Internship – Field Researcher – Agrarian Diagnostic Nepal

Enployment terms

Country: Nepal – based in Mandandeupur/Dhulikhel Municipality – Kavre District (50km from Kathmandu) with occasional travel to Katmandu (2h drive).

Duration: 6 months from March 2024 to August 2024 – Field deployment during 5 months in Nepal and 1 month in France.

Conditions: Internship agreement, legal internship allowance, monthly per diem of 400 EUR, medical coverage of 100% + repatriation insurance + provident fund, accommodation, international and local transportation as part of the mission, break every 3 months. More information on www.trianglegh.org, under “Recruitment”.

TGH background

“Actor in a sustainable and shared solidarity”

Founded in 1994, TGH is an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), registered in Lyon, France. TGH designs, implements and monitors Emergency response, Recovery and Development programs in the following sectors: Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Protection and Education. TGH currently works in 10 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Context

In Nepal, TGH has been active since 2016 in Sindhupalchowk district, with activities funded by AFD, FDF and Ville de Paris, focusing on post-earthquake reconstruction and economic development. After a first emergency phase following 2015 seism and a second reconstruction phase, a current third phase aims to develop and strengthen the capacities of local actors, by introducing and developing organic farming and improving water and sanitary conditions.

TGH’s projects are implemented in partnership with the Nepalese NGO ARSOW, Association for Rural Social Welfare, NACCFL, a Nepalese organisation supporting farmers cooperatives and in tight collaboration with Rural Municipalities.

Presentation of TGH mission

TGH implements projects in Nepal with the financial support of the following donors: AFD, Fondation de France (FDF), SOLIDAE (Ville de Paris).

TGH has 1 Coordination Office in Nepal. The total number of staff is 4 (3 national positions and 1 expatriate position).

Ongoing Actions

*Towards More Sustainable Food Value Chains in Nepal. (AFD-funded)

• partnership with NACCFL, local organization which promotes the cooperation of local cooperatives, and Nepalese branch of Médecins du Monde (MDM) in consortium.
• intervention extended to 5 additional municipalities within the country.
• dissemination of organic farming practices, reduction of the use of chemical inputs and plastic, and prevention of the risks associated with their use for farmers, as objectives.

Job description

Under the direct responsibility of the Project Manager – Consortium Coordinator and under the functional supervision of HQ FSL Technical advisor, the Field Researcher will carry out an agrarian diagnostic in Mandandeupur/Dhulikhel Municipality – Kavre District. In the field, he / she will be continuously accompanied with a translator who will have, as much as possible, knowledges on the area, the local agriculture specificities and the local languages (Nepali, Tamang).

This study aims at:

*understanding environmental constraints and opportunities of the area

Identification of main agro-environmental units, their interactions and complementarities, the constraints associated with landscape development, the availability of natural resources and their exploitation.

*understanding the main historical evolutions of the agrarian system of the area and the corresponding production systems

Diachronic analysis of the agrarian system of the area highlighting the transformations of agriculture due to internal and/or external events (asset accumulation, impact of national policies, economic crisis etc.)

*defining a typology of the production systems of the area

Definition of a typology of the production systems currently implemented in the area (area, crop and livestock systems, labour, fixed assets, etc.).

*characterizing these production systems both from a technical and an economic point of view

Technical analysis of each production system and the corresponding crop and livestock systems (crop/livestock management, agricultural calendar, yield, etc.). Economic description of each production system (value added, agricultural income, labour productivity, etc.).

*analysing the strengths and constraints of each of these systems

SWOT analysis for each production system.

*assessing and evaluating of agroecology practices

A specific focus on agro-ecology is expected through the assessments of practices and the evaluations of the conditions of its deployment in the area (farmer-related, farm-related and farm environment-related factors).

Deliverable

*A full report of the agrarian diagnostic, in English

*A short PowerPoint presentation presenting the main conclusions of the study

Profile

Educational background and experiences

• Ongoing master’s degree in Compared Agriculture and Rural Development, or similar.
• Experience in the sub-region is an asset.

Skills

• Fluent English mandatory (oral and written)
• Strong communication, analysis and reporting skills
• Knowledge of the Agrarian Diagnosis methodology

Personal Qualities

• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
• Proactivity and flexibility
• Autonomy and sense of team working
• Adaptation capacities to the dynamic context
• Good physical condition (walking and hiking in hilly areas)