National Livestock Extension Specialist Full Time

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO representatives, is to assistant governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas: sustainable increase in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crisis.

The current portfolio of projects in South Sudan includes activities related to agriculture (crop), livestock, Fisheries, Natural Resource management, food information systems is implemented with humanitarian, transitional and development funding. The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the project he/she will coordinate and be assigned.

Reporting Lines

The National Livestock Extension Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Head of field office and direct supervision of the Livestock Development Officer in Juba.

Technical Focus

Tasks and responsibilities

• Identify Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW) and their networks; facilitate CAHWs’ trainings
• Support field level livestock epidemio – surveillance (animal disease reporting, monitoring and surveillance) mainly focusing on priority and transboundary animal diseases, working with CAHWs, and county / state level government animal health workers; lead and participate in livestock situation analysis/assessments, and livestock disease outbreak investigations.
• Conduct regular assessments and reporting of the state of livestock feed and livestock markets; provide regular reports and updates on the livestock situation, and condition / availability of pasture and water for animals
• Implement animal husbandry, feed management and livestock products / by-products good practices
• Ensure the solar vaccine cold chain network is functional and collaborate with One Health partners to access additional cold chain capacity as needed.
• Conduct direct implementation of animal vaccinations and treatments and other livestock activities
• Liaise with implementing partners and conduct regular field monitoring of their activities and review periodic progress reports
• Lead the state level Livestock Technical Working Group; support the development of technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks
• Facilitate the introduction of a cost recovery approach to the provision of animal health services working with CAHWs; enhance private sector engagement in support to animal health services and commercial supply of veterinary drugs.
• Provide support to the roll – out of livestock shows in order to promote commercialization of the livestock sector and deliver extension services geared at improving animal production (quality of animals versus quantity).
• Support livestock sector interventions aligned with the United Nations Response Strategy to Mitigate Cattle Raiding Related Conflict in South Sudan and other programmes/projects implemented jointly with other organizations.
• Participate and provide technical support during pastoralist pre – and post migration conferences
• Support livestock sector project formulation working with the Head of Field Office and the FAO Livestock technical unit in Juba
• Perform any other related duties and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in veterinary science/medicine or related field. An advanced university degree is an added advantage.
• Five years of relevant working experience in animal health and with pastoralism in South Sudan.
• Experience with community based approach to provision of animal health services to agro-pastoralists working with CAHWs
• South Sudan National.

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 South Sudan.
• Working knowledge of English and Arabic will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of activities in collaboration with public and private sectors
• Experience in project formulation, operation, implementation and monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other stakeholders.