The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a National Program Coordinator to manage the technical African Asian Dairy Genetic Gains (AADGG) program implementation in Kenya.
ILRI works to improve food
and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through
research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only
one of 15 CGIAR research centres 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.
Background
The primary purpose of the
job is to manage the technical African and Asian Dairy Genetic Gain (AADGG)
Program implementation in Kenya and to technically represent the Program’s
Principal Investigator (PI) at related national fora, including working closely
with the AADGG’s global Program coordinator. AADGG is an International
Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) – led research program that is developing
and scaling a multi-country genetic gains platform in five countries in Africa
and one country in Asia. AADGG’s data and analytics platform receives, hosts
and processes data on farms and the dairy animals reared in the project
countries, Kenya included. The database is organized into country components,
with restricted access control logic features that allows the different users
to access it based on their roles and agreed permission and rights. The data is
owned by the respective countries and partners, and can be used either directly
or through service providers to inform herds and related dairy value chain
services and businesses, all aimed at spurring sustained animal and herd
productivity gains.
The position holder will
assist the SAPLING Country leader in coordinating the country-level SAPLING
activities, especially those related to the dairy value chain, including
handling the program communication at a high level (e.g., with the relevant
Host Ministries Department and partners).
ILRI works to improve food
and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through
research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only
one of 15 CGIAR research centres 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
- In consultation with the Country AADGG PI and SAPLING Country
lead, undertake the day-to-day running of dairy genetics gains activities
in Kenya.
- Assist the AADGG Pl and SAPLING Country lead to ensure the
effective and flexible coordination and implementation of AADGG and
integration of SAPLING activities in Kenya.
- Undertake high-level pitching of and linking related national
dairy cattle identification, performance recording and genetic evaluation
initiatives in consultation with the ILRI Country Representative.
- Provide training, mentor and supervise /support the program
Site Coordinators (SCs) and Dairy Farm Assistants (DFAs)
- Coordinate and undertake joint related AADGG / Private-Public
actions for breeding service (i.e. Artificial Insemination) delivery
programs and activities in the countries by working closely with the key
actors in the improvement of the dairy sector, specifically the State and
regional Directorates, thus providing the needed closer links between
AADGG & the key dairy industry stakeholders.
- With the full knowledge of the Program’s Principal
Investigator (PI), AADGG’s global Program Coordinator, and Country PI,
maintain regular and effective communication between the AADGG – The
country partner teams and the ILRI project team to ensure the quality and
timeliness of project deliverables.
- Observe the project schedules and timescales, liaise with the
country Pl and ILRI to ensure documents (financial, technical and meeting
reports, and feedback) are prepared in accordance with the agreed
schedules and within timescales.
- Coordinate and prepare timely and quality
documentation/implementation reports to be submitted to ILRI, including
contributing to the packaging of feedback to farmers. Support development
and implementation of the agreed work plans and maintain records on
technical and financial aspects of project operation, including project
activities and their outcomes, as well as minutes, decisions and
recommendations of meetings and workshops;
- Ensure that all partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders are
appropriately and timely informed and involved in the program activities;
- Provide links to all existing and potential
stakeholders/ collaborators by being proactive, responsive and effectively
dealing with program-related concerns/issues;
- Ensure effective dissemination of knowledge and insights
gained; learnings as well as tools and methodologies to approved program
stakeholders and broader audience;
- Identify potentially related activities to which the planned
program activities would be synergistic and communicate/share with the
Program Management Team (PMT) for further action.
Qualifications
- MSc or PhD in Agricultural field and a Bachelor of Science in
animal production or Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree
- At least 10 years’ experience with masters or three
years with PhD
- Practical experience in managing,and or supporting commercial
livestock business, especially those related to the design and evidence-led
implementation of dairy businesses, management and delivery of improved
livestock seed systems in Kenya and the Eastern Africa region.
- Experience in drafting and managing work plans, results-based
budgets and systems to monitor and report progress.
- Experience in research, e.g. publications will be an advantage
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills (strong
English language skills, both written and spoken).
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary,
multi-cultural environment and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Willingness to travel frequently, including spending
significant periods managing activities in the field site in project
locations
- Excellent interpersonal communication and good personal
organisation skills
- Good judgement, adaptability and willingness to take
initiative when appropriate
Terms of Appointment
This position is based in
Nairobi. It is open to Kenyan nationals only. The position is 3 years contract,
renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
Job Level
This position is at job
level HG 17 and open to
Kenyan nationals only. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package
which includes pension, medical and other insurances for ILRI’s Nationally
Recruited Staff.
How to apply
Applicants should send a
cover letter and CV explaining their interest in the position, what they can
bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of
three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional
qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational
Development by clicking on the “Apply Now“ tab
on the site before 11 June 2023. The
position title and reference number REF:
RA/1002/2023 should be clearly marked on the subject line
of the cover letter.
We thank all applicants
for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the 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). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on
applicants’ bank accounts.
To find out more about
ILRI visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org
