Country: Uganda
Closing date: 25 Jul 2016
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps implements high-quality and analytical development work in very difficult places. We have been operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently implement development programs in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions of Uganda with funding from USAID, EC, SDC, and USDA. Mercy Corps is currently implementing a market-development focused 5-year USAID/Food for Peace-funded program, North Karamoja Growth, Health and Governance (GHG) programme, working in the northern half of Karamoja region. GHG works through partners with private, public and civil society sectors to support immediate needs of program beneficiaries while promoting long-term development by spurring systemic improvements in key economic sectors of northern Karamoja.
Mercy Corps plans to expand its GHG livestock activities to identify and pilot key interventions that have the potential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Karamoja’s livestock producers – including cattle for meat and dairy, goats and sheep. The project is thus in search of a competent and creative person to fill the position of Agricultural Economist. The Agricultural Economist will participate in the daily implementation of the development programming through supporting key stakeholders to ensure the desired outcomes and targeted behaviours are achieved at household level. It is an opportunity for result oriented and self-motivated individual looking for complex challenges that can make a real difference in people’s lives. The project will contribute to the overarching goal of increased productivity and competitiveness, improved animal production, marketing and health.
[Describe overview of job missio**GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:**
The Livestock Extension Specialist has primary responsibility for developing and conducting livestock extension training, information sharing, and other activities at target livestock markets. S/he will regularly attend the target livestock market days, and present information to farmers to help them improve their productivity and use new technology or practices. S/he will refer farmers to veterinarians, CAHWs, Agrovet shops and other resources based on their needs, thereby serving a large facilitative role.
She/he will be required to work in close coordination with other project staffs in order to be able to provide technical services including, but not limited to, livestock health management, feed and fodder management, livestock marketing, milk production for smallholder livestock owners to improve their production and productivity. The Livestock Extension specialist will work closely with a wide range of service providers at the local level such as agro-vets, para-vets and CAHWs to ensure critical services are provided to the livestock producers while working with District level stakeholders such as District Veterinary Officers (DVOs) and other private and public extension agents to design and test innovative extension services.
The Livestock Extension Specialist will deliver messages in three subject areas: (1) improved livestock production, (2) improved livestock health, and (3) improved livestock marketing and market oriented production. These activities would be implemented in 4 focus districts (Amudat, Nakapriprit, Kotido and Kaabong) which may be reduced to only southern or central Karamoja as needed.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
In collaboration with team members and supervisor:
- Attend and organize on-site trainings and information sharing for male and female livestock farmers mainly in market places and demonstration areas
Provide capacity building trainings to smallholder farmers, local farmer groups, related CBOs, local cooperatives, collection centres and private sector to ensure increased livestock production, productivity, quality and prices benefiting smallholder farmers.
Support the collection of market data while at the markets.
Support other GHG pilot and livestock activities as needed.
Help develop and disseminate pictorial extension materials on livestock production, health, feeding, forage production/conservation, value addition, market orientation and marketing to both male and female farmers.
Conduct meetings with focus groups and make minutes of such meeting.
Reporting the activities on monthly basis.
Help female farmers to plan and implement the livestock activities.
Help to link the FGs with the service deliverers such as agro-dealers CAHWs and PVP etc
He/she should be ready to travel to field and conduct meetings with livestock farmer groups (male and female).
Display good husbandry and health practices during market days as a learning practice for the community
Work closely with the GHG livestock team to identify and pilot interventions in a way that maximizes productivity and competitiveness of small-scale livestock producers and accurately captures production data.
Assist businesses, farmers and youth groups to plan for, develop, and monitor the performance of new livestock-related activities, such as feed block manufacture, silage production, milk distribution, and fattening activities.
Monitor intervention activities and collect beneficiary qualitative and quantitative information, document success stories and maintain proper records and filling systems.
Prepare and submit periodic work plans and activity reports to the project manager.
Apply a gender and youth lens to activities in the program cycle.
Partnership Management:
- Establish and maintain productive working relationships with community, sub-county and district level leaders and solicit their participation in all activities where appropriate
- Make on-site field visits regularly to monitor progress of activities and provide strategic measures for progress to maximize program impact.
- Work with team leader(s) and Mercy Corps technical staff in order to bring synergy among different components of the project.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Create a dynamic program environment that promotes inquiry;
- Establish procedures and guidelines to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of economic development support work including setting and measuring benchmarks along results chains;
- Submit data on time on which the number of livestock producers reached during the reporting period
- Develop tools to simplify data gathering and reporting and ensure teams gather and report necessary data, including Progress made on improve production;
- Provide data in support of team’s submission of timely monthly and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
- Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Information Officers (MELIOs) to ensure accurate and timely flow of information from the field into database and for preparation of communication reports
Research:
- Conduct research projects on specific subjects critical to team success and recommend hiring of external support, where necessary;
- Where needed, support external evaluations by research partners;
Communication and Publication:
- Contribute data, analysis and write-ups to regular organizational publications and reports;
- Work closely with GHG-Livestock team to develop publishable communication material about the project activities (mainly on the livestock extension activities);
- Author occasional papers for wider distribution;
Other:
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner that brings credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission;
- Other duties as assigned by the line manager.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- A degree in Livestock Production with major focus on livestock Production and husbandry
- At least 5 years’ experience in livestock production or husbandry practices especially in a rural or pastoral community.
- Willingness to work in the field with livestock producers, community animal health workers, kraal leaders, businesses in the value chain and communities;
- Ability to interact effectively with a wide range of partners; private sector, government and civil society;
- Demonstrable quantitative skills, including familiarity with livestock extension activities
- Superior writing and analytical skills
- Proven skills in networking, assessing information needs and developing appropriate tools
- Skills in team work, holding community consultations and organizational development;
- Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills
- Good spoken and written English. Fluency in Ngakarimojong and Ethurr is an advantage
How to apply:
Applications: Submit your E-mailed application including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates through the Human Resource Manager to mcjobs@ug.mercycorps.org. Deadline for Submission: Close of business on July 25, 2016 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer; Female Karamonjong candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.