Community Development Foundation (CDF) is implementing a climate-resilient livelihoods intervention aimed at strengthening the adaptive capacities of vulnerable households in Tehsil Jacobabad, Jacobabad District. The intervention seeks to address the growing impacts of recurrent drought, extreme heat conditions exceeding 48–50°C, moisture stress, and declining agricultural productivity, which have significantly undermined food security and household resilience.

Given the heavy dependence of local communities on agriculture, livestock, and informal labor, there is a critical need to equip vulnerable households with practical knowledge and skills to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and improve water-use efficiency. Particular emphasis will be placed on women-headed households, smallholder farmers, households with young children, and persons with disabilities to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are able to restore and sustain their livelihoods.

As part of the project, CDF will organize community-based Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) training sessions for 500 farmers organized into 20 groups of 25 participants each. Separate training sessions will be conducted for men and women in accordance with local cultural norms. To facilitate these activities, CDF intends to engage a qualified Master Trainer with expertise in climate-smart agriculture, drought adaptation, and sustainable farming practices.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to engage a qualified Master Trainer to develop training materials and conduct community-based Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and water-efficient agriculture training sessions for vulnerable farming households, enabling them to adopt sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices and improve food and nutrition security.

3. Objectives of the Assignment

The specific objectives are to:

• Strengthen the capacity of vulnerable farmers to cope with climate shocks and drought.
• Promote climate-smart and water-efficient agricultural practices.
• Improve household food production and nutrition.
• Increase awareness regarding sustainable land and water management.
• Enhance resilience through diversification of crops and livelihoods.
• Promote gender-responsive agricultural practices and participation of women farmers.
• Support informed decision-making through climate information and risk management approaches.

4. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of CDF, the Master Trainer will:

a) Development and Finalization of Training Materials

• Coordinate with the Agriculture Department of Sindh and project team for review and finalization of the Climate Smart Agriculture Training Manual in local languages/Sindhi.
• Ensure that training materials are aligned with provincial agricultural recommendations and seasonal outlooks.
• Prepare presentations, practical exercises, handouts, and demonstration materials.

b) Conduct Community-Based Training Sessions

Conduct one-day training sessions (minimum five hours per session) for 20 groups comprising 25 participants each, reaching a total of 500 farmers.

Training sessions shall be organized separately for male and female participants, respecting local cultural norms and ensuring inclusive participation.

c) Facilitation of Demonstration and Practical Learning

The Master Trainer shall facilitate practical demonstrations and promote hands-on learning related to:

• Demonstration plots.
• Adaptive cropping calendars.
• Heat- and drought-tolerant crop varieties.
• Suspended kitchen gardening techniques.
• Small-scale irrigation methods.
• Mulching and soil moisture conservation practices.
• Efficient use of agricultural tools and seed packages.

5. Training Topics

The training curriculum shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics:

Climate Smart Agriculture

• Introduction to Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).
• Climate change and its impacts on local farming systems.
• Local climate shocks and drought risks.
• Climate Information Services and weather advisories.
• Risk management and disaster preparedness.
• Alternative livelihood opportunities.

Crop Production and Water Management

• Selection and management of climate-resilient crop varieties.
• Heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant seed varieties.
• Crop diversification and intercropping techniques.
• Efficient water management and water-saving irrigation methods.
• Soil moisture retention and mulching techniques.
• Conservation agriculture practices.
• Soil fertility and salinity management.
• Rural composting and organic fertilizer preparation.

Pest and Disease Management

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Integrated disease management.
• Safe use of agricultural inputs.

Livestock and Livelihoods

• Climate-smart livestock production.
• Post-harvest management.
• Value addition and market linkages.
• Diversification of household income sources.

Gender and Social Inclusion

• Gender-responsive agriculture.
• Women-specific CSA practices.
• Inclusion of persons with disabilities and vulnerable households.

Nutrition and Household Wellbeing

A brief awareness session will be integrated covering:

• Dietary diversity.
• Household nutrition.
• Infant and young child feeding practices.
• Importance of balanced diets and nutritious foods.

6. Training Methodology

The Master Trainer shall employ participatory and practical approaches, including:

• Interactive presentations.
• Group discussions.
• Experience sharing.
• Demonstration plots.
• Practical exercises and field demonstrations.
• Case studies and problem-solving exercises.
• Question-and-answer sessions.

7. Target Participants

The training will target:

• 500 vulnerable households: includes
• Smallholder farmers.
• Women-headed households.
• Persons with disabilities.
• Households with young children.
• Male and female farmers organized into separate groups where required.

8. Duration and Location

The assignment will be carried out during July 2026 in Tahsel Jacobad, District Jacobabad.

The assignment will be carried out during July 2026 in Tehsil Jacobabad, District Jacobabad. The assignment will include Training of 500 beneficiaries in 20 days, comprised of 25 participants on each day.

Training sessions will be conducted at community level in coordination with local councils and community leaders. Training venues will be selected to ensure safety, accessibility, and convenience, particularly for women, persons with disabilities, and pregnant and lactating women.

9. Deliverables

The Master Trainer shall provide:

• Finalized Climate Smart Agriculture Training Manual.
• Detailed training agenda and session plans.
• Training presentations and handouts.
• Pre- and post-training assessment tools.
• Attendance sheets for all participants.
• Photographic documentation.
• Documentation of demonstration plots and practical exercises.
• One consolidated training report covering all sessions, including:

Number of participants trained.

• Sex-disaggregated data.
• Methodology
• Key achievements.
• Challenges encountered.
• Lessons learned.
• Recommendations.

10. Required Qualifications and Experience

The Master Trainer should possess:

• At least a Master's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years of demonstrated experience in climate-smart agriculture, drought adaptation, sustainable farming, and farmer field schools.
• Experience in conducting training and capacity-building programs for rural communities and vulnerable groups.
• Familiarity with Sindh's cropping systems and agricultural practices.
• Strong knowledge of climate information services, risk management, and alternative livelihood approaches.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Sindhi and Urdu.

11. Reporting and Supervision

The Master Trainer will work under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator and will coordinate closely with the Agriculture Department of Sindh, local government representatives, and community leaders to ensure that training activities are technically sound, culturally appropriate, and inclusive.