TMPP Field Assistant (SCD&Quality) 287 views0 applications

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Tanzania Milk Processing Project (TMPP) is an 18 months ambitious project built on the success of EADD II that aims to increase the incomes of smallholder dairy farmers in Tanzania through improved milk productivity and quality, better access to reliable, high-value markets and ensuring processors have access to increased supply of high-quality milk. The primary outcome of TMPP is to facilitate 10,000 smallholder dairy farmers to increase their incomes as a result of improved productivity and good quality of milk, and better farmer’ access to reliable and high-value milk markets in the selected milk sheds in Tanzania.

FUNCTION
The Field Assistant (FA) (SCD&Quality) will be responsible for providing technical support and guidance to a team of Community Facilitators (CFs) and Community Agro-veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs) in the roll-out of Production, Feeds and Gender and social capital development (SCD) activities at Producer Organization (PO), Dairy Interest Group (DIG) and Exponential Pass on the Gift (PoG) groups within areas where TMPP operates.

The FA (SCD&Quality) will provide on-site (field) technical support in transforming dairy farming from subsistence into farming as a business (income generation) which apart from catering nutrition will also be generating income, hence improving farmers’ livelihoods. FA(s) will support farmers to establish vibrant milk marketing groups to exploit economies of scale. From time to time, the FA (SCD&Quality) will be coaching PO leadership to exploit and foster milk, and other businesses around the PO. The FA (SCD&Quality) will be responsible for supporting farmers to explore business connections with other key market players such as input suppliers and milk processors within and beyond the milk shed.

The FA (SCD&Quality) will work directly with the Cluster Coordinators, Production, Business and Social Capital Development teams for the consistent and deliverable of the quality service. The FA (SCD&Quality) will also be working with relevant project partners such Government Extension workers, PO staff and other key value chain actors e.g. milk processors.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS:
Confident, Positive, Flexible, Values-Oriented, Enthusiastic, Passionate about community empowerment

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES
Program Effectiveness (40%)

• Accountable for the successful social capital strengthening and roll-out of the SCD and gender approach in the TMPP
• Carry out a capacity needs assessment and plans to address identified capacity needs of Dairy Interest Groups (DIG), Community Facilitators (CFs), Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and Producer Organizations Extension Coordinators (POECs) on a quarterly basis;
• Monitor the quality of delivery of different pieces of training to Producer Organization (PO) and Dairy Interest Group (DIG) by the CFs and CAVEs on monthly basis;
• Ensure that DIGs supply / sell at least 50ltrs per day.
• Provide support to each CF informing at least 3 Exponential DIGs out of each original DIG within the first 6 months.
• Facilitate participatory self-review and planning (PSRP) process at the PO and DIG level;
• Identify and support the creative potential of PO and DIG to develop appropriate strategies and approaches for interventions at the household and DIG level.
• Support CFs to access and effectively use appropriate tools for social capital development at household, PO and DIG levels.
• Provide close monthly mentorship, empowerment, and encouragement of the CFs, CAVEs, and POECs
• Coordinate the mapping out of existing DIGs to fit the requirements of the SCD and support the development of Exponential Pass on Groups (E-POGs);
• Ensure Producer Organizations (POs) steadily increase women and youth as shareholders, and active suppliers of milk by 20% each quarter.
• Set up Project Management Committees (PMC’s) and participate in the quarterly PMC meetings.
• Carry out regular monitoring of social capital development activities at household, Dairy Interest Group (DIG) and Producer Organization (PO) level.
• Identify and document best practices in Production, Gender & Social Capital Development (SCD) at household, DIG and PO level for shared learning
• Support the dissemination and training of gender- and SCD-based information, education and communication (IEC) materials for use by the CFs, CAVEs, and DIGs.

Business Development and Management (40%)

• Provide on-site (field) technical support in transforming dairy farming from subsistence into farming as a business (income generation) by imparting skills on basic farm economics
• Support farmers to establish vibrant milk marketing groups to exploit economies of scale.
• From the time, Field Assistant(s) will be coaching PO leadership to exploit and foster milk and other businesses around the PO.
• Field Assistant(s) will be responsible for supporting farmers to explore business connections with other key market players such as input suppliers and milk processors within and beyond Southern, Highlands milk shed.
• Provide technical support on basic farm records keeping and bookkeeping for PO businesses
• Facilitate and promote collaboration between Heifer – TMPP and other Public-Private development partners at all levels in the Project area;

Reporting and Compliance (15%)

• Accountable for the implementation of Social Capital strategies and Gender approaches at the cluster POs.
• Strengthen the working relationship between PO Members, leaders and Management teams through regular planning and review meetings
• Validate data and records at the POs and DIGs, and share with relevant partners on a monthly basis;
• Submit timely monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports and accountabilities.

Partnership and engagements at the implementation level (5%)

• Network with local governments, and other development stakeholders in the cluster on social capital development, youth and women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in TMPP
• Nurture partnerships with gender and youth-oriented Public and private institutions/partners with a view of mobilizing resources and establishing sustainable linkages that will benefit women and youth within the dairy hubs
• Work closely with other Heifer projects to embrace synergies and complementarity at the implementation level
• Foster and manage farmers relationships (group dynamics)

May perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in community development, gender, social development, rural development or another related field, plus three (3) years in a mix of dairy production, value chain competitiveness, or agriculture development

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in community group formation and strengthening.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

• Experience in developing and planning rural development, Agri enterprises preferably marketing groups, social capital gender mainstreaming strategies in relation to the economic empowerment of women and youth
• Clear understanding of the dairy value chain and Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) model
• Experience in the market dynamics of the dairy sector in the southern highlands.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring and evaluation).
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills.
• Knowledge of and experience in cooperative development.
• Fluency in English (knowledge of other languages spoken in Uganda is a plus)
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Excellent oral and written reporting skills with the ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail
• Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of disadvantaged populations, particularly women and youth
• Working in a multi-cultural setting and commitment to promoting teamwork, gender equality, and sensitivity to hunger and poverty issues
• Excellent communication and negotiating skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public
• Ability to travel extensively to the Producer Organizations on short notice
• Positive attitude with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and in sometimes difficult circumstances
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality