Introduction

VSF Suisse has partnered with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to develop the dairy value chain in the Fafen zone of the Somali Regional State. The project targets both the host community and refugees in Kebribeyah woreda. It works with all the key-value chain actors, including dairy cooperatives, cooperative bureau, livestock and agriculture bureaus, academia, research and technical institutions including Jigjiga University, Jigjiga polytechnic college, Etc.

The Market Promotion Officer (MPO) position at VSF Suisse is a key technical position that plays a crucial function in successfully implementing the dairy value chain project.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Market Promotion Officer (MPO)

• Engage with dairy value chain actors and partners with a focus on livestock feed under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, and strategic leadership given by the Livestock Innovative Feed Solution (ILFS) specialist from the country office.

• Identify feed ingredients sources, prices and quality for the production of dairy, poultry, fattening and emergency livestock feed.

•  Monitor the procurement process of the feed ingredients from known and trusted sources in quality including acceptance using standard goods receiving note (GRN).

• Check and monitor amount and quality of the different types of livestock feed (ie dairy, fattening, poultry and emergency) feed produced, stored and marketed to the customers.

• Ensure that relevant procedures, standards and guidelines developed and communicated by the Livestock Innovative Feed Solution (ILFS) specialist in feed production and marketing are followed and implemented.

• Assists the project manager and the Livestock Innovative Feed Solution (ILFS) specialist in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the areas of his/her responsibility.

• Identify, market opportunities and closely monitor trends in livestock feed status with a focus on production and marketing for differ types of livestock (ie dairy, fattening, poultry and drought emergency) during normal, dry and drought scenario along the dairy value chain to inform local government, value chain actors and the VSF Suisse management for necessary precautions and actions.

• Organize and participate in capacity building training to members of the dairy cooperatives, partners and stakeholders engaged in the feed production, and market sector with a focus on feed resource identification, formulation, storage, quality standards, feeding, record keeping and marketing.

• Organize and facilitate seedling production for Moringa, Lueanea, with SORPARI and distribution to the HHs in the refugee and host community sites.

• Maintain relevant records and contributes to weekly, monthly, quarterly, interim and final reports and correspondence related to the feed production and marketing.

• Contribute to build strong market linkages and networks between the feed producer unit, the dairy cooperatives, refugee and host community and feed marketing customers.

• Performs any other task and duties as requested and directed by the project manager, the livestock innovative feed solution (ILFS) specialist, and relevant country office staff.

Work Experience

•  A minimum of 5 years for MSc and 7 years for BSc holders of work experience with national/international NGOs, government and UN organizations in livestock, dairy development programs/projects with a focus on livestock feed production and marketing.
• Demonstrated competence and knowledge on the Ethiopian Livestock Sector, with particular emphasis in livestock development in Somali region, in the dairy and feed industry.
• Strong knowledge, experience and interest in the utilization of locally available feed resources for the production of different types of livestock (diary, fattening, poultry and drought emergency) feeds in the form of concentrate, total mixed ration (TMR), multi-nutrient block (MNB).
• Strong knowledge and experience of production and market systems development and promotion related to the purchase, production, processing, handling, and sale of feed products with knowledge of the ILO market-based approaches is highly advantageous.
• Experience and strong working relationship with a range of partners and stakeholder groups, including cooperatives, unions, research, academia, development and regulatory actors in the woreda, zone and region.
• Ability to collect, identify, and analyze, data, prepare charts, maps, and other graphs.
• Ability to organize and write technical reports on regular bases, facilitate field assessments, monitoring and evaluation missions.
• Ability to plan, facilitate, coordinate, and expedite planned activities including training, monitoring production and marketing related activities as per the agreed work plan in dairy cooperatives, host and refugee communities.

Qualifications Required

1. MSc/BSc degree in Animal Feed Production, Agri-business Development, Market Development and Promotion, Animal Production, and Dairy Production.
2. Training Diploma/Certificates or knowledge/exposure to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Social and Environmental Impact (SEIA).
3. Training Diploma/Certificates in quality standard parameters and procedure in feed production, storage, transportation and marketing systems will be highly advantageous.
4. Training Diploma/Certificates or experience in feed formulation software more applicable to the local condition that will enable to utilize the local available feed resources such as natural pasture, crop bi-products, acacia branches etc.
5. Female applicants that will qualify the minimum are encouraged to apply for this position.
6. Applicants who know the area well, the culture, tradition and the livestock production and feed production and marketing system and speck Somali languages will be given consideration.

We look forward to receiving your application in English. Please include:

1.   A motivation letter (maximum 1 page) stating why you are the right candidate for this position.

2.   A recent CV of 4 pages maximum (Certificates and credentials are not required at this stage)