Summary: Our Client Heifer International is a global non profit humanitarian development organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the Earth by empowering small holder farm families around the globe to become self reliant and attain sustainable livelihood through economically viable animal agricultural enterprise.
Dairy value chain development is one of the key inventions of Heifer International in the East Africa region and Kenya in particular. The intervention has been implemented through a major umbrella project, the East African Dairy Development project (EADD) which started in 2008 with the objective of doubling household dairy incomes. The five year pilot project which has just ended (EADD-1) was implemented by a consortium of five partners including Heifer International (the lead partner), Technoserve, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and African Breeders Services-Total Cattle Management.The project is now embarking on the second phase, EADD-2.
In Kenya, the second phase of the project will adopt a more private sector led strategy with the overall objective of building significant partnerships with public and private organizations for co-funding, innovative design and overall project expansion.
In addition to focusing on institutional capacity building to potential partner institutions, the project will also pilot innovative techniques and approaches in the industry to provide important lessons on improving dairy cattle feeding, breeding and animal health practices.Function: The Gender and Youth Coordinator will be responsible for technical guidance to the project team particularly the country team(s) on matters of youth and gender participation.
Working through the technical country program staff and other consortium staff, he/she will provide technical support to Producer organization boards, staff and farmers on gender and youth issues.Responsibilities
Undertake technical gender analysis or and audits across the country program and producer organization and then advice and support project staff, management and boards of producer organizations on practical strategies to increase gender and youth involvement across the project.Take full responsibility and accountability of gender and youth performance indicators within the country program.Train, coach and mentor employees, farmers, and partners in basic gender and youth issues as they relate to the dairy enterprise. Develop gender and youth strategy for country program and monitor to ensure that gender dynamics are considered at the program office level, farm level and within the hub system.Roll out appropriate support intervention to improve gender relations.Support dairy farmer business associations (DFBAs) to increase number of women and youth shareholders, women and youth supplying milk and those accessing DFBA/hub services.Expanded opportunities for women and youth within the hub system and thus link them to other resource bases.Nurture partnerships with gender and youth oriented institutions/partners with a view of mobilizing resources that will benefit women and youth within the hubsEvaluate project activities on gender and youth components.Establish and monitor mechanisms to systematically assess the achievement of results, conducting field visits, participating in review meetings and evaluation missions and preparing regular inputs to status and progress reports. Analyze basic factors affecting the achievement of results, recommend corrective actions and follow up on recommendations.Submit timely weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual report and thus check that all country reports clearly pick gender disaggregation data. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in gender, social sciences, development studies or other related field, 5 + years experience in dairy production, value chain competitiveness, or agriculture development. Demonstrated experience in undertaking gender audits and gender frame works in agriculture more so in livestock development. Experience in developing private public partnerships especially at national and district level;Clear understanding of the dairy value chain and Heifer’s Value based model.Exemplary technical gender and youth mainstreaming and coordination skills.Innovative, analytical, and solutions oriented.Significant knowledge and experience in supporting producer organizations to plan and implement gender and youth strategies. Knowledge of income and expense budget preparation and monitoring.A good understanding and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger and environment, and knowledge of the context to which non-profit organizations operate.Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, and underprivileged. Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation.Excellent organizational skills.Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions to document and disseminate industry information, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and advocate within the industry.Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.Knowledge of and experience with developing private/public partnerships at the national and business level.Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written.Essential Job Functions and Physical DemandsPreparing and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail.Ability to understand, appreciate and implement Heifer’s Value Based Holistic Community Development. Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and design catalytic activities within the production dairy value chain (e.g. the concept of business development service provision).Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people.Willingness and ability to assign and review the work of direct reports and to use participatory management skills with junior and senior staff.Proven team leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with a diverse staff.Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout Uganda and other EADD project sites.May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office environment activities while on the road and/or in remote conditions.Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines.You should only apply for only one position and your application should include a cover letter that demonstrates why you are the best suited candidate for it; a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience; details of current and expected remuneration; a daytime phone contact, email address, and the names of three professional referees. All applications and enquiries should be sent toAdept Systems
Management Consultants
P O Box 6416,
Closing date: Friday, 13th December 2013
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.