Dairy Farming Expert

We are here for our neighbors in need, who are suffering in this broken world.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.                                

ZOA is looking for a

Dairy Farming Expert

ZOA’s programme in Ethiopia

ZOA works in several regions in Ethiopia: Gambella Regional State (field office in  Gambella Town), Somali Regional State (field office in Dolo Ado and Melkadida refugee camp), Tigray Regional State (field office in Shire and Mekelle), Oromia Regional State (field office in Harar), Amhara and Addis Ababa. In Ethiopia, ZOA works with Internally Displaced People (IDPs), host populations, persons with disabilities, returnees, and a large population of refugees who fled a combination of violence and drought in Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea. 

What we offer

ZOA offers a challenging position with a lot of responsibilities. We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector (including, but not limited to: medical, accident and life insurances, provident fund, training options). 

Your challenge 

The purpose of this position is to support and upgrade new and existing dairy input dealers, milk collection & processing centers into fully-fledged dairy business firms and production in relation with all other value chain actors and supporters. S/he will be required to work in close coordination with food security and livelihood program Coordinator, Community Mobilizers, in region as well as with Livestock, Cooperative and SME Agencies on regional, zonal & woreda level, cooperatives, private sector enterprises and other value chain actors and UN agency and RRS  and other stakeholders

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Targeting and verifying right beneficiaries through smooth collaboration with staff members and other partners within intervention woreda and refugee camps;
• Design and implement intervention plan in terms of training, provision of advisory services for farmers to increase productivity, market assistance and business linkages that respond to the needs of value chain businesses;
• Design and implement activities plan such as provide husbandry practice advise, design dairy farming house, identifying and recommend improved forage development in each beneficiary’s level;
• Establishing dairy cooperative and link with different market source;
• Delivering technology and extension service for beneficiaries which related to milk processing, improved forage development, value chain development and milk productivity improvements as well as milk quality assurance.
• Develop professional relationships with multiple dairy and livestock input service providers to ensure production sustainability;
• Lead in the implementation of activities in the target woreda and refugee camps focused on the intersection of dairy production and marketing linkage;
• Ensure measurable impact of dairy farming and dairy value chain related activities and a robust M&E system is in place;
• Provides support for all trainings, workshops and meeting conducted at woreda and kebele levels and refugee camps, which includes preparing training plan in organizing and facilitating events.
• Supervises and coordinates activities of beneficiaries engaged in milking, breeding, and caring for cows, and performs lay-veterinary duties on dairy farm.
• Establish networks and collaborative partnerships with similar and complementary   initiatives, undertaken by other actors such as MoA, Regional, Zonal and Woredas Livestock Bureau, other development agencies.

• Advice dairy personnel concerning milk regulations and methods of maintaining a safe milk supply;
• Provided technical supports for the beneficiaries on utilization and adaptation of proven livestock technologies.
• Provide guidance for the beneficiaries on customer driven as well as self-directed product development activities with a focus on the dairy category.
• Provide support for the beneficiaries studying the genetic and health records of their cows.
• Provide guidance to increase women's involvement in livestock businesses and participation in decision-making processes within the sector.
• Develop dairy farming beneficiary’s capacity to increase the supply of quality milk through improved animal management including but not limited to correct feeding, housing, health care.
• Develop awareness among dairy farming households of their responsibilities as commercial milk suppliers.
• Train the dairy farming beneficiaries on correct hygiene measures for clean milk production and delivery.
• Train beneficiary farmers to improve animal breeding to improve the genetic base for higher milk production including the use of artificial insemination (A.I.)
• Train beneficiary farmers to improve fodder production and on fodder preservation, including silage making.
• Provide guidance for the beneficiary farmers to interact and communicate with Dairy value chain actors on a regular basis to establish solid relationships and understanding of their needs.
• Document project results, lessons learned and present findings on regular basis.
• Generate periodic reports on project activities and other topics as assigned.
• Implement any project assignments given by immediate supervisor.
• Advise beneficiaries on scheduled breeding, vaccinating, and dehorning of cows.
• Advise to observe cows during estrus and artificially inseminates cows to produce desired offspring.
• Work other related assigned tasks by the immediate supervisor.

Contacts

• ZOA colleagues;
• Partner Organizations;
• Project participants;
• Woreda, Zonal and regional Agriculture Offices,
• UNHCR Agencies;

Competencies, Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in livestock production, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or related field;
• Experience in livestock sector and value chain development, including value chain facilitation, post-harvest, agribusiness, and marketing.
• More than five years of experience in a senior technical and/or agribusiness advisory position within the Dairy sector or livestock sector;
• Experience working directly with farmers including designing, conducting and evaluating training programs, developing lead farmers and/or farmer/pastoralist field schools;
• Clear understanding of the business community and extensive work experience with an INGO;
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and to work with minimum supervision in order to meet changing deadlines;
• Good English analytical and writing skills with the ability to synthesis and integrate data into reports;
• Excellent team building and organizational skills together with the ability to interact across a multi-cultural environment;
• In depth knowledge of the value chain and trade of live animals and their products.
• Should eager to work most of his/her time to work in remote village locations;
• Donor-funded program experience preferred;

VALUES:

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results in line with ZOA core values;
• Good knowledge of CHS and capacitate partners to work in adherence to CHS;

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions;
• Willing to take calculated risks.

Integrity

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency;
• Always acts in the best interests of children.