Somalia: Veterinary/Animal Health Officer (Somalia-Hudur)

Organisational background:

Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger) has been conducting humanitarian programs in Somalia since May 1992. Currently, AAH is conducting its humanitarian activities in Somalia focused on treating and preventing malnutrition, increasing access to clean water and appropriate sanitation, strengthening the food-security, livelihoods and thus boosting the resilience of communities in Somalia as well as emergency response via program bases in Somalia.

The Positions and responsibilities:

AAH Somalia is looking for suitable candidates to fill the position of Animal Health Officer. The positions will be based in Hudur Bakool region. The incumbent reports to the area Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Programme Manager.

Goal:

The Animal Health Officer aims to have overall responsibility in the facilitating and implementation of all pastoralist related activities with focus on improved animal health services through community based animal health system (CBAHS) and improved livestock husbandry practices and marketing under SomReP drought recovery project. He/she will provide guidance to agro pastoral and pastoral communities on good animal husbandry practices related to animal health, animal production, Community animal health workers system (CAHWs), and pasture/fodder management. He/she will ensure regular field visits to monitor activities and timely weekly and monthly reporting.

The Animal Health Officer’s core responsibilities will include but not limited to the following:

1.Facilitate planning, organising, and management of pastoral and livestock related activities.

· Conduct community awareness/sensitization meetings on livestock/agro pastoral activities.

· Facilitate participatory community planning in target communities to define community gaps and provide basis for planning.

· Develop work plans weekly, monthly and quarterly to ensure effective implementation of livestock/agro pastoral related activities as detailed in the implementation plan.

· Facilitate identification/formation of local structures (livestock groups, cooperatives and marketing groups in the villages or in the district of intervention.

· Facilitate in beneficiary identification in consultation with the communities and local leaders.

· Conduct the identification of existing and new animal health workers in the project target communities for engagement in animal health service delivery.

· Identify key capacity gaps and problems for livestock keepers, community animal health workers on livestock related technical issues or animal husbandry practices.

2.Key technical tasks.

· Conduct and ensure training of Community Animal health workers (CAHWs) on basic veterinary knowledge and skills.

· Coach and mentor the community animal health workers (CAHWs) and private veterinary pharmacies for effective facilitation of community animal health service delivery.

· Provide coordination and administrative support to the CAHWs under guidance of the Project Manager.

· Develop monitoring for animal health service delivery as per the defined indicators.

· Keep strong cooperation/effective coordination with partners, government and animal health professional associations and other stakeholders in livestock sector.

· Track livestock activities to ensure they are progressing as per schedule.

· Ensure timely procurement and provision of quality animal health veterinary drugs and equipment’s required by the beneficiaries and ensure these are used appropriately.

· Facilitate the establishment of community based animal health workers in the project target villages.

· Promote sustainable livestock practices including breed improvement, improved animal husbandry, and value addition etc.

· Assess the pastoral dry season rangeland and water resources in the target villages and report according.

· Monitor the work of all the CAHWs and submit comprehensive weekly, monthly and quarterly reports as per deadlines.

· Promote the use of improved rangeland and water resources management practices (gabions, stone bunds, semicircular bunds etc.)

· Support/facilitate the implementation of CFW activities to improve range productivity in agro pastoral/pastoral target areas.

· Identify key sources of conflict and peace in natural resources relevant to livestock and promote effective conflict mitigation practices to bring peace among communities.

· Promote value addition and support on marketing of animal products and facilitate market linkages.

· Ensure linkages linkages/integration livestock activities with agro pastoral and pre urban activities to foster synergies under the project sectors.

· Participate in field level assessments and evaluations of project performance.

· Monitor and facilitate the use of Community Early Action information (collect & dissemination) to strengthen community’s preparedness to any potential shocks (drought, floods, etc.) at community and district levels.

· Monitor and report the emergence of animal disease outbreaks and propose response mechanism.

· Making sure all livestock related activities embraces gender mainstreaming, environment, conflict mitigation measures etc.

· Liaise with the Program Manager for all decisions related to delivery of animal health as well as livestock related activities and carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager.

3.Coordination.

· Represent AAH in the agro-pastoral livestock activities at relevant (Agriculture/Livelihood) district meetings with government, INGOs, Local NGOs and other players in the district.

· Build relationship and coordinate with stakeholders (district authorities, cooperatives, professional associations (SOWELPA), relevant government Ministries/departments - Livestock and NRM, etc.) working on pastoral activities in the operational area/district.

· Participate in field level coordination meeting with local government authorities and other agencies.

· Work closely in teamwork with FSL team as well as other program teams such as Wash, Nutrition and Health.

Skills and experience

· Must be Diploma or Degree in Veterinary Science/Animal health with a minimum of three years working experience for Diploma and 2 years for Degree in animal health related livelihoods, food security, agriculture and community development.

· Experience in working with and implementation of resilience initiatives is preferable.

· Somali National/resident who is fluent in English and Somali languages and has good understanding of the working context.

· Experience in working with Non-Governmental organizations, UN agencies and local communities, local authorities and Local NGOs.

· Strong computer skills and ability to use standard computing packages such as word, excel, power point, spreadsheets and database software programs.

· Strong communication and report writing skills.Strong communication and report writing skills.

Applications, should include a CV with cover letter and 3 professional references to be sent via email to:

hr-recruitment@so-actionagainsthunger.org not later than 08 June 2018 clearly mentioning the position on the subject line. Veterinary/Animal Health Officer -Hudur. Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

This position is open to Somalia National.