Livestock Technical Assistant / Country Representative AVSF

• Location: Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia Region (ex-SNNPR)
• Type of contract: Employee on a fixed-term contract (French law)
• Duration of the contract: 1 year renewable (remaining project duration: until mid-2029)
• Desired date of arrival: Early November 2024
• Application deadline: 12/07/2024

Agronomes & Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) is a French association (NGO) of international solidarity recognised as being of public utility, which has been working since 1977 to support peasant agriculture. Present in 23 countries, AVSF puts agricultural, livestock and animal health professionals skills at the service of peasant communities threatened by exclusion and poverty. AVSF thus supports their initiatives to obtain better living conditions, to sustainably manage the natural resources they depend on, and to participate in the socio-economic development of their territory. AVSF helps them defend their rights and gain recognition for their role in society.

CONTEXT

Since mid-2020, the NGO Inter Aide, member of the Groupe Initiatives, has been leading the implementation of a large program called “Highlands project” of “Support to family farming in the mountainous areas of Southern Ethiopia” (Central Ethiopia Region – former SNNPR), in which AVSF is specifically in charge of developing the Livestock Component. This is AVSF’s first intervention in Ethiopia and it operates within Inter Aide’s local administrative and logistic structure. From July 2024, this project enters a new 5-years phase within PROCEED (Public Result Oriented Cooperation in Ethiopia for Effective Development) project, funded by AFD (French Agency for Development), still led by InterAide France, in continuation of former “Highlands” action.

Within this framework, and since the beginning of 2021, AVSF has been providing Inter Aide with technical expertise and support in defining and implementing activities to improve income from livestock (mainly dairy products) by working on both (i) primary production, in particular the improvement of husbandry practices, fodder management and genetic improvement of herds, (ii) support for the improvement of animal health services provided to farmers, and (iii) support for a better development of the milk sector for smallholder women-led families.

To carry out the actions of the Livestock Component, AVSF has a Technical Assistant (TA) and two local managers working full time in the field. The TA also acts as AVSF’s Country Representative (CR).

JOB DESCRIPTION

The TA/CR works under the hierarchical responsibility of the Director of Operations, in connection with the Program Manager of the Livestock and Animal Health Unit at AVSF headquarters and the Inter Aide Project Manager and in close coordination with the Inter Aide teams in Ethiopia and France. His/her role will be to manage and follow up the implementation of the livestock activities of the project, as well to ensure the monitoring-evaluation and reporting of this component. He/she will supervise the team of local technical assistants (2 people to date).

More specifically the TA/CR will continue the deployment of experimental activities and studies regarding main determinant factors to dairy production that were launched in phase I (feeding and husbandry practices, disease prevention, genetic improvement), deepen the support strategy to the decentralized veterinary services to improve farmers’ access to animal health services, develop the dairy chain value for smallholder families benefit.

In addition to the technical and operational management of the project’s activities, the person recruited will also ensure the strengthening of links with local and national authorities in livestock area (Ministry of Livestock) and in particular animal health (veterinary services).

He/she will be the official representative of AVSF in Ethiopia, with the local and national authorities, as well as with Inter Aide’s country coordination. He/she will contribute to the advocacy, communication and associative life of AVSF in Ethiopia and in general.

Living and working conditions :

• Position based in Central Ethiopia Region, in Shinshicho town (where there’s already an equipped house) or Sodo town with daily travelling to Shinshicho office.
• Frequent and regular travel to the field in the administrative areas of Kembata Zone and Tembaro Special Woreda, Hadiya and North West Wolayta.
• An Inter Aide car is allocated to AVSF activities and for personal use out of working schedule.
• Security: Security conditions are good in the field (project area in yellow on the MEAE map). The person recruited will apply the security rules in force both at AVSF and within the InterAide team locally.

EXPECTED PROFILE

• Education: Higher education (Master’s degree or equivalent) in veterinary science, animal production, agronomy or agro-economics. Specialisation or strong interest in animal production (zootechnics) and/or animal sectors is a plus;
• Experience: at least 3 years of proven experience in a project management position in an NGO or similar institution in the domain of rural and local development;
• Other skills: ability to work in a team and in the field, strong analytical and synthesis skills, strong
  interpersonal and writing skills, and a good personal capacity for autonomy and adaptation to
  work in difficult local conditions.

AVSF strives to develop an inclusive work environment that reflects the diversity of its staff within its teams. As an employer, AVSF offers equal opportunities for employment to all regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, social status, disability and age.

Skills required:

• Experience in rural development program management (mastery of project cycle management), skills in monitoring and evaluation and capitalisation of experience are required;
• Pedagogical capacity towards the team and the beneficiaries, capacity building skills;
• Technical skills or practical experiences in animal production (dairy cattle), organisation of veterinary services, supply chains and technical support methods for producers are highly appreciated;
• Ability to work in an intercultural context, in a partnership frame where AVSF is under administrative/financial management of InterAide;
• Fluency in English is essential (daily working language);
• Computer skills are required.

JOB CONDITIONS

• Integration pathway: 3 days in Lyon and Nogent sur Marne / possibly remotely if necessary
• Gross monthly salary: According to the current grid; To be discussed during the interview
• Social benefits:
  • Coverage of air tickets (if expatriate profile, and for spouse and children)
  • Coverage of the cost of transporting baggage sent as unaccompanied freight for the initial outward journey and the final return journey (if expatriate profile)
  • Social security coverage for the employee and his/her family: CFE – mutual insurance – provident fund – health repatriation and civil liability insurance.

More info: https://www.avsf.org/fr