Senior Livestock Development and Commercialization Expert

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 identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Terms of Reference (ToR): Senior Livestock Development and Commercialization Expert BACKGROUND Heifer International Africa Heifer Project International (HPI) is a global non-profit working to end hunger and poverty and care for the Earth by using sustainable practices and engaging smallholder farmers in agricultural development. Heifer was founded on the simple belief that ending hunger begins with giving people the means to feed themselves, generate income and achieve sustainable livelihoods. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 20.7 million households – more than 105 million people – in over 125 countries, through community-based training, appropriate technologies, and agricultural resources, enabling communities to lift themselves out of poverty and hunger on to a path of self-reliance and economic prosperity. Heifer Africa’s footprint in Codesigns with IFAD and Governments As the development programs funding landscape shifts and becomes more competitive than ever, Heifer in Africa will continue to develop a more strategic and skilled approach to meet its funding needs and deepen relationships and strategic partnerships with IFAD, governments, and other key donors. While operating within an ever-changing environment, Heifer is challenged to reach its 2030 goal to support farm families to a living income, and resilient lives. Heifer has been actively and strategically partnering with IFAD for more than a decade. The partnership and relationship with IFAD and governments in Africa has been not only as a project contractor but also as project co-design and co-creation partnership. Heifer’s partnership with governments and IFAD has been in agricultural development in the livestock sector. Heifer country offices that have such relationships and partnerships with both IFAD & governments, among others, include Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Malawi. Tanzania and Ghana also had implemented IFAD and governments funded projects in the past and Heifer has been co-financing and been implementing development projects. Projects for Kenya and Uganda that were co-designed with IFAD and governments taken longer time for approvals. New opportunities being co-designed with IFAD and governments include Dairy development Phase 2 project for Rwanda; Horticultural VCs development for domestic market project for Rwanda and Climate smart dairy development for Tanzania. A Participatory Agriculture and Climate Transformation Project for Ethiopia is another potential project that Heifer was mentioned as a potential implementer and TA services provider. A livestock livelihood development project (SLLD) for Serra Leone has also been co-designed with IFAD, FAO, Sierra Leone government and other partners in FY’24. A Technical Services (TA) services provision has also been required because all partners believed the Sierra Leone government requires capacity building as they deliver on a longer-term 8-year livestock project. IFAD’s Vision and Goal Statement IFAD’s vision of inclusive and sustainable rural transformation is one in which extreme poverty is eliminated and every rural family lives in dignity. To achieve this vision, IFAD’s strategic goal is to continue working with its partners and other stakeholders to generate improved and more resilient livelihoods for all poor rural people, including smallholder farmers, land-poor and landless workers, women and youth, marginalized ethnic groups, and victims of disaster and conflict, while not undermining the natural resource base. The overall objectives and goal of IFAD, in alignment with Heifer’s goal within Africa’s agriculture sector, is to help millions of people find a pathway out of unemployment and keep pace with the rapidly growing population on the continent. As the major employer of people in Africa, agriculture will take the lion share for creating opportunities for youth. Heifer will prioritize value chains that best provide employment opportunities/jobs for young men and women. Alignment of strategic objectives and thematic focus IFAD is one of the strategic partners for Heifer with areas of focus that are aligned with Heifer’s priorities towards Aspiration 2030 focusing on participation & empowerment of small holder farmers, youth and women in agricultural value chains, financial inclusion, private sector partnership, alignment with government priorities/plans, innovation, and technology for development. Scope of the Assignment The overall objective of this assignment is to enhance and strengthen Heifer International Africa’s strategic co-designs and co-creations in partnership with donors like IFAD, AfDB, World Bank, BMGF, AGRA, MCF, etc. fostering engagements for co-design and design technical experts in the respective countries. Heifer will retain and engage a senior livestock value chains development and commercialization expert with decades of working experience with donors and governments in Africa and globally providing technical expert support to the ongoing Heifer – co-designs donors – Government and new co-creations and co-designs in the continent with co-financing from IFAD and other donors - Governments to implement projects by Heifer countries in Africa. The senior expert coordinating with the Senior Business Development and Partnership Director and signature program technical director, support co-design/co-creation opportunities with IFAD, AfDB, World Bank, and Governments. DELIVERABLES The main expected results of this assignment are as follows: