Livestock Specialist

The position focuses on leading outreach initiatives to build capacity and empower women livestock farmers in husbandry practices, safe and nutritious family food preparation, value addition, and income enhancement. The successful candidate will develop a comprehensive, gender-sensitive activity plan aimed at empowering youth and women livestock farmers through Farmer Field Schools implemented in collaboration with local organizations. This includes creating clear guidelines and criteria for mobilizing, selecting, and organizing beneficiary women livestock farmers to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.

A key responsibility is to tailor community outreach activities through Farmer Field Schools to meet the specific needs of women, ensuring relevance and impact. The role involves supporting service providers in identifying value addition opportunities, business prospects, and training needs across different clusters of women livestock farmers. Providing technical backstopping and quality assurance to district teams and service providers is essential to enhance knowledge and skills in climate-smart livestock production technologies, safe food preparation, value addition, and entrepreneurial development.

The position requires planning and coordinating the procurement and distribution of learning materials, biosafety items, equipment, and food processing kits for women livestock farmer groups. Additionally, the candidate will assist district project teams and service providers in establishing functional records and documentation systems to ensure accountability and transparency. Collaboration with sectoral specialists is necessary to produce and disseminate simple, well-illustrated information, extension, and communication materials targeted at women’s groups.

Capacity building is a critical component, with the role facilitating tailored training for district teams, service providers, and extension workers. The candidate will support district teams in overseeing and ensuring quality implementation of Letters of Agreement with service providers. Monitoring progress, tracking targets, identifying strategic linkages for sustainability, and conducting regular field visits to guide ongoing community outreach interventions are vital to the role’s success.

The position also involves facilitating the preparation of work plans and progress reports on community outreach activities and liaising with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) colleagues to document, report, and develop databases on trained beneficiaries.

Candidates must hold an advanced university degree (DVM, MS, M.Sc, M.Phil, or Ph.D.) in Livestock, Veterinary Medicine, or Animal Sciences, with a minimum of five years of relevant experience, particularly in small ruminant management. Practical knowledge of small ruminants and poultry management, community organization skills, and proven experience with the Farmer Field School methodology are essential. Fluency in English and local languages such as Urdu, Sindhi, or Saraiki is required, along with proficiency in MS Office and general computer skills.

Strong interpersonal, communication, report writing, analytical, presentation, networking, and advocacy skills are necessary. The candidate should be comfortable working in multicultural and rural community environments and familiar with UN systems and procedures, including codes of conduct and resource management. Experience or knowledge of Climate Resilient Agriculture/Livestock, private sector engagement, and livestock value chains is considered an asset.

Core competencies include a strong results focus, teamwork, effective communication, relationship building, knowledge sharing, and a commitment to continuous improvement.