Vacancy title:
Livestock Officer

Jobs at:
Mercy Corps

Deadline of this Job:
22nd October 2018

Duty Station:
Kaabong, Uganda

Summary
Date Posted: 17th October 2018 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed , Employment Type: Full-Time

JOB DETAILS:
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Operating in Uganda since 2006, Mercy Corps has field offices in Kitgum, Pader, Kotido and Kaabong and implements programs that cover a wide variety of program sectors including food security, health/nutrition, water/sanitation, peace building, youth, agriculture, and econ development

LIVESTOCK OFFICER– 01 VACANCY (BASED IN KAABONG).

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in Uganda since 2006 and works to catalyze change through the Ugandan private sector, civil society and government to create resilient, economically inclusive, healthy, and secure communities. Our work focuses on building resilience and enabling economic growth, improving opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, improving governance and conflict management, and bridging humanitarian response with longer term development outcomes. We implement programs in Acholi, Karamoja and West Nile Sub-regions, as well as eastern Uganda and the greater Kampala area with funding from USAID, Sida, US State Department, SDC, DFID as well as other private donations.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Mercy Corps Livestock Officer will work to improve the economic future and quality of life of program beneficiaries. The Officer will implement and support facilitation projects that support the growth of livestock value chains in Karamoja in collaboration with the Livestock Manager for the North, Senior Veterinarian for the South and with direction from the Livestock Advisor

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
STRATEGY & VISION

• Develop the strategy for and subsequently implement innovative actions for livestock market systems development, both in building the capacity of local livestock actors, crowding in additional actors, and ensuring an enabling environment for pro-livestock growth in Karamoja
  
• Actively advance Mercy Corp’s connections to livestock actors at local, regional and national level, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration and coordination of activities.
  
• Work with the MSD Manager to develop livestock related research and monitoring of livestock market systems analyses, business cases and intervention plans in the selected sectors to improve impact
  

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

• Work in consultation with the Mercy Corps livestock health Production and Marketing teams, national drug companies, district veterinary officers and other key partners in planning and implementation of veterinary service extension activities of Apolou program according to the approved work plans and budgets;
  
• Work with livestock producers have improved knowledge and skills and adopt practices that are nutrition sensitive and support resilience,
  
• Work with farmers to commercializing livestock value chains and live animal trading and profitable provision of community animal health services and increasing fodder production,
  
• Work with Livestock output markets to facilitate strengthening and expansion
  
• Work with youth to improve on and off farm livelihood opportunities in the livestock sector
  
• Work with the DVOs office to facilitate creation of an enabling environment in Karamoja for livestock is to support target markets and improved nutrition and security.
  
• Work closely with agro-vet shops and livestock traders to identify capacity gaps of CAHWs and farmers’ challenges and provide technical support, design tools and activities for improvement and follow up the implementation;
  
• Work in liaison with the district veterinary officers and agro-vet shops, the LTO will design and implement a supervisory plan for CAHWs to ensure quality service delivery to farmers;
  
• Build and maintain close coordination and co-operation with district veterinary department, ministry of agriculture, research institutions, sector working groups and development agencies to ensure synergy and improved coordination among programs/interventions;
  
• Work closely with NDA to oversee the work to control the illegal sale of animal drugs in the markets;
  

ETHICS AND INTERGRITY:

• All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination
  

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• The ideal candidate should preferably hold a degree in animal related science (Veterinary medicine, animal husbandry; production and marketing) or its equivalent;
  
• At least three years of relevant experience with proven technical experience in the field;
  
• Willingness to work in the field with agro-vet shops, Community animal health workers, kraal leaders and communities;
  
• Possess the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of partners; private sector, government and civil society;
  
• Skills in team work, holding community consultations and organizational development;
  
• Excellent reporting, communication and representation skills
  
• Skills in networking, team-working, and community consultations
  
• Good spoken and written English. Fluency in Ngakarimojong and Pokot is an advantage