Consultant (Impact Assessment of Dairy Value Chain Development in Afghanistan)

Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA)

  • Kabul
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 18 days ago
  • Apply easily
About Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA):1. Introduction to DCAThe Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA) has been working in Afghanistan since 1988, supporting herder and pastoralist communities to build sustainable livelihoods. DCA operates at the intersection of humanitarian response, development, and peacebuilding. DCA's Vision is"Empowered and resilient Afghan farmers and pastoralists, driving sustainable and climate-friendly food production for the People of Afghanistan."In 2024 alone, DCA reached more than 3.95 million Afghans through livestock-focused interventions across 30 provinces. Our approach is community-driven and structured around four interlinked pillars:
  • Livelihoods and food security
  • Extension and training services
  • Value chain development
  • Institutional capacity strengthening
We mainstream gender equality and One Health approaches across all programs-acknowledging the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, especially in the context of emerging epidemics and zoonotic diseases.Job Description:2. Background and Rationale for the AssignmentAs part of our livelihoods pillar, DCA has long been engaged in value chain development to create economic opportunities and reduce dependency on illicit or unsustainable sources of income. Among these, the dairy value chain has been a critical area of investment, linking rural milk producers-especially women-to local markets through improved infrastructure, veterinary support, and training.Interventions have included:
  • Establishing and equipping Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) and Rural Dairy Processing Plants (RDPPs)
  • Providing solar-powered cold storage, churners, and hygienic kits.
  • Delivering technical assistance through veterinary field units (VFUs) and Paravets
  • Supplying dairy-related extension materials, training packages, and regular field mentoring
  • Supporting improved animal feeding through feed banks and linking producers with one-stop shop agro-input dealers.
These efforts have enabled rural producers to improve hygiene, productivity, and profitability in the dairy sector. Households-many led by women-are now producing and selling cheese, cream, butter, ghee, and Quroot, contributing to household nutrition, market participation, and resilience.This assessment aims to understand the impact of these dairy value chain interventions, document the lessons learned, and provide strategic recommendations for scaling, sustainability, and integration into DCA's wider livelihoods programming.3. Objectives of the AssessmentThe primary objective is to assess the impact of DCA's dairy value chain development interventions in selected areas. Specifically, the study will:
  • Measure the changes in income, employment, and market access for dairy producers and processors.
  • Evaluate how dairy activities have impacted women's workload, nutrition, and community well-being.
  • Assess the institutional linkages, including with VFUs, Paravets, and other local actors.
  • Document best practices and innovations, particularly those that are gender-sensitive or promote sustainability.
  • Provide actionable recommendations for program improvement, scalability, and alignment with national policy and market trends.
4. MethodologyThe consultant will use a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative and quantitative tools. The methodology should include, but not be limited to:
  • Review of existing data and documents (program reports, monitoring data, training records)
  • Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with DCA staff, MCC operators, and community stakeholders
  • Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with dairy producers, ensuring gender disaggregation.
  • Household Surveys and direct observations at selected sites
  • Value Chain Mapping to visually represent the actors, gaps, and opportunities.
  • Where feasible, include before-and-after comparisons or control group analyses.
DCA will support the field data collection and initial cleaning, while the consultant will lead the analysis and reporting.5. Key Areas of AssessmentThe consultant is expected to assess the following dimensions:
  • Economic Outcomes: Impact on income, employment, business growth, and local dairy market development
  • Social Outcomes: Changes in gender roles, women's empowerment, youth involvement, and community cohesion
  • Environmental Outcomes: Sustainability of practices, waste management, feed efficiency, and One Health relevance
  • Institutional Outcomes: Capacity of local actors (MCCs, VFUs), governance structures, and coordination mechanisms
  • Programmatic Integration: How the dairy value chain is linked to DCA's broader work in animal health, feed banks, and agricultural extension.
  • Challenges and Innovations: Identify systemic bottlenecks and document successful innovations.
  • Recommendations: Strategic, practical recommendations for scaling up, institutionalizing, or refining approaches.
Job Requirements:6. Consultant ProfileWe invite applications from independent consultants or consulting firms with the following qualifications:
  • Master's degree in agricultural economics, value chain development, agribusiness, or related field
  • At least 5 years of experience in value chain or livelihoods assessments in developing contexts.
  • Proven ability to produce evidence-based impact evaluations and peer-reviewed publications (minimum 3)
  • Strong analytical, writing, and facilitation skills
  • Familiarity with Afghanistan or similar fragile/conflict settings is preferred.
  • Outside-in approach with ability to understand and anticipate client needs.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented with focus on producing high-quality report.
  • Good command of written and spoken English.
Submission Guideline:7. Proposal SubmissionInterested applicants should submit: * Technical Proposal (max 10 pages):
  • Understanding of the assignment
  • Proposed methodology and tools
  • Anticipated risks and mitigation strategies
  • Work plan with timelines.
  • CVs of key team members
  • At least three examples of relevant previous work
  • Financial Proposal (Excel format, submitted separately)
8. Deliverables and TimelineKey Deliverables:
  • Clean dataset and field summary (DCA)
  • Draft analytical report with visualizations (Consultant)
  • Final compréhensive report (max 60 pages)
  • Condensed version suitable for peer-reviewed publication (max 25 pages)
DCA will manage field data collection; the consultant is expected to focus on analysis and report writing.9. Selection and EvaluationProposals will be evaluated using a best value for money approach:
  • Technical quality: 80%
  • Financial offer: 20%
Minimum technical score required: 75 out of 100. DCA may invite shortlisted applicants for interviews during the evaluation process.Applications must be submitted to:
Jobs@dca-af.org
CC: chalachew.agonafir@dca-livestock.org, briscoe_raymond@yahoo.co.ukInterested applicants are invited to send their proposal at ( ) and cc ( ) by September 12, 2025. Application will be reviewed on a rolling bases until the date and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for pre-screening assessment stage.Submission Email:Jobs@dca-af.orgSimilar Jobs

Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA)