Climate Smart Dairy Cattle Feeding, Nutrition and Production Program Development and Training at International Executive Service Corps

Objectives of the Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to support the board and management of a dairy cooperative.

•  Develop climate smart forage options, a balanced rations feeding program and corresponding implementation plans for heifers, dry cows, and milking cows adapting climate smart solutions, innovations and adaptations.
•  Provide customized training to Dairy Farm Assistants, staff, and farmers on climate smart balanced rations feeding programs development and implementation

Tasks to be Performed:

Pre-Assignment Tasks:

•  Review information about the producer organization (PO)
•  Hold call with F2F team and PO to discuss assignment objectives and plan.
•  Literature review of commonly available climate smart forage solutions, adaptations, innovations and their potential for adoption by host smallholders.
•  Develop outline and materials for training on the development and implementation of climate smart dairy feeding, nutrition and milk production

During the Assignment:

•  Attend orientation with F2F staff in Kenya.
•  Hold an introductory meeting with PO to finalize the workplan, assignment deliverables and plan
•  Conduct farm visits and collect/identify climate smart practices and forage samples common in the area
•  Analyze the current dairy feeding, nutrition and milk production practices by PO farmers, and establish ways to introduce, integrate and scale climate smart practices
•  Analyze nutritional analysis of the identified climate smart dairy feeding forages and develop balanced rations for heifers, dry cows, and milking cows using locally commonly available forage and informed by nutritional analysis, cost analysis, and best practices
•  Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of potential climate smart dairy feeding programs based on analysis of samples and best practices and rations developed.
•  Develop an implementation action plan for each climate smart feeding and milk production practice.
•  Customize the training content and develop a training plan.
•  Provide customized training to Dairy Farm Assistants, staff, and farmers on climate smart dairy feeding and milk production
•  Hold debriefing with the host organization.
•  Hold debriefing with USAID.
•  Hold debriefing with the F2F team.
•  Draft and submit the final report.

End of Assignment Report and Other Deliverables Required:

•  Training curriculum with balanced rations developed and climate-smart forage recommendations.
•  A final trip report detailing work completed throughout the assignment as well as recommendations for the host organization.
•  A PowerPoint presentation for sharing with F2F, the host, and USAID.

Expertise of Volunteer Experts Requested:

•  A master's or doctoral degree in dairy science, animal science, or a closely related area
•  At least 10 years experience working with climate smart dairy cattle production
•  A good understanding of body condition scoring and bovine behavior
•  Experience in formulating climate smart dairy feed rations
•  Familiarity with dairy nutrition software programs for nutrition management and ration balancing
•  Comfortable performing mathematical calculations and interpreting laboratory reports
•  Able to interpret laboratory reports and assess the body condition of dairy animals.
•  Experience working with small farm businesses and producer organizations in developing countries
•  Experience working in Kenya and/or the region is a plus.
•  Strong leadership and communication skills and capacity to plan strategically and flexibly.
•  Experience delivering group training.
•  Sufficiently physically fit, with appropriate medical clearance.
•  Writing Skills: reporting requires good computer skills including, but not limited to, working and generating reports with MS Word. Experience with PowerPoint presentations is desirable.
•  Good writing and analytical skills, interpersonal communication and presentation skills (adult education skills), ability and desire to teach in both classroom and field settings