Livestock Specialist (02 positions)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

With support of the European Union, FAO Pakistan is implementing a project “Post-floods resilient recovery and strengthening of the livestock sector in Balochistan”. The project aims to enhance food security and resilience status of the livestock farmers/households in line with the post-flood Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (4R) Framework and climate smart approaches. In accordance with priorities of the Government of Balochistan set forth in its Balochistan Livestock Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, the project will focus mainly on small ruminants, and reproductive efficiency improvement in dairy. To achieve this goal, the project will build capacity of livestock farming households through a comprehensive and tailored hand-on community outreach following the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, in a bid to improve sustainable production and productivity of husbandry in line with climate resilient approaches while creating/sustaining working opportunities with a focus on youth and women in the target districts of Balochistan. 

FAO wishes to recruit two experienced livestock specialists to support integrated community outreach activities of the project geared at building capacity and empowering livestock farmers in their husbandry practices; genetic breed improvement; disease management; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; preparation of safe and nutritious family food; value addition; and enhancing their opportunities for income generating activities to support their families.

The positions will be level SBIV SC8 and based in Khuzdar and Loralai, Balochistan.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAO Representative in Pakistan, Assistant FAO Representative – Programme and Head of Province, the incumbent will report to the Senior Programme Officer. Within the framework of a programmatic approach, the incumbent will be part of a technical team, and the role will involve close collaboration with various sectoral specialists, and project team both at the province and districts. The incumbent is expected to closely collaborate with the implementing partners for the FFS community outreach and relevant technical departments of Government of Balochistan both at province and district level to ensure alignment of interventions.

Technical Focus

Facilitate integrated capacity building interventions tailored for empowering livestock farmers through Farmer Field Schools on climate smart livestock production technologies and practices; genetic breed improvement; disease management; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; enhancing value addition and processing of diary and meat products wool; income generation activities and market linkages.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide specialized technical assistance in the implementation of the integrated project activities and supervision/monitoring of project activities on climate smart livestock production technologies and practices; genetic improvement; disease management; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; enhancing value addition and processing
•    In collaboration with the rest of the project team, develop a comprehensive gender-sensitive activity plan for empowering livestock farmers including youth and women in the project area through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to be established and implemented through local organisations
•    Provide technical support in planning and implementation of the mass vaccination campaigns, and all other animal health related interventions in coordination with the Livestock and Dairy Development Department (LDDD)
•    Liaise with the government counterparts to articulate needs, develop comprehensive activity and procurement plans, and draft technical specifications for the procurement of livestock inputs to be procured
•    Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of training need assessments, developing simple and well-illustrated appropriate information, extension and communication (IEC) materials and facilitating training programmes in the cluster
•    Liaise with the rest of the project team to ensure that the unique capacity needs of livestock farmers are well integrated into the holistic community outreach through Farmer Field Schools
•    Support the Service Providers for the community outreach and project team to articulate relevant technical content to be included in the practical FFS learning programme
•    Contribute to/edit reports, manuals, guidelines, other specialized publications as they relate to animal production, protection, good farming/livestock practices, producer’s organizations
•    Provide routine technical backstopping to the Project district teams and Service Providers and quality assurance of interventions being implemented through the Farmer Field Schools to enhance knowledge and skills of livestock farmers in climate smart livestock production technologies and practices
•    In collaboration with the Provincial project team, support the district teams in the oversight and quality assurance in the implementation of Letter of Agreements with different Service Providers
•    Keep close track and completeness of all targets, identifying strategic linkages for sustainability completeness 
•    Facilitate production and collating of work plans and progress reports (monthly, quarterly, and final) on the community outreach, case studies, and success stories
•    Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en  
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia   
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en 
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm 
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en    
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree (DVM/MS/MSc/MPhil/PhD) in Livestock/Veterinary Medicine or Animal Sciences (any Specialization/Discipline) 
•    Minimum of 8 years of experience in livestock management especially small ruminants
•    Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of Urdu and local languages (Pushto, Balochi, Brahvi) used in province
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Practical knowledge of livestock management especially small ruminants and poultry & Community organization skills.
•    Proficient in basic computer skills including MS Office.
•    Good interpersonal & communication skills.
•    Strong analysis, report writing, facilitation and presentation skills.
•    Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment and rural communities.
•    Familiarity with UN systems and procedures regarding code of conduct and resource use.
•    Display initiative and take responsibility towards achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved.
•    Understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO would be considered an added asset
•    Continue to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
•    Experience in developing training materials, curricula, and conducting training programs for farmers and extension workers.
•    Familiarity with the agriculture and livestock challenges in Balochistan will be an added advantage.
•    Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and teams.

Selection Criteria

•    Proven experience in Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology
•    Climate Resilient Agriculture/Livestock (CRA), private sector, livestock value chain experience will be an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION