RDDP II Project Coordinator

Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

The Organization

Since 1944, Heifer International has supported more than 36 million Small Holder Farmer (SHF) families globally lift themselves out of hunger and poverty while caring for the earth in partnership with the communities we serve including Youth & Women. Heifer International is now accelerating its strategic approaches to closing the Sustainable Living Income (SLI) gap for 10 million additional SHF households globally by 2030.

In Rwanda, our aim is moving 300,000 smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable living income by 2030 against Heifer Africa target of 6.745 million. Heifer does this through the sustainable locally led Development approach.

Function

Employee shall be responsible for the coordination of matters related to extension service delivery both in the office and field activities related to animal production through the adoption of improved animal management, productivity practices and standards to ensure animal health, animal husbandry and product quality assurance is achieved. Employee shall provide technical guidance to field teams throughout the implementation, ensure good collaboration with communities and local authorities; make sure that project Officers and beneficiaries have knowledge and skills to humanely maximize animals’ productivity and reduce the cost of production to the lowest level possible, while working in close collaboration and coordination with the RDDP Project Manager (the “Project Manager”) to ensure successful, innovative, efficient, and effective functioning of all enterprise hubs in the RDDP areas. Employee shall also be responsible for consolidating field data and evidence to support any impact achieved.

Essential Character Traits

Drives results, accountable, manages complex environments, excellent and effective communication, resourcefulness, manages conflict, respectful, flexible and team player.

Responsibilities & Deliverables

A. Coordinate the effective implementation of the RDDP activities on the field (40%)

• Monitor the development and execution of the monthly work plans and report on their progress.
• Supervise the farmer field technician.
• Ensure organization and supervision of animal husbandry and wellbeing field activities.
• Compile employees’ monthly, quarterly, and annual work development plan, and ensure that they are aligned with the overall RDDP implementation plans.
• Coordinate and facilitate planning, implementation, and reporting on RDDP activities for animal production and animal health in the Project area.
• Coordinate the multiplication and dissemination of improved animal breeds.
• Prepare and submit relevant, measurable, and time-bound project information to the Project Manager on monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually basis.
• Participate in the development of technical training material and coaching programs on animal production.
• Update databases of RDDP beneficiaries in a well and neatly complete training attendance sheets.
• Ensure that the training material and logistics are coordinated to routine implementation of trainings and other Project services.
• Coordinate, supervise and report on the effectiveness and efficiency of field veterinary service delivery and disease control.
• Develop quarterly procurement plan for all items needed for establishing and running field activities.
• Supervise service providers and ensure quality on the construction of planned cowsheds and spray races.
• Develop quarterly plans for all items needed for establishing and strengthening farmers self-help groups (“SHGs”).
• Review and approve annual, monthly quarterly, semester reports from SHGs.

B. Representation and stakeholder's management (30%)

• Represent RDDP in the region.
• Identify “partners” in the field and nurture strategic relationships with local authorities.
• Assess RDDP implementation risks in the field and inform the Project Manager to design mitigation measures.
• Participate in all planned RDDP related meetings/events.
• Ensure relationships with Project “partners” at district level are regularly nurtured and report any issue of interest for HPI’s work to the Project Manager as soon as it arises.
• Ensure cluster monthly work plans are shared with the district Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU)/Rwanda & RDDP representative on a regular basis.
• Ensure cluster work plans and reports are shared with the district (RGB online system) semi-annually.
• Participate in all regular and any relevant meetings/events that may come up.
• Review district annual performance plan report with the Project Manager at the start of the fiscal year to allow alignment between RDDP and district specific priorities.

C. Provision of veterinary, extension, and advisory services to Project beneficiaries (25%)

• Provide Support in Conducting artificial insemination (“AI”) and synchronization, mobile clinic, and pasture development of dairy cattle in the area of operations.
• Mobilize farmers on risk management including livestock insurance.
• Promote climate resilient best practices and investments at farmer level.
• Create synergies with local animal husbandry, AI and extension service providers to maintain disease free stock of animals distributed by RDDP throughout RDDP’s lifetime.
• Provide support in the breeding and animal health services to the beneficiaries and report the number of AI performed and number of offspring born annually throughout the RDDP’s lifetime.
• Conduct regular ambulatory clinics (preventive and curative measures) up to the end of the Project’s lifetime.
• Conduct regular household visits to advise farmers on needed improvements as far as improved animal management is concerned.
• Provide daily support to sensitize beneficiaries on sustainable management of natural resources.

D. May perform other job-related duties (5%)

• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor(s).

Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Veterinary Sciences, Animal Production, Rural Development, or business development, minimum of ten (10) years in a mix of dairy production, value chain competitiveness, or agriculture development sectors.
2. Experience working with governments, private sector, and local institutions.
3. Experience in proposal development.

Preferred Requirements

1. Master’s degree in business development.
2. Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda (fluency in other languages is a plus).

Most Critical Proficiencies

1. Good understanding of annual work planning and budgeting across complex programs.
2. Experience in developing private public “partnerships” especially at national and district level.
3. Experience in community group formation and strengthening.
4. Maintain knowledge and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger, and the environment.
5. Excellent organizational skills.
6. Experience working with various commodities and value-chains.
7. Strong communicator across different teams in a matrix reporting structure.
8. Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of planning processes.
10. Demonstrate creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions.
11. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully, and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people.
12. Innovative, analytical, and solutions oriented.
13. Significant knowledge and experience in supporting producer organizations to plan and implement gender, youth strategies and social capital development approaches.
14. Demonstrate knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, and underprivileged.
15. Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.
16. Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and advocate within the industry.
17. Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.
18. Knowledge of and experience with developing private/public partnerships at the national and business level.
19. Demonstrate proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Preparing and presenting program reports and presentations in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.
2. Proven team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.
3. Regularly conduct stakeholder analysis to strengthen partnerships and leveraging of resources.
4. Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the public to scale up country program visibility and publicity.
5. May require constant sitting, working at a computer, focusing for extended periods of time, and performing office work in the field and/or in remote conditions.
6. Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting strict deadlines.
7. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
8. Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PPT and Microsoft Project.