenges faced by farmers.

Reportsto: Program Manager

CC. Team Leader

Founded in 2000, Volunteers for Sustainable Development in Africa (VOSIEDA) is a Liberian nonprofit and a network of development professionals working to promote prosperity, reduce extreme poverty, and strengthen peace and stability in Liberia and West Africa’s Mano River Union Basin region. VOSIEDA’s work focuses on saving the planet and fighting extreme poverty among women, youth, children, and other excluded groups. We advance community solutions to address development challenges and empower local people to care for nature that sustains all lives.

VOSIEDA works across five signature programs to empower and support local communities to promote sustainable development to end extreme poverty, itsroot causes, and consequences in Liberia and West Africa’s Mano River Basin region, including 1). Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability, 2) Food Security & Livelihoods Enhancement, 3) Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality, 4) Governance & Social Development,

5) Media & Civic Society Strengthening.

• Offer on –farm soil testing services and provide farmers with immediate test results on their mobile phone or printed on paper, including fertilizer recommendations.

• Ensure the quality and correctness of data recording performed by field technicians, and key farmers/farmer group leaders based on guidelines. Analyze the data to see the progress of crop production, and provide regular update to beneficiaries, buyers, other counterparts, the program Manager, and other stakeholders • Provide fertilizer recommendations to farmers based on locally-available fertilizers.

• Deliver practical and effective training, on a wide range of topics, to groups of farmers on a routine basis. • Encourages farmers to view farming as a business, which leads to rapid productivity gains, boosting farmers’ profits and improving family welfare.

• The agronomist shall use an ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) approach to instigate a paradigm shift in the agro-based rural economy of rural Liberia.

• The agronomist shall work with the technicians to support remote rural area and increase farm productivity and food security through farmer field schools and other activities to build farm capacity.

• The agronomist shall educate farmers on the impact of climate change on small-scale farming, such as soil nutrient loss, flood damage, and drought-induced crop failure, using a suite of inventions at the plot, farm and landscape levels. EBA inventions will include conservation agriculture, intergrade soil health and stabilization techniques, agroforestry, irrigation, etc.

• The agronomist shall provide training in climate-resilient seed production and establish rural agro-based markets to supply climate-resilient seed varieties to targeted farmers.

• The agronomist shall work with technicians to expand the number of agricultural products through value addition and product diversification, such as processed jams and sulfur-dried apricots.

• The agronomist shall work closely with Gender and irrigation specialist to mainstream climate-smart solutions across all components of agriculture activities.