Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

There are two (02) positions, one position in each duty station: Gardez & Herat – Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

Overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the direct supervision of Head of Regional Offices and the technical supervision of the Head of Livestock and Animal Health Team.

Technical Focus 

Provision of technical assistance in the area of animal health, animal production, and value chain development

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Contribute towards the development of an extension, animal health, feed, fodder crop, and AI data collection network and assist in analysing the data to prepare recommendations for extension staff and farmers;
•    Participate in field activities, including administering dewormer medicine, vaccination of animals, distribution of concentrate animal feed, and distribution of live pullets and poultry packages to project beneficiaries with the collaboration of the Implementing partners at the regional level;
•    Support the preparation of training modules to be delivered to the technical staff of implementing partners, which aims to strengthen the linkage of households with field veterinarians and para-veterinarians;
•    Provide training and supervision for field staff in extension work, specifically on animal feeding, fodder crops, rearing of calves and heifers, animal health, cattle housing, and improvement of the genetic potential of the local animal breed;
•    Support the timely distribution of project inputs to households with specific reference to addressing the  proper storage of inputs;
•    Implement animal health related vaccination campaigns;
•    Work in close collaboration with the other field officers to monitor the implementing partner’s field activities to assure  smooth project implementation;
•    Monitor activities, ensure adherence to the work plan timeframe, and make recommendations to the Head Livestock Team for any required procedural changes;
•    Support the team members in providing the sessional calendar for livestock intervention in the Region;
•    Participate in regional training workshops as appropriate;
•    Regularly contacting field visits to monitor the livestock condition and   production in order to explore the actual challenges of the farmers to be addressed by the program;
•    Perform any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) or University degree (Bachelor) in veterinary science/livestock production
•    For Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) at least four (4) years of relevant work experience in animal health and animal production
•    For  university degree (Bachelor) at least six (6) years of relevant work experience in animal health and animal production.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
•    National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills  

•    Experience with emergencies and development initiatives in Afghanistan;
•    Demonstrated experience in the implementation of activities in collaboration with public and private sectors;
•    Demonstrated experience in dealing with partners and other stakeholders;
•    Experience with the United Nations or I/NGOs is considered a strong asset.
•    Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION