Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

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Position Title:                     Senior Livestock Trade Expert

Number of positions:        1

Reference:                           ICPALD-LTE

Organizational Unit:          IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD)

Reporting line:                    ICPALD Director

Duty station:                      Nairobi with frequent travel in the IGAD region

Duration:                            One year with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds

Deadline for Applications: 27^th September 2024

Expected start Date:         1^st December 2024

1. Background and Context of the project

IGAD was established in 1986 to mitigate the effects of recurrent drought and environmental degradation, boost agricultural production, and facilitate sustainable management of natural resources. IGAD’s mandate expanded into protecting the environment while simultaneously pooling resources for regional development efforts. With the emerging political, security, and socio-economic challenges, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 1996 resolved to expand IGAD’s mandate to include cooperation and integration, peace and security, and socio-economic dimensions. IGAD region member States include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. IGAD’s mandate is to promote the resilience of the region through regional cooperation and integration, fostering peace and security, boosting agricultural sector development, facilitating sustainable management of natural resources, and environmental protection.

The IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) was established in July 2012 as an IGAD Specialized Institution mandated to “promote and facilitate sustainable and equitable drylands and livestock development in the IGAD region.” To fulfil its mandate, ICPALD serves as a platform for the regional cooperation and coordination in Livestock, pastoralism and Arid and Semi-arid land (ASAL) development. ICPALD’s three focus areas include livestock development; research, policy and knowledge management; Pastoralism, climate change and ASAL development.

Livestock sector is important to economy, environment and social facet of the region including earning from export. Cattle, sheep, camels and goats are the key ones producing meat, dairy and hides and skins for domestic and export markets. The major bottleneck affecting livestock production and trade include production not tailored to market need; poor animal husbandry; transboundary animal disease; inadequate sanitary compliance; poor vertical and horizontal integration of the value chain actors; among others.

To complement the effort of the member States and address the gaps, ICPALD is providing technical support to countries and private sector actors to enhance livestock and meat trade domestically, in the region and with middle east and north Africa (MENA) and Asian countries through training, information and experience sharing, business-to-business dialogue and trade fair. The are ongoing projects and projects on pipeline at ICPALD that support livestock development and trade. Some of the ongoing projects include Program to Build Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security in the Horn of Africa (BREFONS), Regional Livestock Program (RLP), and Building Resilient Market Systems in the Cross-border Drylands of the IGAD Region (IDDRSI IL).

2. job summary

The IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) is seeking a highly qualified senior livestock development/trade expert for services ranging from technical lead in capacity building on Risk Analysis, Transparency, Equivalence, and other key provisions of the SPS agreements; programming and project management related to livestock and livestock products trade; facilitate exchange visits among member State experts and private sector for scaling up good practice, facilitate regular forum between IGAD exporting and -MENA importing countries, closely work with IGAD team in concept note and proposal development for resource mobilization, and produce reports, policy briefs and others.

3. Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of ICPALD Director, the Senior Livestock Trade Expert will undertake the following tasks related to livestock development and trade:

• Lead and coordinate implementation of activities on livestock and livestock products trade: harmonizing Grading and standard; regularly update and share SPS requirements including capacity building; organize trade facilitation mission and exchanges; expand alternative markets for livestock products of the region; closely work and coordinate stakeholders along the value chain
• Share information, lessons and good practices to public and private sectors on livestock and livestock products trade opportunities, risk and outlook through study reports, policy brief, presentation and other means
• Liaise with national livestock trade focal persons and policy hub in member states and support analysis, formulation and advocacy for conducive policy and strategy in livestock trade
• Organize and coordinate regional events, platforms and livestock and livestock trade related working groups
• Lead resource mobilization and programming to augment ongoing regional livestock development programs
• Prepare terms of reference, deploy, supervise and administer short-term consultants and other staff working in the team
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant livestock related national/regional/continental and global organizations for enhanced complementarities and synergy; and
• Any other task assigned by ICPALD Director

4. Academic qualification, Professional experiences and Core Competencies required
   • Academic Qualification

• Master’s degree and above in agricultural Trade, Meat Science, Livestock development, Livestock products trade or Veterinary Science from a recognized university, or other very related MSc degree studies complemented by a certificate in agricultural and livestock trade
  • Professional Work Experience
• A minimum 10 years in agricultural product trade analysis and or regional trade facilitation
• At least five years of experience in livestock and livestock product related trade, negotiations in multilateral trade pacts, exposure to intricacies of SPS, and regional integration through trade
• At least three years of experience working in the inter-governmental setting preferably in the IGAD region
  • Skills and competencies
• Demonstrable proven experience in programming and resource mobilization from partners and private sector
• Research design, data collection and analysis, research report writing
• Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan and knowledge management work
• Experience in multi-stakeholder project results-based management
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal with technical, and people management challenges
• Verbal and written communication skills in English
  • Language requirements

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French language is an added advantage

5. Remuneration

Negotiable with IGAD salary scale and policy and based on applicant’s qualification and experience

6. How to apply

Qualified applicants from IGAD Member States are eligible to apply.

Interested candidates should send their applications in PDF accompanied by cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, academic credentials, copy of passports/ ID cards biometric page and three reference persons including the last employer.

Applications should be sent by E-mail to the following addresses: recruitment@igad.int with subject line “ICPALD-LTE”

Closing date for application will be on 27^th September 2024. Due to the large number of applications we expect to receive; only successful candidates who meet the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. Contact: + 25321354050

IGAD is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Download attached ToR document in PDF below.
Vacancy Announcement – Senior Livestock Trade Expert