Regional Livestock Productions and Health Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience-building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF.

Positions are 4 in different duty stations: Bamyan, Gardez, Herat, and Kunduz.

Reporting Lines

Overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator and the technical supervision of the Head of Livestock Team.

Technical Focus

Provision of technical assistance in the area of animal health, animal production, and value chain development

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute towards the development of an extension, animal health, feed, fodder crop, and AI data collection network and assist in analysing the data to prepare recommendations for extension staff and farmers;
• Participate in field activities, including administering dewormer medicine, distribution of concentrate animal feed, distribution of live pullets and poultry packages to project beneficiaries with the collaboration of the Implementing partners at the regional level;
• Support the preparation of training modules to be delivered to technical staff of implementing partners, which aims to strengthen the linkage of households with field veterinarians and para-veterinarians;
• Provide training and supervision for field staff in extension work, specifically on animal feeding, fodder crops, rearing of calves and heifers, animal health, cattle housing, and improvement of the genetic potential of the local animal breed;
• Support the timely distribution of project inputs to households with specific reference to addressing the proper storage of inputs;
• Implement animal health related vaccination campaigns;
• Work in close collaboration with the other field officers to monitor the implementing partner's field activities to assure the smooth project implementation;
• Monitor activities, ensure adherence to the work plan timeframe, and make recommendations to the Head Livestock Team for any required procedural changes;
• Support the team members in providing the sessional calendar for livestock intervention in the Region;
• Participate in regional training workshops as appropriate;
• Regularly contacting field visits to monitor the livestock condition, animal production in order to explore the actual challenges of the farmers to be addressed by the program;
• Perform any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) or University degree (Bachelor) in veterinary science/livestock production
• For Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) at least five (5) years of relevant work experience in animal health and animal production
• For university degree (Bachelor) at least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in animal health and animal production.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
• National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience with emergencies and development initiatives in Afghanistan;
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of activities in collaboration with public and private sectors;
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with partners and other stakeholders;
• Experience with the United Nations or I/NGOs is considered a strong asset.
• Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.