Livestock Specialist

Organizational Setting

The position will be based in Shaheed Benazirabad district (FAO Sakrand office). 

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.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. 
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. 

Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
•     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and 
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

The position is envisaged at SB IV SC 8.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Pakistan and the FAO Head of Province in Sindh, the Livestock Specialist will report day-to-day to the Project Lead of the relevant project. The Livestock Specialist will also contribute as part of a technical team in Sindh as a programmatic approach, especially to the USAID-funded project  “Revival of livelihood, food security, and nutrition of the flood-affected population in Sindh”.

Technical Focus

The Livestock Specialist will provide technical expertise on all livestock-related inputs to achieve the outcomes specified under the relevant projects, including backstopping to the field teams. He/she will work cooperatively with other livestock officials from other FAO projects to ensure best practices are adopted throughout the provincial program.

Tasks and responsibilities

He/she will, in particular:

•    Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including other implementing partners of the concerned projects, partner organizations, livestock breeding, management, and health service providers, livestock product processing businesses, livestock marketing entities, government agencies, and research institutions.
•    Provide specialized technical assistance in the implementation of the project activities and monitoring of livestock health management, breeding and production methods for improving commercial gain.
•    Provide technical support in response to the priority needs of community organizations, producer marketing groups, farmer field schools, and other groups established or supported under the project.
•    Provide capacity building for FAO field teams on livestock health management, including advice and guidance on forming and facilitating livestock producers and marketing groups through dissemination sustainable livestock rearing practices, facilitating adaptive research and participatory learning among relevant stakeholders within the target districts.
•    Prepare technical specifications for procuring livestock inputs and plan the quantities of Inputs to be procured under the project.
•    Provide hands-on assistance during implementation of the livestock producer training program through close collaboration and coordination with the field facilitators.
•    Contribute to baseline and end-line assessment surveys and analyses of the overall status of the livestock sector for the areas targeted by the project.
•    Assist in the preparation of project reports, case studies, and success stories. 
•    Contribute preparation of reports, manuals, guidelines, and other specialized publications as they relate to animal production, protection, good livestock management practices, and formation and growth of producers’ organizations.
•    Provide cross-sectoral technical support to other FAO teams and projects in the Sindh province
•    Provide technical guidance in the broader areas of the livestock management program and its impact on food security.
•    Perform any other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor (Project Lead).

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 (Masters) University degree in veterinary science
•    Minimum eight (8) years of experience in development projects in the livestock sector, private sector livestock operations, or related fields, and knowledge of the Sindh livestock herd characteristics and production systems
•    Working knowledge of English. Knowledge of the local language, Sindhi, is desirable
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Remain open to change and have the ability to manage complexity.
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
•    Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a multicultural environment.
•    Demonstrate capacity to plan, prioritize, and deliver timely tasks to meet goals in a high-pressure environment.
•    Maturity and confidence in dealing with high-ranking officials of government institutions, international institutions, and non-government institutions.
•    Familiar with FAO procedures and possesses strong supervisory, communication, and team building, and computing skills like Ms. word, Excel, and databases: (KOBO)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION