Livestock Production Officer at Heifer International

Job Description:

The Livestock Production Officer is responsible for providing technical input and coordinating all functions related to improvement in performance of poultry enterprises through the establishment of functional extension systems at producer organizations and modern breeding and health promoting techniques, and uses these systems to develop poultry production plans in the project. The Officer will also be responsible for supporting 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.

Essential Character Traits:
Result oriented, values committed, self-motivated, accountable and honest

Responsibilities:

Mobilization and strengthening of Poultry Interest Groups (PIGs) to become effective participants in poultry production improvement activities (30%)

• Based on the ongoing assessment, and in liaison with the animal well-being (AWB) lead, develop a plan for building the capacity of the Peer Farmer Trainers (PFT), Extension agents and community agro-vet entrepreneurs (CAVEs) and use the plan to train them so that they can effectively facilitate group strengthening activities at the grassroots level.
• Coordinate the strengthening of the 1,600 PIGs to become active participants in poultry production improvement activities.
• Promote the formation of savings and credit schemes by the PIGs to ensure that smallholder farmers at the grassroots level have mechanisms to finance the poultry improvement activities.
• Facilitate the training of the PIGs on group dynamics and social capital strengthening.
• Facilitate the formation of Group Management Committees in each of the hubs (producer organizations).
• Contribute to the collection of information on Catalytic Leverage Fund (CaLF) on a monthly basis.
• A training plan for Community Facilitators and extension staff is developed within the first six months and implemented based on the on-going capacity assessment gaps.
• Peer Farmer Trainers are actively involved on a daily basis in strengthening PIGs within the first six months. The number of PFTs will be determined after the ongoing group assessment.
• 1,600 PIGs are trained on social capital strengthening and group dynamics by the end of the second year.
• 1,600 PIGs are strengthened to become active participants in poultry production improvement activities.
• PIGs are implementing savings and credit schemes and using the schemes to finance the poultry improvement activities on a monthly basis.
• Each of the 25 hubs have functional Group Management Committees by the end of the first year.
• Information on CaLF is collected and shared with the project manager from 1,600 PIGs.

Coordinate the delivery of grassroot trainings to improve poultry productivity
(30%)

• Coordinate the dissemination of a poultry training manual and contents in partnership with Cargill and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate the delivery of poultry improvement trainings using the HHK manuals and other relevant materials.
• Develop and implement detailed training plans for each of the producer organizations.
• Facilitate training of CAVES and other service providers in order to efficiently and effectively deliver quality services to farmers.
• Provide technical support to producer organizations to prepare and implement efficient poultry feeding and breeding plans.
• In collaboration with the AWB lead, facilitate the delivery of extension messaging in partnership with WEFARM and DIGIFARM.
• Comprehensive poultry training manual disseminated and tested with stakeholders within the first six months of the project.
• Detailed implementation plan developed and implemented for all training to be undertaken per quarter.
• 40,000 farmers fully trained and completed the livestock training curriculum by the end of the second year.
• 80 CAVEs trained to efficiently and effectively deliver quality services to farmers.
• Breeding and feeding plans developed by the end of the first six months and being used by the producer organizations for improving poultry production and productivity.
• 40,000 farmers reached through digital platform on an annual basis.

Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

• With guidance from the MELS lead and project manager, implement robust production monitoring indicators including a database for all production and productivity parameters.
• Develop and regularly update a database for all the farmers trained on poultry.
• Develop and maintain a database of all CAVES, Extension Officers, CFs and PFTs supported by the project.
• Monitor production and productivity related indicators at producer organization and PIG levels and provide timely advise to enable the attainment of key productivity targets.
• Undertake monthly monitoring of the farmer trainings and their effectiveness together with group performance and submit a report on the same every month.
• Facilitate the Group Management Committees (GMCs) to undertake quarterly Participatory Self Review and Planning (PSRP).
• Develop and promote best practice examples and ensure the documentation of experiences and lessons learned.
• Production and productivity indicators identified and a database for the same is developed by the end of the first year.
• A database for all the producers trained in different modules is developed and updated quarterly.
• A database of CAVES, PFTs and Extension Officers is maintained and updated quarterly.
• Quarterly monitoring of production and productivity outcomes is conducted and information used to inform the corresponding quarterly reports.
• PSRP reports from the GMCs are submitted quarterly.
• At least four success stories are produced, i.e. at least one during each quarter.
• Monthly field monitoring visit reports are produced.

Provide technical support to producer organizations to set up effective extension coordination and management structures at the grassroots level (15%)

• Support FOABs to set up robust extension systems that effectively serve smallholder farmers to increase production and productivity.
• Work with input service providers and distributors to ensure that they deliver training and quality services to farmers including feeds, equipment and breeding services.
• In collaboration with the business advisor, support FOABs to implement sustainable feed systems and animal health delivery systems.
• Submit timely weekly, monthly and quarterly reports indicating progress for each of the targeted producer organizations.
• Participate in FOABs’ business review meetings. i. Extension Coordination Structures are functional in the 25 hubs (producer organizations) by the end of the first year.
• 25 FOABs have functional extension subcommittees and coordinating extension activities.
• 25 FOABs are implementing efficient breeding and feeding plans.
• Each of the 25 FOABs have a functional system for the delivery of feeds and animal health services.
• A feed delivery system is developed to service 40,000 farmers in the project area by the end of the second year.
• Progress reports are submitted on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis, within the expected schedule.

Planning and Reporting (5%)

• Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly workplans for implementing in line with the project operational plans and submit them within the expected timelines.
• Participate in compiling donor reports as requested.
• Annual, quarterly, monthly and weekly work plans are produced and shared with the Project Manager.
• Well prepared weekly, monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reports are submitted to the project coordinator on schedule.

Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the fields of veterinary medicine, animal science or other comprehensive livestock production and health related field, plus three (3) years’ experience in commercial poultry production, value chain competitiveness, or agriculture development.
• Demonstrated experience in setting robust and sustainable extension systems for producer organizations. This requirement is in line with the need to have in built ‘exit strategies’ within the project as a measure of ensuring that there are self-sustaining businesses by project end.
• Significant experience in supporting producer organizations to increase poultry production and productivity.
• Clear understanding of the poultry value chain and values-based model
• Experience in delivering extension services to smallholder and medium scale farmers
• Innovative, analytical, and solutions oriented
• Strong farmer mobilization skills
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to producer organizations with a view to build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable poultry industry
• Knowledge of income and expense budget preparation and monitoring
• A good understanding of and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger and the environment, and knowledge of the context in which non-profit organizations operate
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in poultry productivity improvement and poultry value chain development that reaches women, youth, and the underprivileged
• Excellent organizational skills including strong attention to detail
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet
• Knowledge of and experience with developing private/public partnerships at the district level
• Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written

NB: Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Preparing and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail
• Ability to understand, appreciate and implement Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development model
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the production segment of the poultry value chain (e.g. the concept of business development service provision)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally
• May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods and performing office environment activities while on the road and/or in remote conditions
• Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting inflexible deadlines
• Ability to work with smallholder farmers in rural settings while appreciating the dynamics of the rural extension system
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality