Livestock Market Systems Officer

Position location: Dire Dawa - please only apply if have worked/are able to work in this location.

Project Summary: 

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is a subcontractor on the RTI-led consortium implementing the USAID-funded Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture (TA) project. The purpose of the USAID/Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture activity is to increase access to healthy diets, particularly for women and children, by improving competitiveness, inclusiveness, and resilience of the Ethiopian food and agriculture system.  This program is the core component of a suite of food and agriculture activities funded by USAID. As such, TA must collaborate intensively with other USAID-funded projects working in the food and agriculture sector.

TA will build on previous USG-funded activities to sustainably improve access to healthy diets for all in the targeted communities using a food systems lens. Acknowledging that economic transformation tends to bring new malnutrition challenges, TA will support transformation of the food systems so that a healthy diet is increasingly easy to access. TA will also support the food and agriculture systems to become more sustainable, resilient, and responsive, increasing its long-term capacity to adapt to change, shocks, and stressors. Finally, TA will facilitate increased public-private partnership and collaboration to spur a more favorable policy environment for private sector investment, sustainable and resilient food systems, and innovation that serves the population’s economic and dietary needs.

Position Summary:The Livestock Market Systems Officer will assist in the design, implementation, and oversight of livestock support activities within the Transforming Agriculture activity. This position will be one of several field officer positions focused on improving household level food and agricultural production. The Livestock Market Systems Officer will bring deep knowledge of appropriate livestock production techniques, training and support to vulnerable households, and experience and understanding of the livestock market systems in Ethiopia. This is a full-time position with significant travel within the focus region/cluster (zone of intervention) and to Addis Ababa. 
Primary Responsibilities:

• Effectively plan and achieve project goals, oversee performance, and meet project indicator results targets.
• Form and build relationships for innovative collaboration with the private sector at local and regional levels, ranging from individual entrepreneurs to established, large-scale livestock businesses. 
• Contribute to annual work planning and monitoring, evaluation, and reporting related to project progress indicators.
• Undertake regular field visits and provide training, oversight, and technical assistance in field activities.  
• Ensure close collaboration and coordination with community and government (especially Ministry) stakeholders.
• Identify and implement improved animal production strategies appropriate for the position’s assigned region of Ethiopia that draw upon livestock sector evidence and market system approaches.
• Establish support and partnerships with local actors and smallholder farmers to improve animal production and increased nutritional value through demonstrations of new agricultural and nutritional technologies. 
• Develop appropriate communication strategies and behavioral change materials for the management of livestock and the consumption of ASF.   
• Assess animal production value chains to identify and determine the most appropriate functions where opportunities exist for business creation and business support. 
• Liaise with other Transforming Agriculture technical staff to plan and coordinate interventions.   
• Train and manage field-level livestock development agents to work with beneficiaries to develop their capacity to conduct income generating production and “livestock as a business” approaches.  Develop animal production training modules that may include improved animal husbandry, breeding, health care and feed and nutrition.    
• Support improved livestock production techniques and practices through the introduction and adoption of improved farming and livestock husbandry technologies, techniques and innovations.  
• Assess project indicator data and available studies and undertake assessments to determine practical interventions and support decision making. 
• Support Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team on livestock market systems activities, real-time data collection, and other duties as needed.
• Liaise between stakeholders such as government, private as well as donor programs who are directly or indirectly working on livestock and livestock market systems. 
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as required and assigned by supervisor.

Reporting & Supervision:The position holder reports to the Regional Manager and will constantly coordinate and team with the Senior Livestock Market Systems Manager.

• University degree in livestock, animal health, nutrition, or related field 
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant professional experience in livestock production, rural livelihoods, and livestock businesses.
• Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to dialogue with stakeholders, network and collaborate with local government, Ministry technicians and officials, communities, and development partners.
• Experience applying best-practice livestock and market system approaches.
• Excellent communication with demonstrated interpersonal, analytical presentation, and writing experience. 
• Fluency or professional proficiency in English and Amharic.
• Working Knowledge of MS Office, Excel and Power Point required.
• Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Must be fluent or professionally proficient in Somali

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in livestock, animal health, nutrition, or related field.
• Experience working on a foreign donor funded development program;
• Ability to travel extensively in rural Ethiopia.

Project Implementation Partners:

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multi-sectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya. 

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.

Our team is made up of nearly 350 employees who are committed to market-led approaches, and passionate about collaborating locally to create lasting inclusive economic growth. By unlocking the potential of agriculture for the last 36 years, the lives of more than 3 million people have been transformed through nearly 300 programs in more than 80 countries.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.
Land O'Lakes Venture37 will never ask you for personable identifiable information, and we will never request money or payment during the recruitment or employment process. 
Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So, bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.