VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
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Reference #
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113/10/2026/RDA/SoilMatter/NewDelhi
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Project
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Soil Matters – Innovations for Soil Health and Agroecology
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Position
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Advisor–South-South Co-operation and scaling partnerships (Internal Designation for Use: Rural Development Advisor)
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Band
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Band 4
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Location
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New Delhi
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Documents to be submitted:
- CV and a statement of suitability for this position
- A maximum of 2 pages note on any one of the topics given below:
What do you see as major challenges in terms of partnerships for scaling and how would you address these to ensure integration of resources and expertise, essential for scaling?
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There are available public and private financial resources. Where is the gap in integrated financing scaling of soil health and agroecology? Who are major players and how could they possibly find convergence / synergies and possible co-financing opportunities?
Last Date of Application: 25th October 2026
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A. About GIZ India
B. Project Background
The global programme “Soil Matters” is commissioned in India and at four African partner countries, starting in 2025. Soil Matters is part of BMZ’s special initiative “Transformation of agricultural and food systems” and aims to strengthen the dissemination of innovations for soil health and agroecology at national, regional and global level. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) proposed to continue to support to the Government of India’s agenda of improving soil health and agroecology. The “Soil Matters” country measure in India will be implemented by GIZ from January 2025 until March 2029 in partnership with NABARD. It also aligns with ongoing initiatives of Government of India such as the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), Pramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY), Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBARdhan) etc. and with initiatives of various state governments.
To support this transformative approach three outputs are proposed under “Soil Matters”:
Scalability of sustainable land management practices and business models for bioresources to enhance soil health through supporting scaling up of bioresources models, capacity development for implementation of models and promotion of bioresources in cooperation with Indian partners at national and state level.
The improvement of framework conditions to incentivize, prioritize and promote measures on soil health through national level technical consultative group and establishing remote sensing-based soil monitoring and diagnostic system at national level.
The South-South knowledge exchange in order to contribute to national and global processes and policies on soil health through knowledge and technical exchange, knowledge co-creation and Triangular cooperation.
The approaches proposed under “Soil Matters” offer a cross-cutting perspective on the societal transformation through transitioning from linear economy (e.g. high input - high output model of inorganic fertilizer use) towards circularity approaches for long-term sustainability in agriculture sector through agroecological focus. The project is anchored with the Environment, Climate and NRM portfolio of GIZ under the Natural Resources Management and Agroecology thematic area.
C. Responsibilities
- Lead and Coordinate with the project team to establish scaling partnerships and models.
- Organize and support events, documentations and reports needed for scaling with partners and adapting policies, mechanisms, guidelines and others as needed to facilitate scaling.
- Cooperate with other thematic leads to implement and coordinate the implementation, partnership and scaling at state (as decided by the project leader) and national levels.
- Coordinate with Steering/ Support Unit to facilitate and set up cross-country activities e.g. Leveraging Finances for scaling soil health and agroecology; enterprise models etc. And contribute to the global exchange processes.
Core scope of Tasks:
Lead and Coordinate with the project team to establish scaling partnerships and models:
- Soil Matters partners at national and state levels (with current focus on Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Telangana). The Technical Expert will coordinate and establish scaling models and solutions for soil health and agroecology through partnership with state level departments, NGOs and national level partners like MOAFW, NABARD, MORD etc.
- Ensure detailed planning, and resource partnerships are established and working partnerships are operational.
- Define the roles and responsibilities of different partners as well as resource contributions (including GIZ) with direct responsibility of scaling in the state of Telangana.
- Develop TORs, Grant proposals and ensure these are processed in time and serve the purpose of scaling support / facilitation by GIZ in the state as well as national levels.
Organize and support events, documentations and reports needed for scaling with partners and adapting policies, mechanisms, guidelines and others as needed to facilitate scaling:
- Plan the events with partners as needed for scaling of innovations for soil health, landscape approaches, enterprise models as needed to meet the expectations of Soil Matters.
- Establish partnerships, solutions and strategies for operationalising the “Transformative Initiatives” (partners systems based scaling solutions).
- Work on integrated models for scaling i.e. integrated finances and expertise (including solutions for financing, marketing and technology infusions).
Support the thematic leads to implement and coordinate the implementation, partnership and scaling at state (as decided by the project leader) and national levels:
- Coordinate and support other thematic leads and experts in the project team to develop integrated solutions for scaling.
- Work on detailed scaling strategies for solutions, with focus on the state of Telangana and national levels.
- Organize processes and mechanisms for partnerships, coordination and steering processes at state and national levels.
Coordinate with Steering/ Support Unit to facilitate and set up cross-country activities e.g. Leveraging Finances for scaling soil health and agroecology; enterprise models etc. As well as contribute to the other global exchange processes:
- Work closely and support the project lead in developing the concept and operationalizing it
- Coordinate with Support / Steering unit to coordinate and design the CCA along with other country measures.
- Prepare budgets, financing and ensure execution of the same as desired.
Other duties/additional tasks
- The Advisor performs other duties and tasks at the request of the management.
D. Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies
- Post-graduate degree in Agriculture/ developmental studies or related subjects.
- A minimum professional work experience in the following fields:
- 10 years of experience in Implementation and management of projects related to soil and sustainable agricultural practices.
- 5 years of experience in developing collaborations with public and private sector partners in the development sector.
- Worked with private sector partners and international research and expert agencies.
- 5 years of experience working in agriculture value chains.
- Good understanding of various financing instruments (debt, equity, grant etc.) in agriculture/ agroecology value chains.
- Competencies in moderation, facilitation and design thinking are an advantage.
- Team player and good inter-personal, communication and networking skills, especially with senior government and private sector partners.
- Demonstrated skills in office computer use - word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and communication software.
E. Location: New Delhi
F. Duration of the contract: 31st March 2029
Application without GIZ application form will not be considered
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- GIZ supports Work-Life Balance.
- GIZ promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.
- Please note that those individuals who have completed a consultancy assignment with GIZ in less than 6 months prior to the intended start date for this position will not be shortlisted due to organisational policy.
Disclaimer: As per GIZ’s data confidentiality policy, candidate’s application is stored in our database for six months and is deleted thereafter.