Livestock Specialist (Livestock for Livelihoods – UG) – Farm Africa

 

Job Title:    Livestock Specialist
(Livestock for Livelihoods – UG)

Organization:  Farm
Africa

Duty Station:  Kotido,
Karamoja sub-region, (with regional and national travel), Uganda

Reports to: Project
Coordinator

Direct Reports: Three – Community Facilitator, Finance & Admin Assistant, Driver

Duration & Hours: Fixed-term, full-time contract ending 31st March 2022.

 

About US:

Farm Africa, founded
in 1985, is an international non-governmental organization working in Uganda,
Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. We drive agricultural and environmental change to
improve lives. Our strategy has three pillars: agricultural expertise, management
and preservation of ecosystems, and the power of business to drive prosperity.
We believe Africa has the power to feed itself and are helping make this happen
by establishing and spreading the best farming and forestry techniques so that
poor farmers and herders have more food to feed their families and to sell. We
help smallholders manage their natural resources sustainably so that they can
withstand climate change challenges and shocks and ensure their families have
enough food in the future as well as now. Farm Africa works in partnership with
communities, government, local and international organizations, and the private
sector to innovate, learn and share best practices for maximum impact of our
projects.

 

Programme Background:

Farm Africa has the
ambition to be the leading European NGO specialising in Agriculture, Natural
Resource Management and Market Engagement. Farm Africa is mid-way through
delivering our £5m Livestock for Livelihoods (L4L) programme in Uganda’s
Karamoja sub-region and Ethiopia’s South Omo zone funded by the UK government
(UK Aid)

 

Under this programme
Farm Africa is working with local civil society, SMEs, cooperatives and farmer
organisations to develop market systems that support livestock services and
enterprises for 21,000 women, contributing to women’s economic empowerment,
reduced poverty and improved nutrition of women and children. The project is
addressing market failures in animal health and breeding services to improve
livestock productivity, building capacity and assets of herders, establishing
trade and enterprise opportunities and improving household nutrition practices
through behavioural change. It will also demonstrate how nutrition interventions
can build on women’s economic empowerment to contribute to both increased
income and improved household nutrition.

 

Purpose of the role: 
The Livestock Specialist
(LS) is a key member of the L4L Uganda team.

Firstly, the
Livestock Specialist is the technical lead in Uganda, and together with the
Chief of Party (based in Kenya) will provide technical advice to the Project
Coordinator to support effective implementation of field activities. Secondly,
the Livestock Specialist will also be responsible for managing the Kotido
project sub-office and the three additional staff members located there, as
well as ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of project activities in
geographic areas managed by the Kotido team. Thirdly, the Livestock officer
will play a hands-on role in delivering, monitoring and reporting on project
activities in allocated areas. This will include contributing to internal and
external project reporting, financial management, partner management,
monitoring and evaluation of the project activities, outputs and impacts, and
ensuring that all stakeholders at the project area are fully engaged.

 

Key Duties and
Responsibilities:
The key
responsibilities of the Livestock Specialist are:

Project planning
and implementation of the L4L project activities in allocated districts and
sub-counties

·        
Contribute
to the review and preparation of the project’s work plan and detailed activity
budget as part of the quarterly and annual planning process.

·        
Work
with the Chief of Party to provide technical guidance to the Project
Coordinator to ensure excellence in delivery in Uganda and consistency in
application of technical approach across all districts of operation.

·        
Ensure
that project activities for Kotido team’s allocated districts are implemented
and outputs achieved as planned and within the agreed budget.

·        
Lead,
and play a hands-on role in the delivery of, livestock-focused project
activities, drawing on consultants and external suppliers where appropriate

·        
Work
with the Project Coordinator to fully engage the Moroto-based Monitoring &
Evaluation Officer (MELO) and Business Development Officer (BDO) in supporting
the delivery of activities in and around Kotido.

·        
Proactively
identify and monitor any risks to non-delivery and, where required, develop and
implement action plans to address issues identified.

·        
Provide
ongoing feedback to project activities and propose adjustments in annual
implementation plans according to emerging needs and priorities.

·        
Support
the PC in identifying and analysing the causes of spend variances to the budget
and take action as needed.

Project monitoring,
evaluation and reporting

·        
Provide
information for reporting (internal and external) for activities managed from
Kotido office as requested by the PC.

·        
Regularly
report on overall technical progress of the project to the PC (timelines to be
agreed with the PC).

·        
Keep PC
regularly (monthly, or more frequently as requested) updated on delivery
progress.

·        
Contribute
to the development and implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation &
Learning Plan (MLP) for the L4L project.

·        
Work
with the MELO to ensure that Kotido team are collecting indicator data as
required in the MLP for purposes such as internal progress reviews and donor
reporting.

·        
Collect
information for stories, case studies and lessons learnt and share with the PC.
Spend a high proportion of the time in the field, ensuring that all field
activities are being delivered as planned and in line with Farm Africa Approaches/Methodologies.

Budget management,
financial reporting and compliance

·        
Act as
budget holder for Kotido office, with delegated authority for expenditure on
budgeted project activities within agreed limits.

·        
Ensure
expenditure managed from Kotido sub-office is reported on in an accurate and
timely manner, with explanations for variances provided as required/requested.

·        
With
support from Project Accountant & Administrator (PA&A) ensure that all
members of the Kotido team are aware of, and operating in accordance with Farm
Africa’s policies and procedures.

