Background

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) is a politically and religiously neutral humanitarian organization head quartered in Berne Switzerland. The organization works to improve lives and livelihoods in areas where livestock plays a lifeline. It also links nutrition with agriculture and promotes One Health initiatives through a number of its humanitarian and development projects. VSF Suisse is operational in seven countries of West and East Africa. It is currently implementing projects and programs in the Somali and Oromia Regional States of Ethiopia.

In partnership with its partner organizations, ILRI and ICRAF, VSF Suisse will implement a project entitled, “Silvopastoralism and Animal Welfare in Borana (SAWA-Borana)” to be implemented in selected woredas in the Borana zone of Oromia Regional State. This is action research project focusing on the knowelege attitude and practice in Borana on silvopastoralism and its impacts on animal welfare. The project is designed to understand the local institutions, knowledge and customary practices relate to dry forest management, animal husbandry and animal welfare.

VSF-Suisse seeks to hire a Project Officer – Silvopastoralism and Animal Welfare who will be based in the Borana Field Office, Yabello. The officer will have the overall responsibility of conducting and facilitating the project implementation under the direct supervision of VSF Suisse Borana Field Office Coordinator, the guidance of a technical staff in the Country office and in close collaboration with partner organizations. 

Responsibilities

Agroforestry/Silvopastoralism and Animal Welfare:

•  As a field officer for the SAWA Borana project, the incumbent will be representing VSF Suisse on technical matters on animal welfare and agroforestry/ Silvopastoralism in appropriate fore in Borana;
• He/she will participate in the advocacy of silvopastoralism, animal welfare issues and concerns in the zone in the context of the local community’s culture, knowledge, attitude and practice;
•  He/she will be responsible for providing information on local practices, challenges and opportunities in Borana for further develop ment of programs and projects on Silvopastoralism and animal welfare.
• He/she will assist in identifying local opportunities for agro-forestry, non-timber forest products and related agribusiness opportunities such as apiary, gums and incenses, etc

Research Support:

• The project officer will participate in the field work relating to the VSF Suisse Borana Field office activities including field assessment on the status of silvopastoralism and animal welfare in the Borana community;
• He/she will participate in archiving, summarizing and documenting relevant literature;
• She/he will participate in facilitation of field research undertakings by senior investigators including on focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs) and other relevant participatory research methods;
• The project officer is responsible to supervise and facilitate a regular field data collection based on research tools, approaches and methods designed by senior researchers from VSF Suisse and partner organizations;

Communication:

• The incumbent will support in data recording, compiling field reports and communication of findings in the local context;
• He/she will be a person in charge to organize workshops, trainings, and awareness campaigns that requires local level communication
• Assist in identifying appropriate communication tools from KIIs and community discussion

Field Supervision:

•  Provides technical support, context specific information and serves as a resource person for cultural and customary practices regarding forests and livestock in Borana community;
• Supervise community animal health workers, grass roots level volunteers and community facilitators of VSF Suisse on silvopastoralism and animal welfare issues;
• Mentor the community and staff on agro-forestry actions, livestock husbandry and welfare issues including the protection of dry forests, biodiversity, routine health care, feeding, watering, breeding and welfare of livestock in Borana community;

Financial Management

• Contribute to compliance and quality of financial system at field office level
• Draft project activity budget, work plan and expenditure forecasts, for submission to the Field Office Coordinator and Finance Officer
• Draft monthly activity related financial budget and project expenditure forecasts
• Submit punctual monthly expenditure reports according to the VSF Suisse guidelines.

Job Requirements

Education, Qualifications & other knowledge

• BSc/BA/MA/MSc in natural resource management, animal production, veterinary sciences, rangeland management, pastoral development, social anthropology with strong background in animal welfare
• Five years’ work experience in livestock, agro-forestry, dryland agriculture and rangeland management or related projects in lowland pastoralist areas, preferably in Borana
• Strong skills in facilitation, coaching relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism, preferably in projects on agro-forestry and livestock value addition,
• Experience and understanding of the context of Borana lowlands, pastoral livelihoods, culture and customary institutions,
• Experience and understanding of NGOs’ working environment and culture
• Strong experience in the use of participatory methodologies such PRA, FGD, KII etc.
• Willingness to leave and work in rural/marginal areas and ability to work with minimal supervision,
• Excellent in written and spoken English and Afan Oromo is mandatory and skills in other local languages is additional advantage
• Computer literacy, excellent record keeping and report writing
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to employ critical thinking skills and work independently to solve problems and contribute to the achievement of deliverables
• Good community level facilitation and coordination skills
• Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the goals & values of VSF-Suisse
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to liaise, consult, and interact professionally with technical and managerial staff, mid- and senior-level government officials, direct supervisors, external agencies, service providers, donors, technical and operations staff

What we offer

•  A qualified, dynamic and highly motivated team of colleagues;
• The opportunity to actively contribute to the future design of the project implementation;
• Job with responsibilities in a demanding and challenging environment;
• Competitive salary as well as a medical and social insurance scheme.
• A unique, Innovative and relevant project for pastoral communities in southern lowland;
• One Year contract 

How to Apply

Entry date and contract length

Mid-January 21.

Application procedure and deadline

We look forward to receiving your application in English. Please add:

• A motivation letter (maximum 1 page) stating why you are the right person for this position
• A recent CV of 3 pages maximum;
• Scanned copies of your work certificates and relevant university diplomas;

Send your application by e-mail with the position being applied for as the email subject to adenew.teshome@vsf-suisse.org by COB 28^th of December 2020.