Research Associate I - Project Focal Person - Afar region - Internal/External

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research Associate I - Project Focal Person for Afar region. The employee is expected to implement the activities of an upcoming project “Restoration of Livestock Services in Conflict and Drought Affected areas of Ethiopia (RESTORE)” under the guidance of senior ILRI colleagues working with local partners.

RESTORE: the project aims to support sustainable Livestock systems in Ethiopia. The project locations include primarily Afar, Tigray, South Ethiopia, with additional regions of Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regions. Expected to last for 48 months, RESTORE aims for Enhanced food security, nutrition and livelihood resilience for rural communities across the country, focusing on areas affected by drought and conflict. Specifically, the project aims to improve:

Result 1: Livestock service delivery systems restored in conflict and drought affected areas

Result 2: The quality and reliability of integrated public and private veterinary service delivery improved, with more efficient production

Result 3: Improved compliance and enforcement of animal health, food safety standards, responding to market requirements

Result 4: Availability and Quality of livestock feeds improved through farmers/pastoralists with private sector driven fodder production and marketing

Result 5: Enhanced quality of hide and skin through improved animal health intervention

of relevant diseases and poor skin quality.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. ILRI is one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the implementation of RESTORE project activities by working with partners and stakeholders, including public offices, private service providers, and livestock keepers, to meet the project goals,
• Establish and maintain good relationships with regional, zonal, woreda, and kebele livestock development offices for the smooth implementation of the RESTORE project,
• Support the facilitation of and attend internal and external project-related meetings,
• Assist in the development of quarterly plans and support animal health and feed service delivery activities for the RESTORE project in the region,
• Assist in training livestock keepers and private service providers,
• Act as a field implementer, conducting needs assessments and supporting capacity development in collaboration with ILRI senior project staff,
• Participate in regular monitoring activities, collect and store the required project data, collaborate in the preparation of quarterly progress reports, and support communication and visibility activities of the project under the guidance of ILRI senior project staff and communication officers,
• Perform additional duties as required.

Academic and professional qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or Diploma from a recognized university in veterinary science, animal science or animal production

Experience:

• One year relevant working experience for Bachelor’s degree including experiences in working with livestock keepers, private and public sector actors, and practical field experience in animal health service delivery, food safety, and fodder development and feed service delivery.
• Three years of relevant work experience for Diploma holders
• Experience of working with relevant livestock services in the relevant region with good network and influence.
• Experience in research/development data collection and compilation on a spread sheet program will be considered an additional advantage.
• Experience in delivery of donor projects is desired

Skills:

• Knowledge in relevant field and proficiency in the use of simple tools
• Effective coordination/collaboration and communication and collaborative skill with project staff and various partners such as livestock keepers, private service providers, public office experts and heads etc
• Basic Knowledge and skills on methods and techniques for implementing research and development activities in animal health and fodder development, including:
• organizing and conducting surveys in line with the designs of the surveys
• fodder development intervention/designs and feed service delivery modalities,
• animal health activities including organizing service delivery with the public and the private sector actors, basic diagnostic/sampling techniques as part of health data collection
• Good knowledge of regional livestock services (in the relevant region) including animal health and feeds services
• Computer literacy, including MS Office, particularly spread sheets.
• Flexible work hours including office work, travel and extended fieldwork
• Capacity to prepare progress reports
• Awareness of national and regional livestock development policies, strategies, regulations
• Fluent in regional local language, Amharic with a high standard of English

Duty Station:    Semera at Afar region

Grade:  HG 10

Minimum Base Salary:  

• Birr 24,254 per month

Terms of appointment:  This is a National Staff (NS) position, initial appointment is for three years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes a very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus in Addis Ababa. Dining and sports facilities are located on site .

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: RAP/AHH/38/24 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 6 January 2025

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training).

Suitably qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/

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