Job Description

Title: Sustainable Livestock Production Lead

Company Name: ACDI/VOCA

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master's degree in agronomy, agricultural economics, veterinary sciences, livestock management or another relevant field.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 10 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ The "Bangladesh Climate Smart Livestock (BCSL)" project, funded by USDA and implemented by ACDI/VOCA is a five-year program. The project seeks to increase the productivity of livestock (cattle and goat) by improving animal health and adoption of new production technologies, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving land resources. The project also aims to improve and increase the trade of livestock (cattle and goat) by linking producers to end buyers and increasing access to investment capital.
∎ Pursuant to its mission, ACDI/VOCA is seeking experienced and talented professionals for the Sustainable Livestock Production Lead position. The Sustainable Livestock Production Lead will provide both management and technical leadership and oversight for activities related to improving livestock production and productivity, access to livestock inputs, markets, and finance as well as processing and trade of livestock products. The Lead will ensure technical assistance to rural livestock entrepreneurs, government of Bangladesh, and other relevant stakeholders and thereby facilitate improved buyer-seller relationships and agricultural lending and risk reduction strategies in the livestock sector.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Lead all program management and support functions for the designated areas of operation and work in coordination with the other team leads.
∎ Support the project's Market Systems Diagnostic study to confirm and expand the initial list of most influential and impactful actors and issues to be targeted under each activity.
∎ Lead the project's food safety leverage point analysis to identify areas to target for highest impact, such as for decreasing intentional adulteration, unintentional contamination, and improving adherence to biosecurity standards.
∎ Develop systems and incentivize large meat and dairy firms to invest in and procure from farmers more effectively.
∎ Promote models for SMEs and slaughterhouses to increase product diversification, marketing, and adherence to sanitary and safety standards and build capacity of service and technology providers to deliver climate smart solutions more effectively to livestock producers and processors.
∎ Support financial services providers (FSPs) to improve and scale financial products and services, particularly risk reduction products such as livestock insurance, for smallholders, processors, and producer groups. Through project access to finance specialists, subcontractors, and/or consulting services, identify areas for technical assistance to support FSPs to adapt products to be more inclusive of vulnerable groups and to address the financing needs of smallholder livestock producers, including collateral requirements and other loan terms and conditions.
∎ Increase smallholders', processors', and producer groups' ability to seek and qualify for financing that expands opportunities for livestock and dairy through management of business advisory services and financial literacy trainings for these groups, which will be delivered through access to finance project staff members, subcontractors, or business support services (BSS).
∎ Directly supervise the five (5) employees assigned and provide relevant guidance and support in their day-to-day activities. Responsible for managing employees' performance, career development and growth.
∎ Provide technical oversight and guidance to subcontractor(s) or consultant(s) delivering services to project stakeholders or participants on behalf of the project, including originating technical scopes of work, participating in selection or hiring process, and management of the services throughout delivery.
∎ Collaborate with appropriate project staff to integrate gender, youth, and social inclusion considerations into project design, implementation, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning processes.
∎ Collaborate with appropriate staff to support implementation of the project Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion strategy.
∎ Promote a culture of collaboration and learning amongst internal project staff and project stakeholders through knowledge sharing, developing thought pieces, and attending industry events.
∎ Report on and be accountable to relevant activity outcomes and impacts as well as the project's annual and life of project targets of relevance to the team lead's technical portfolio.
∎ May perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Ten (10) years or more of relevant experience. Minimum 4 years working in livestock management or agriculture extension programming in Bangladesh.
∎ Proven experience in achieving project objectives in a context of similar scope. Ability to collaboratively work in project teams to assess progress and adapt approaches or activities as needed to ensure project objectives are met.
∎ Demonstrated results working with market system actors.
∎ Strong understanding of the agriculture finance sub-sector in Bangladesh and the financing needs of actors in the livestock sector including average cash flow and needs of smallholder farmers, constraints to meet or access existing financial products, existing or successful services targeting priority populations for the project, etc.
∎ Demonstrated experience with teams and professional groups in a cross-cultural environment
∎ Fluent with computer-based Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)
∎ Prior experience with USAID projects, procedures, policies and reporting requirements
∎ Excellent interpersonal and English communication skills, both verbal and written
∎ Able to clearly demonstrate livestock productivity enhancement, improved processing, and market systems strengthening under complex agro-ecological setting.
∎ Strong analytical skills, including ability to gather and analyze a variety of information pertaining to issues and to develop appropriate recommendations for action.
∎ Ability to negotiate, advise, and resolve issues that are highly complex and sensitive in nature.
∎ Ability to work in partnership with local communities, government and private livestock institutions, market system actors and NGOs as appropriate.
∎ Professional working experience in gender mainstreaming and gender sensitive actions in the areas of climate action including proven experiences in climate change gender action plans will be a significant asset.
∎ Strong coordination skills and interpersonal/communications skills.
∎ Fluency in Bengali and English required.
∎ Ability to travel within the country as necessary.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 28 Nov 2023

Company Information:
∎ 16 Nov 2023
∎ ACDI/VOCA
∎ Business : Since 1963 and in 148 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that designs and delivers technical and management solutions in agriculture, economic growth, and resilience to promote economic prosperity and social inclusion.

Category: NGO/Development