Community Mobilization and Extension Officer

Program / Project Support  Rwanda   Kigali

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 some form of disability.

FUNCTION

The Community Mobilization & Livestock Extension Officer for the Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets Project (PRISM) will be responsible for daily implementation of the project activities at the District level, ensuring continuous coordination, consolidation and smooth implementation of programs and operations while supporting the delivery of extension services to project participants and beneficiaries.

PRISM is an ambitious five-year Signature project with the overall objective of reducing poverty by empowering poor rural men, women, and youth to participate in the transformation of the Rwanda livestock sector and to enhance their resilience. The program development objective is to improve food and nutritional security and the incomes of poor rural households through the better performance of the value chains.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS

Drives results, accountability, manage complex environments, excellent and effective communication, resourcefulness, manage conflict, team player.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLE

A.Farmers’ organization, capacity building, and project reporting (35%)

• With guidance from the Social Capital and the Livestock Specialist, facilitate self-help groups formation across the district;
• Participate and facilitate the identification, selection and training of CFs, CAVEs;
• Under the guidance of the Social Capital and Training Manager, supervise the work of CFs and CAVEs
• Provide support and coaching to CFs and CAVEs throughout the five steps of implementing the VBHCD model.
• Prepare and deliver training on improved Animal Management
• Organize and conduct farmer study tours where necessary
• Carryout the mobilization of farmers into groups and cooperatives;
• Train groups and cooperatives on leadership and governance and establishment of governance and management structures;
• Provide monthly progress reports backed up by evidence (proper record keeping).

B. Facilitate the provision of project services and coordinate placement of physical inputs (35%)

• Participate in the selection, evaluation, and confirmation of project beneficiaries in collaboration with the local authorities
• Participate in livestock selection, identification, transportation, and distribution.
• Assist in ensuring quality animals are selected for placement throughout the project lifetime;
• Make regular visits to the beneficiary location and advise on animal shelter
• Keep records of beneficiaries (hard and soft) (OG and PoG) to provide evidence of complete work throughout project lifetime as needed;
• Ensure timely delivery of livestock and other physical inputs throughout the project lifetime.

C. Provision of veterinary, extension and advisory services to project beneficiaries. (25%)

• Create synergies with local public and private Animal Husbandry and extension service providers to maintain disease free stock of animals distributed throughout the project lifetime;
• Provide breeding and animal health services to the beneficiaries and report the number of offspring born annually throughout the project lifetime;
• Conduct regular household’s visits to advise farmers on needed improvements as far as Improved Animal Management is concerned;
• Provide daily support to sensitize beneficiaries on sustainable management of natural resources.
• Mobilize farmers on risk management including livestock insurance.
• Promote climate-resilient best practices and investments at the farmer level.

 D. Any Other Assigned Function (5%)

• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor(s).

Minimum Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Production, Rural development or related fields plus a minimum of at least five (5) years of relevant working experience in the Livestock Sector in Rwanda.
2. Possession of a valid Rwandan A category driver’s license. Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda (fluency in other languages is a plus).

Preferred Requirements:

Minimum of at least five (5) years of relevant working experience.

Most Critical Proficiencies:

1. Proven experience in building the capacity of partner institutions, manage knowledge, measure progress and plan and innovate within the industry.
2. Demonstrate experience in conducting business, investments analyses and capital budgeting.
3. Demonstrate project report writing and donor reporting experience.
4. Demonstrate experience in project management including donor project budgets management.
5. Good understanding of annual work planning and budgeting across complex programs.
6. Experience in developing private-public partnerships especially at the national district level;
7. Experience in community group formation and strengthening.
8. Maintain knowledge and sensitivity to issues associated with poverty, hunger, and the environment.
9. Excellent organizational skills.
10. Experience in working with various commodities and value-chains.
11. Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
12. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively, tactfully and diplomatically with culturally diverse groups of people.
13. Innovative, analytical, and solutions-oriented.
14. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in value chain development that reaches women, youth, and the underprivileged.
15. Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred), and the Internet.
16. Knowledge of and experience with developing private/public partnerships at the district and business level.
17. Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

1. Proven leadership and collaborative skills with the ability to train and work cooperatively with beneficiaries.
2. Regularly conduct a stakeholder analysis to strengthen partnerships and leveraging of resources
3. Constant face-to-face, telephone, and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public to scale up country program visibility and publicity.
4. May require constant out trips to beneficiaries;
5. Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting strict deadlines.
6. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
7. MS Office: Word, Excel, PPT, and Microsoft Project.