UNDP Specialist -Zimbabwe
Title: Animal Wellbeing Specialist :UNDP Specialist
Strategic Function
The Animal well-Being Program Specialist shares personal experience with farmers to teach techniques to humanely maximize their animals’ productivity and reduce the cost of production to the lowest level possible. The Animal Well-Being Program Specialist will work in close collaboration and coordination with the Program Manager – Enterprise Development and the Program Manager – Cooperatives to ensure successful, innovative, efficient, and effective functioning of all enterprise hubs in the program.
Responsibilities
TECHNOLOGY
Facilitate the well-being of all project animals through the adoption of improved animal management and productivity practices and standards in all projects and programs in
Animal health (prevention and treatment)
Animal husbandry (breeding, nutrition, housing, feed formulation; fodders and forage production, and forage processing; herd management, animal waste management and other ecological production methods, etc.)
Product quality assurance
Collaborate with technical partner(s) to design a training curriculum and develop training materials on animal health, husbandry and animal-related issues in coordination with the Training Manager
Arrange trainings and workshops for a Community Agro-Vet Entrepreneur (CAVE) and project partners on improved animal health and husbandry, and provide follow-up and backstopping in coordination with the Training Manager
Mobilize CAVEs and technical experts as appropriate for improving livestock management practices by project participants including coaching, guiding and training farmers in animal management
Collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to implement a system to monitor the performance of animals and strive for optimum production, while ensuring animal well-being
Ensure that technical and humane standards are followed in the selection, transport, and distribution of healthy and productive animals to project recipients
Facilitate the adoption of improved, innovative and advanced technology to enable production efficiency, safety and sustainability
Facilitate and ensure the adoption of improved forage, fodder and feed production through nursery centers and/or other innovative methods
Actively collaborate with relevant stakeholders for appropriate interventions to animal-related problems/issues occurring in the projects
Develop a mechanism to report/record/track animal health issues
Build innovation in animal production for smallholder farmers, cooperatives/producer associations, etc., to increase efficiency and effectiveness
Develop appropriate strategies to promote a resource village concept
Coordinate a supply of quality veterinary services, equipment, vaccines, medicines, etc., through the hubs as appropriate
Oversee a community-managed animal insurance system
Work with the field team in networking and coordination with appropriate government institutions for veterinary services
Oversee Famers’ Field Schools, support in documentation and explore possibilities to streamline in other projects
Document and disseminate best practices in relation to animal well-being
Animal Health Animal Husbandry Animal Production Appropriate Technology Capacity Building Community Development Community Organization Effectiveness Enterprise Development Livestock Nurse Producer Associations Product Quality Sustainability Training Manager Training of Trainers Trainings Value Chain Waste Management
WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOWARD THE COMMON GOAL
Serve as a team motivator in the Heifer team
With the Program Manager – Enterprise Development and Program Manager – Cooperatives, develop business hubs of cooperatives that have backward and forward linkages into the total value chain
Work in close coordination with the Program Managers for Enterprise Development and Cooperatives on quality assurance and control for all livestock-based products for processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution
Develop capacity building and operationalization of the animal production unit of the business hubs through joint planning, monitoring, and evaluation with the Program Manager – Enterprise Development and Program Manager – Cooperatives
Coordinate with Program Managers (regional office, Cooperatives, and Training) and Senior Program Managers in providing facilitating/backstopping services for capacity building and developing linkages
Participate in the organization and implementation of enterprise development related Training of Trainers for project partners, cooperatives and project farmers
Seek continued growth in the knowledge of Heifer International programs and issues of hunger and poverty
Perform other job-related duties as requested
Most Critical Proficiencies
Knowledge of and experience in working with livestock programs
Ability to inspire adoption of critical new techniques and protocols
Knowledge of and experience with or within community organizations
Fluent in national language/s and English, spoken as well as written
Good leadership qualities
Good communication skills
Have an interest in animals/agriculture/community development
Excellent organizational skills including strong attention to detail
Skills with Microsoft Office package, internet browser, and other appropriate technology
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands
Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision
Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner
Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity
Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public
Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time
Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) floor to waist
Ability and willingness to work with a flexible schedule
Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both locally and internationally
Ability to foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork and cooperation
Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and beliefs, and to gender equity
Required Experience
Minimum Requirements
A Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Science or equivalent plus two (2) years of job-related experience is required.
Other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements.
Job Location Harare, Zimbabwe
Position Type Full-Time/Regular