Livestock Officer - TRANSFORM Project

Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Heifer International is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. We work with farmers and their communities to identify opportunities that deliver living incomes, creating solutions to local challenges that are designed to build inclusive, resilient economies. With Increased productivity of livestock and crops, farmers provide for their families and improve the health of their communities.

Heifer International is partnering with Cargill Inc and the International Poultry Council in the implementation of the Transformational Strategies for Farm Output Risk Mitigation or “TRANSFORM” in Kenya. TRANSFORM is a USAID funded project and a critical part of the of the Health Security Program that seeks to advance market driven animal health solutions to increase global health security, and increase access to safe, affordable, animal sourced nutrition while improving farm productivity and farmer incomes. TRANSFORM focuses on protecting human health by improving practices related to animal production through mitigation of antimicrobial resistance and   prevent emerging infectious disease (zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases-TADs) while improving farmer livelihoods in Kenya. Heifer is leading the deployment of biosecurity trainings to farmers and other value chain players through community agro-veterinary entrepreneurs (CAVEs) and farmer agrobusinesses; Social and Behavior Change awareness campaigns in biosecurity measures using different approaches; supporting farmer and value chain actors’ access to finance and market linkages to input suppliers, off-takers, and other actors in the market system.

Function

Under the leadership of the Project Manager, the Livestock Officer will be responsible for providing technical support and coordination in implementing trainings and promoting adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices among smallholder farmers in the dairy and poultry value chains.

The Livestock Officer will also support Social and Behavior Change (SBCC) campaigns to increase farmer knowledge on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices as well as support efforts to ensure farmer and value chain actors access to financing to implement biosecurity practices.

The Officer will also support farmer producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services, all of which will ultimately contribute to increased production and productivity. The Officer will also support partnerships with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) partners in Kenya, Government (both at National and County Levels) and other stakeholders implementing similar projects under the one health approach.

Essential Character Traits

Result Oriented, self-motivated, stakeholder focus, manages complex environments, excellent and effective communication, resourceful, manages conflict, interpersonal savvy, builds networks, situational adaptability, enthusiasm, team player, and respectful.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

A. Training and Technical Support in Biosecurity, Antimicrobial Use and Good Farm Management Practices (45%)

• Responsible in leading the review, preparation, and development of training curriculum and materials on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management as well as animal health and nutrition related issues.
• Mobilize Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and technical experts as appropriate, and arrange their trainings on biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship and farm management practices in collaboration with county governments engaged by the Project.
• Support deployment of farmer trainings and promote adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship and good farm management practices.
• Support research on the Return on Investment (ROI) on the adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management practices as well as holistic nutrition in poultry and dairy value chains.
• Provide technical support to farmer producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services to increase production and productivity and promote adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
• Engage with National, County and Sub County veterinary technical personnel and other stakeholders (as required) in disease surveillance and reporting as well as the design and field implementation of livestock treatments and vaccination campaigns.

B. Project Planning, Administrative Management, Budgeting & Reporting (30%)

• Support the development and implementation of project workplans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s regulations, guidelines, and requirements.
• Support implementation of approved workplans and budgets to achieve project objectives and targets as set out in the Cooperative Agreement, Results Framework and approved workplans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
• Support the development and timely submission of high-quality reports, budgets, and other contractual project deliverables in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
• Provide advice and support monitoring of project activities for results, keeping track of project progress and actual or potential problems and recommending remedial options.

C. Technical Support to Social and Behavior Change Campaigns (SBCC), Access to Finance and Project Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

• Provide technical input in the development of SBCC messaging and communication campaigns materials.
• Ensure that technically sound social behavioral change messaging is deployed to communities in the target counties where the project is implemented.
• Support development of Access to Finance biosecurity focused products and farmer access to financing to implement biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
• Provide technical support in the development of monitoring and evaluation tool, conducting MLE activities and reporting.
• Support periodic reporting of project results in line with the donor and Heifer’s results framework and reporting guidelines and requirements.

D. May perform other job specific duties as may be deemed necessary and as assigned. (5%)

• Deliverables based on duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine, Animal Science or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
2. At least five (5) years in animal production, epidemiology research and monitoring of zoonotic and transboundary diseases, livestock value chain competitiveness or project management.
3. Experience and ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers, farmer producer organizations and other value chain players in animal health & husbandry, biosecurity, antimicrobial use, nutrition, and farm management.
4. Considerable experience building public/private partnerships, preferably in the Agriculture/ Veterinary/Animal Health sector.
5. Experience in delivery of animal extension services and influencing policy formulation and decisions in the livestock/animal health industry.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in One Health, antimicrobial use stewardship principles, farm management/ animal production and veterinary practice.
7. Substantial technical experience in implementing animal health intervention and managing projects funded by USAID and or other donors.
8. Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to Producer Organizations to build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable animal/livestock value chains.

Preferred Requirements

1. Master’s degree or equivalent in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
2. Kenya Veterinary Board Registered.
3. Complementary experience in biosecurity, antimicrobial use industry principles and standards, launching campaigns, and integrated development issues under the one health approach.

Most Critical Proficiencies

1. Strong project cycle management skills and fiscal management skills including planning, management of project budgets and reporting.
2. Effective communication skills in both English and national language/s.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in poultry and beef value chain development.
4. Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
5. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness, and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork, and cooperation.
6. Ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers in livestock farming, feed, and health.
7. Experience in facilitating strategic alliances and partnerships with the private sector, including extension and processing.
8. Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
2. Courteous and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
3. Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
4. Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
5. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
6. Ability and willingness to travel extensively, both locally and internationally
7. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Deadline for Application: 14th April 2024

Keywords

Livestock OfficerBiosecurityAntimicrobial UseFarm ManagementAnimal HealthNutritionLivestock Value ChainAnimal ProductionVeterinary MedicineEpidemiologyZoonotic DiseasesTransboundary Diseases