·        
With
support from the Finance and Admin Assistant (FAA), implement internal project
financial controls, ensuring that financial management in the Kotido sub-office
is in compliance with or exceeds the basic standards contained in the Farm
Africa finance procedures manual and other relevant rules and procedures
applicable in Uganda.

·        
Ensure
that all procurement of goods and services is carried out in line with Farm
Africa procedures and also follows the terms and conditions stipulated in the
financing agreement.

·        
Ensure
compliance with legal and contractual requirements for all activities conducted
out of the Kotido sub-office.

Manage the Kotido
team, office facilities and fleet

·        
Provide
leadership and motivation to Kotido team, building values-based team working
and individual staff skills relevant to the project.

·        
Hold
weekly team meetings and send minutes and key action points to the PC and the
Project Accountant and Administrator.

·        
Regularly
provide both informal and formal coaching and feedback to all project staff.
Effectively and promptly deal with any poor performance and actively recognise
and encourage strong performance.

·        
Hold
in-person supervision sessions with line-managed staff at least once per
quarter (to discuss progress against their personal development objectives and
work targets) and carry out in-person annual appraisals with all line-managed
staff.

·        
Actively
seek feedback on own performance and effectiveness from both country leadership
as well as own project staff.

·        
Ensure
that vehicles and/or motorbikes allocated to the Kotido office are kept secure,
well maintained and appropriately insured.

·        
Ensure
that Kotido office is well managed, with adequate facilities for team to carry
out their duties.

Play a key role in
delivering the wider objectives of both the L4L programme, and Farm Africa’s
work in Uganda.

·        
Work
with AFRII (implementing partner) to coordinate delivery of nutrition focused
activities in Kotido and surrounding sub-counties.

·        
Proactively
identify and raise with the PC (and others as appropriate) any partner-related
delivery risks, and work with project partner staff to implement action plans
to resolve identified issues.

·        
Oversee
the implementation of the project’s visibility strategy for Kotido office
activities in line with donor guidelines.

·        
Ensure
regular and effective communications are maintained with the wider project
team, Uganda Country Office and implementing partners.

·        
In
consultation with the PC, act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the
work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops,
conferences, meeting donors and other officials, and organising district level
stakeholder meetings as and when required.

·        
Work
with external stakeholders and partners to support the replication of Farm
Africa’s technical approach by other organisations

·        
Contribute
to the development of relevant Farm Africa policies and strategies, providing
technical input for project proposals when required

 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential

·        
The ideal
candidate for the Farm Africa job must hold a Post-graduate qualification in a
relevant technical area such as veterinary sciences or animal sciences.

·        
A
minimum of four years’ experience working in a livestock-focused role in an
INGO or agri-business evidencing knowledge and understanding of project
strategy, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting

·        
Experience
of working with pastoralist communities

·        
Experience
of working with community animal health workers and developing rural veterinary
service systems

·        
Experience
in implementation of livelihoods programmes with behaviour change components

·        
Experience
in designing and conducting community trainings

·        
Experience
of leading and inspiring community-based agents to deliver trainings and drive
change

·        
Detailed
understanding of the livestock and pastoralism sector in Uganda, in particular
with relation to small ruminants

·        
A
practical understanding of the social norms and cultural dynamics driving
behaviours in pastoralist communities – particularly in relation to the role of
women in society and the household

·        
Proven
ability to effectively manage a small team in conducting field activities

·        
Ability
to build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

·        
Budget
management skills

·        
Excellent
project planning and organisational skills

·        
Written
and oral communication and presentation

·        
skills
with the ability to work with both Government and Private Sector stakeholders

·        
Ability
and willingness to travel widely and frequently both within and outside the
Karamoja sub-region

·        
Adept
in  Microsoft Windows including Word,
Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

 

Desired

·        
Preference
will be given to qualified vets.

·        
Ability
to diagnose common ailments in small ruminants and provide technical and
practical advice on preventative measures and treatments

·        
Detailed
understanding of market-based approaches to development and particularly
approaches which encourage greater participation of women

·        
Experience
of managing partnerships with other organisations or INGOS Understanding of the
interdependencies between livelihoods and nutrition programming

·        
Experience
of working in Karamoja

·        
Experience
of training others in goat husbandry and breeding

·        
Experience
of working with exotic goat species.

·        
Demonstrated
leadership, line management and team building experience – including appraisal
and managing under-performance.

·        
Excellent
network and excellent relationship with government partners

·        
Fluency
in Karamojong

 

Our VALUES

Investing in
smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa.
Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting
the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

·        
EXPERT. Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart
of everything Farm Africa does.

·        
GROUNDED. Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely
with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.

·        
IMPACTFUL. We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers
and their families.

·        
BOLD. We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge
strategies that are failing.

 

How to Apply:

To apply, please
send a CV, salary history and a two-page supporting statement detailing how you
meet the person specification to ugandarecruitment@farmafrica.org including
‘Livestock Specialist- ‘L4L Project ’ in the subject line.

 

 Please DO NOT send additional documents such
as certificates and references with your application. Successful candidates
ONLY will be required to provide these documents during the referencing
process.

 

Deadline: Monday 7th December 2020 by 5.00pm EAT

 

NB: It is anticipated
that first round interviews will take place over Skype w/c 14th December 2020.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 

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