Introduction

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984 with its headquarters in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender. The office officially started its operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Hargelle, Elkere, Bare and Dekasuftu, Afar Regional State; Ewa and Gulina, Oromia Regional State; Chiro and Meayso and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us.

Vacancy Announcement  IR/INT/EXT/VN/007.23

February 10, 2023

Post Title:                     Senior Emergency Livestock Officer              

Duty Station:              Afar Regional State, Zone Two - Abala

Reports to:                   Project Manager                          

Required:                     One

Duration:                      8 months with possible extension based on performance review and budget                                                availability  

Salary:                            As per the organization scale

 Job Summary

The post holder will provide strategic Livelihood Sector guidance and leadership under the supervision in regular consultation with the supervisor, implements emergency livestock activities at Afar Regional State, Zone 2. Responsible for the technical contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency livestock interventions that able to protect the livelihood of Afar pastoral and agropastoral communities who affected by recurrent drought and conflict. 

Create a transparent and environment friendly service in the project area where he /she is responsible to Improve the livestock assets of the vulnerable intervention pastoral and agro-pastoral households, through enhanced existing livestock intervention of the target community members that would help to improved the food security. She/he provides overall technical, organizational support and plays a leading role in livetsock intervention activities she/he is assigned, including technology and best practices, awareness creation and linkages and behavioral change through education, information and communication. She/he supports people’s empowerment, collective action and solidarity. Facilitates and encourages active participation of and networking between individuals and communities in recognizing problems, identifying solutions, and implementing project activities related to the identified solutions.

He/she will lead the design, monitoring and evaluation of Islamic Relief’s emergency livestock interventions.  He/she will lead the overall the livestock intervention in and provide technical support to the field teams and represent Islamic Relief in the Regional National livelihood and food security forum and other related clusters. Central to his role will be building the capacity of field staff and relevant offices.

The senior emergency livestock Officer will also be responsible for timely implementation of the planned activities, documentation of the project plans, outputs, outcomes and reporting as per the reporting schedule set by the project under close supervision of the delegated project manager in the area.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

·       Develop and regularly update a detailed project work plan guiding the project implementation and ensure the project team under your management to monitor project progress towards completion.

·       Initiate and carry out timely monitoring to all CAHWs supported by the project.  The Monitoring includes both physical progress and drug and kit status and its utilization by the supported and assigned CAHWs.

·       Ensure that all CAHWs and animal health technicians provide services of high quality to the livestock owners in the project area.

·       Identify the necessary drugs and kits for animal health service provision

·       In collaboration with the Bureau of Livestock, design appropriate training curriculum for CAHWs, and ensure that it is delivered accordingly.

·       Supervise and document training activities designed to enhance the capacity of the community animal health workers.

·       Provide technical and material support to the district level government livestock office including animal health posts.

·       Identify relevant animal feed and supply to the needy livestock herders as the project document

·       Prepare and review quarter and project life time activity plans and budget for the project under implementation

·       Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, quarterly activity plans and reports of the project, and Submit to the relevant staff on time.

·       Identify and request appropriate materials for the project as per the project document and ensure proper utilization of the project resources.

·       Identify the direct target beneficiaries of the project in collaboration with the local community representatives and stakeholders from the government.

·       Represent the office in matters related with the project in the meetings for knowledge sharing when delegated.

·       Work closely with all stakeholders and ensure the community participation in the project activities.

·       Work closely in a team with other project officers and contribute to the maximum of his /her knowledge to the project team in his/her areas of profession as deemed necessary

·       Perform other functions as requested by the immediate supervisor

Project Cycle Management & Programme Quality

·       Develops and maintains a detailed project plan and manages project deliverables in line with the project plan

• Work closely with the project manager and support staff to provide appropriate guidance and managerial support to implement the project in line with the objectives laid out in the donor approved proposal (s);

·      To report regularly, verbally and in writing to the project manager on regular basis on programme progress;

·      Ensures that the livelihood project components are planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated in line with the terms and conditions of the agreement

• Support and promote programme quality and project strengthening activities e.g. data management, project quality meetings, learning events and partnership reviews;

• Monitoring and evaluating the project regularly, ensuring partners’ and community participation as appropriate, as well as accountability towards communities;

• Follow up on MEAL activities and findings ensuring that learning from monitoring and evaluation is included and strategies and programme implementation are adapted accordingly;

• Mainstream gender, protection, safeguarding and inclusion within the intervention, with advice from the protection and inclusion focal person;

• Establish and maintain clear lines of communication with project staff and ensure internal communication is effective;

• Ensure project activities have the appropriate visibility in compliance with donor requirements and procedures.

• Lead on initiating relevant procurement processes, with support from Logistics, in line with programme spending and procurement planning.

External Representation and Consortium Coordination

• Serve as primary project representative to local stakeholders and partners, responsible for addressing all project matters;

• Develop and maintain positive relations with relevant partner, project right holders and community members;

• Assist with the coordination of visits of donors, and/or partners related to the project;

• Facilitate effective working relations with colleagues around communications, policy and advocacy issues and concerns, ensuring evidence-based programmatic input into policy and media messaging;

• When needed, lead on organizing events, such as joint advocacy, research, project launch etc., coordinating closely with the policy and media team.

Job Requirements

Personal Specification

Formal Education/Qualification

·      BSc degree in veterinary sciences, animal health, animal sciences or livestock production. 

Work Experience

·      Minimum 3 years of professional work experience in development work (specifically in managing programmes in food security and livelihoods sector

·      Experience working in pastoralist setting preferably in Afar region

·      Experience implementing institutional donor grants

 Required Skills/Competencies

•  Demonstrated technical expertise and experience in local economic development, livelihoods and/or social integration programming;

• Experience in working with pastoral and agro pastoral communities;

• Familiar with the “Decent Working Conditions” and the indecent aspects faced in country by stakeholders (employees, women, People with Disabilities, refugees, children and more);

• Good knowledge of developing and implementing monitoring systems professional relationships with donors, partners and peer organisations;

• Management skills & experience, including line management, management of other resources, evidence of capacity to support others;

• Evidence of project cycle management experience, including design, planning, budgeting, monitoring & evaluation and reporting;

• Experience in implementing projects involving local organizations as implementing partners;

• Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills;

• Good interpersonal, influencing and communication skills;

• Proven team leadership and ability to work independently as required;

• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts;

• Good written and spoken English;

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications;

• Proven experience in livelihood activities including income generating activities, food security, resilience and managing risks;

• Understanding of poverty, vulnerability and resilience and inequality in access to resources, assets and services;

• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;

• Creating synergies through self-control;

• Proven knowledge of and experience with donor funding environment and good financial and project management skills;

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions.  With a zero tolerance approach Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

 Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity  to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity. 

How to Apply

Application Procedures

·       Interested candidates are required to submit a complete Job application form with all required supporting documents (copy of credentials and testimonials) through Ethiopia.HR@islamic-relief.org.et.

·       You can access the Job Application Form with this link: http://www.islamic-relief.org.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Employment-Application-form-1.docx. Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application.

·       Closing date for the application is February 17, 2023.

·       Due to the high volume of application, we regret that we will be able to contact only the shortlisted candidates.

·      Female candidates are highly encouraged