International Coffee Expert

The International Coffee Expert will provide technical assistance to assess and ascertain existing coffee varieties and enhance production systems, guide varietal selection, establish on-station and on-farm coffee trials, and provide evidence-based recommendations to inform structured scale-up of coffee in Zhemgang Dzongkhag and beyond. The expert will support the Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA) project in Bhutan, focusing on sustainable coffee production and value chain development.

Responsibilities

• Identify, source, and recommend suitable and high-value coffee varieties for Bhutan, including varieties for immediate introduction and evaluation under different agroecological conditions by end of June 2026.
• Assess, characterize, and document existing coffee genetic resources and varieties cultivated in Bhutan, particularly in Zhemgang and Sarpang, through field assessments during vegetative (June-July 2026) and reproductive phases (November 2026).
• Develop scientifically validated research protocols for coffee germplasm characterization, varietal evaluation, performance testing, and variety release suitable for Bhutanese conditions by July 2026.
• Develop evidence-based packages of practices and best management guidelines for sustainable coffee production under Bhutanese conditions, including nursery management, planting systems, nutrition, shade management, pest and disease management, soil and water conservation, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and processing.
• Develop research protocol and package of practices for establishment of on-station and on-farm trials by July; characterize and identify existing coffee varieties in Zhemgang and Sarpang during vegetative and reproductive phases.
• Develop holistic coffee cultivation practices for promotion within project landscape Dzongkhags and beyond.
• Design and provide tailored onsite capacity development to researchers, extension, Sanam Jabchorpas (SJs) and selected producers on agroecological coffee cultivation practices by end of assignment.
• Conduct fieldwork in Bhutan for about 60-70% of assignment duration to conduct fieldwork in key stages of crop research—vegetative, reproductive, and harvesting phases.

Requirements

• Master's Degree or Higher in Agriculture Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop Science, Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture or related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in coffee research, coffee agronomy, coffee varietal evaluation, and sustainable coffee production systems across diverse agroecological conditions and farming environments.
• Proven technical expertise in identification, characterization, assessment, and evaluation of coffee varieties during vegetative and reproductive growth stages, including suitability analysis for climate-resilient and agroecological production systems.
• Substantial experience in design and implementation of scientific field trials, experimental methodologies, research protocols, and evidence-based assessment approaches for perennial crops, particularly coffee.
• Practical experience in establishment and management of coffee nurseries, plantation systems, and sustainable or agroecological coffee production models suitable for smallholder farming systems.
• Proven experience in preparation and development of technical manuals, cultivation protocols, extension materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and knowledge products related to coffee cultivation and sustainable coffee production technologies.
• Strong experience in conducting onsite technical capacity strengthening programmes, farmer trainings, training-of-trainers (ToT), technical coaching, and knowledge transfer initiatives for researchers, extension personnel, producer groups, cooperatives, and farming communities.
• Prior professional experience working with government institutions, international organizations, research institutions, development partners, donor-funded agricultural programmes, or multilateral development agencies is highly desirable.
• Strong experience in promoting climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable coffee production systems, including shade-grown coffee, integrated nutrient management, soil and water conservation, agroforestry approaches, and sustainable land management practices.
• Experience working in mountainous agroecological environments and climate-vulnerable landscapes comparable to Bhutan is a strong asset.
• Strong technical and professional knowledge of sustainable coffee production systems, including nursery establishment and management, varietal evaluation, crop establishment, integrated nutrient and shade management, integrated pest and disease management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, quality assurance, and sustainable coffee value chain development.
• Sound understanding of agroecological and climate-resilient coffee production practices suitable for fragile mountain ecosystems and diverse agro-climatic conditions.
• Sound knowledge of coffee varietal adaptation and performance in relation to elevation, rainfall variability, soil characteristics, climate risks, and changing environmental conditions, including sustainable farming approaches such as agroforestry systems, integrated farming systems, soil and water conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable land management practices.
• Good knowledge of participatory extension approaches, farmer capacity-strengthening methodologies, community-based agricultural systems, and inclusive stakeholder engagement processes relevant to smallholder farming communities.
• Practical understanding of market-oriented coffee production, quality improvement systems, value addition, and sustainable market development is an added advantage.
• Familiarity with agricultural systems, institutional frameworks, rural development priorities, and climate-resilient agriculture strategies of Bhutan, and experience working within mountain farming contexts comparable to Bhutan is highly desirable.
• Strong technical expertise in coffee agronomy, physiology, varietal selection and evaluation, agroecological coffee production systems, scientific research design, field experimentation, performance assessment, data collection, analysis, and interpretation for evidence-based decision-making.
• Strong practical skills in analytical methodologies, technical facilitation, mentoring, training delivery, and technical writing, including ability to develop practical and context-specific recommendations, protocols, and extension approaches suitable for smallholder and mountain farming systems.
• Strong stakeholder coordination, partnership-building, teamwork, and communication skills, with ability to effectively engage government institutions, research organizations, development partners, extension personnel, producer groups, and farming communities.
• Sound knowledge and practical understanding of climate-smart agriculture, agroecological production systems, sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate-resilient agricultural approaches relevant to sustainable coffee sector development.
• General knowledge of World Food Programme programmes, technical assistance mechanisms, and integrated food systems approaches, as well as familiarity with the scope, objectives, and priorities of the BRECSA Project.

Skills

• Coffee Research
• Coffee Agronomy
• Coffee Varietal Evaluation
• Sustainable Coffee Production
• Scientific Field Trials
• Experimental Methodologies
• Research Protocols
• Coffee Nursery Management
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Technical manual development
• Extension Materials Development
• Standard Operating Procedures Implementation
• Capacity Strengthening
• Farmer Training
• Training-of-Trainers
• Technical Coaching
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture
• Agroecological Production Systems
• Integrated Nutrient Management
• Soil and Water Conservation
• Agroforestry
• Sustainable Land Management
• Integrated pest management
• Post-Harvest Handling
• Quality Assurance
• Value Chain Analysis
• Participatory Extension
• Community-Based Agricultural Systems
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Data Collection
• Technical Writing
• Mentorship
• Technical Facilitation
• Climate-Smart Agriculture
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Field Experimentation
• Performance Assessment

Languages

English