National Poultry Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The FAO-Country Office for Lesotho is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed-upon strategies and projects for transforming food, agriculture and rural development.

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) assists FAO members to develop sustainable livestock systems. It hosts intergovernmental bodies, multi-stakeholder initiatives and knowledge networks that provide information and technical and policy support to development efforts, including adapting to a changing climate and mitigating the impact of livestock agrifood systems on climate and other environmental targets. The Division has expertise in animal health (One Health), animal production and genetics, and livestock sector analysis (social, economic and environment) and policy.

Reporting Lines

The National Poultry Specialist shall work under the overall supervision of the FAO Country Representative in Lesotho, direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR – Programme, Technical supervision of NSA-Animal Production Officer, working closely with national counterparts and service providers, and other key stakeholders.

Technical Focus

Support programme implementation, monitoring, and capacity development in poultry production and poultry value chain development activities in Lesotho. Undertake situational and technical analysis to lay solid foundation for accelerating the transformation of the poultry sector to be more productive, competitive and resilient, contributing to inclusive growth of agribusiness and achievement sustainable development goals.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Poultry Specialist will provide comprehensive technical support in the planning and implementation of the livestock component of the special programme with special emphasis on supporting smallholder poultry production and poultry value chain development. The incumbent will be primarily responsible for the following tasks and duties:

• Provide technical oversight and leadership for all livestock related initiatives

• Profile key players in poultry value chain and design context specific technical capacity development (training plan)

• Provide technical advice and assistance on the implementation of poultry production and poultry value chain development activities

• Collaborate with the service providers to support formal and on-job training activities for poultry farmers and brooding units.

• Provide technical expertise for the development of the poultry value chain and the broader livestock sector

• Promote poultry associations and facilitate their transformation from producer organizations to industry-wide associations

• Facilitate policy dialogue and work with poultry farmers, poultry association and all relevant stakeholders to increase the share of domestic poultry production

• Drawing from own observations and feedback from stakeholders, develop a concept note for a bankable project for industrial development of the poultry value chain

• Perform other tasks requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in animal health, production, or related field.

• Seven years of relevant experience in animal health and production, specialized in poultry production and/or value poultry chain development

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and Sesotho

• National of Lesotho.

FAO Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in animal health and production projects and programmes development, resource mobilization and implementation.

• Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a multicultural environment

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with high-ranking officials of government institutions, international institutions, and non-government institutions approaches.

• Familiar with FAO procedures and possesses strong supervisory, communication, and team building, and computing skills like Ms. word, Excel,

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION