Livestock Business Development Officer

Job Summary:

Do the assessment of the targeted area and identify communities’ needs in regard of Animal Health/livestock.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct and coordinate seasonal community and market based vaccination campaigns.
• Closely work with the staff of the community mobilization team to identify communities where livestock support activities could increase income and bring about long-term effects.
• Be able to train BVWs for providing basic AH services and women for training of poultry groups.
• Identify and assist in assessment of staff for poultry training, lamb/calves fattening.
• Arrange schedule for the trainings and monitor the trainings in the field to find success and impacts of the Livestock/poultry project in the community.
• Cooperate with agro-business and community mobilization managers to incorporate livestock and poultry production in a functioning value chain.
• Advice on agro-businesses related to poultry, lamb/calves fattening especially the services required for the poultry, lamb/calve fattening value chain.
• Advise the program manager, project managers on the types of livestock and poultry that adapt better to the environment of Afghanistan, and which is more likely to resist diseases, droughts and harsh climate conditions.
• Liaise and coordinate with MAI of targeted provinces for implementation of IDEA NEW Animal Health/Livestock activities.
• Provide technical assistance to farmers on how to improve breeding of livestock/poultry.
• In connection with the agro-business team advise livestock owners, farmers and beneficiaries of the program. How to look for new markets for their products.
• Coordinate with other activities of the program and keeping them inform about the progress.
• When using MC property for take appropriate care of the inventory and ensure correct use complying with the MC policies.
• Keep other district office management staff updated with regard to the security situation in the project implementation area and provide advice as to how to manage our presence in this environment.
• Maintain detailed records and up to date paperwork for all duties as per agreed upon formats.
• Assist Mercy Corps staff with any requests for information or data regarding program expansion or development.
• Liaise with MAIL, DCA , other actors and animal health steering committee according to requirement as directed by the animal health manager.
• Liaises with other MC agriculture and livestock program to ensure that all projects are well- coordinated.
• Provide regular writing report to the animal health provincial coordinator on animal health activities.
• Promote and adhere to the principles and objectives of the animal health program and Mercy Corps.
• Provide all necessary documentation of activities per program M and E system needs.
• Follow all MC policies, procedures and security protocols
• Provide written and oral translation and report writing for program staff, as necessary;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission in Afghanistan;
• Participating in meeting, work-shop, and technical training.
• To carry out all other tasks as assigned by Supervisor

Job Requirement:

This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or 2-3 years of experience focused in Animal Health/Livestock, demand-driven projects, participatory planning and rural/community development. Training in Animal health required. Capacity to undertake hazardous travel to rural areas is needed.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written with excellent command of Dari, Pashto. Ideally computer literacy with knowledge of Office applications and English.

Job Location: