Vacancy: Integrated Animal Health Specialist

Date	30 Apr 2021

Job Type	Contractor/Consultant
Description	Company Profile SEND GHANA is the oldest of the three affiliate national NGOs (i.e. SEND-Liberia and SEND Sierra Leone) established by the Social Enterprise Development of Foundation of West Africa ( SEND West Africa). SEND West Africa was founded in Ghana in August, 1998 to promote livelihood security, equality of women and men and accountable and transparent governance. The target groups of SEND’s programs are mostly women, youth and farmers in conflict prone , resource poor and difficult to reach communities in each country. Job Description About the Project: Volunteers Engaged in Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) Livestock production is an important livelihood activity in many rural households in developing countries. It often contributes to multiple economic objectives and is an important source of nutritious food, income and climate resilience (Ilukor, 2017). However, animal diseases continue to be a threat to livestock production in most developing countries. An outbreak of disease can mean the difference between sufficient food and food insecurity; having a secure income and losing key household assets; and even between eating healthy or contaminated food (FAO, 2011). Epidemic diseases, such as peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), have led to the deaths of many animals, while other diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and brucellosis, affect animal growth and milk production (McDermott, Grace & Zinsstag, 2013). In developing countries, more than 90% of food animals are raised by small and subsistence farmers (FAO, 2014). These small-scale livestock producers the majority of whom are women, have very limited access to animal health services and remain extremely vulnerable as they lack the necessary support to prevent, or cure diseases in their livestock, leading to a loss of their livelihoods and keeping them in the cycle of poverty. Agriculture is an important engine of growth and poverty reduction. The sector is underperforming in part because women, who are often a crucial resource in agriculture and the rural economy, face constraints that reduce their productivity (FAO, 2018). Although women comprise about 43 percent of the agricultural labor force globally and in developing countries, 1 in 3 have no control over major household purchases such as livestock, limiting their influence over decision making and financial planning (ILO, 2016). For fifteen years, Veterinarians Without Borders has been sending Canadian Veterinarians and Vet students to poor communities around the world to help increase the knowledge and skills of small-scale farmers to keep their cows, chickens, goats, pigs, guinea fowl and other livestock healthy, well-fed and housed securely. Volunteers Engaged in gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS), a project funded through the Volunteer-Cooperation Program at Global Affairs Canada, will allow VWB/VSF to substantially increase the number of Canadian volunteers it is able to send overseas. Over the next seven years (2020-2027), 190 Canadian volunteers will work with local organizations and community partners in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam to help create integrated animal health systems that will increase the livelihoods and household nutrition of small-scale farmers. Location: Volunteer would be based in Tamale but work in communities within Tamale and other districts Duration (Months): Between 6 months Overall Goals To increase the income and resiliency levels of small holder farmers through the adoption of improved veterinary practices in poultry and small ruminant production and health management Objectives: To increase the knowledge and skills of small holder farmers in poultry and small ruminant production and health management To enhance the capacity of beneficiary communities to control and manage zoonotic diseases To increase the awareness and adoption of one health approaches and practices within project beneficiary communities PRELIMINARY JOB DESCRIPTION Placement Overall Goal: To assist poultry and ruminant farmers associations to increase incomes through improved feed formulation, housing, diagnoses and control of diseases in poultry and livestock, assist in the control of anthrax, peste des petits ruminants and rabies in rural communities, build capacity in veterinary pathology laboratory, conduct capacity building for women. Objectives: To train small holder and large commercial farmers in the following areas: Feed formulation and management of feed How to diagnose and control poultry diseases Biosecurity measures on farms Business management of livestock production To train vet technicians in lab poultry diseases To build the diagnostic capacity of veterinary laboratory To conduct diagnoses of zoonotic diseases (anthrax, rabies and brucellosis) To work with the veterinary pathologist at the Veterinary college in designing a veterinary pathology laboratory To design and develop handouts for farmers in poultry and small ruminant diseases, PPR, anthrax, brucellosis Cross-cutting theme #1: Gender Equality It is a VETS project requirement that all placements will include a focus on promoting gender equality in the organization and in the community where the volunteer is working. Please describe how the volunteer can help promote gender equality through their work: Support in the implementation of SENDs Gender policy and Gender Equality Action guide by ensuring that all activity planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting is gender sensitive #2:Cross-cutting theme #2: Environmental Sustainability It is a VETS project requirement that all placements will include a focus on promoting environmental sustainability in the organization and in the community where the Sustainability volunteer is working. Please describe how the volunteer can help promote environmental sustainability through their work: Support in the promotion of One Health approach and practices as well as enhancing the resiliency levels of communities Cross-cutting theme #3: Good Governance It is a VETS project requirement that all placements will include a focus on promoting good governance in the organization and in the community where the volunteer is working. Ensuring that activity implementation is subjected to SENDs principles of transparency, accountability and equity Required Skills or Experience Essential: Bachelor’s degree in veterinary pathology/ microbiology or related field Desirable: Degree in Veterinary Medicine Essential: Experience in poultry feed industry, poultry value chain, poultry production and health management, Experience in small ruminant production, value chain development and animal health management, Ability to train farmers in disease control and feed management Veterinary students willing to learn practical experiences on a poultry farm, Skills in veterinary pathology laboratory investigations, Diagnostic capacity in poultry and small ruminant diseases, in Anthrax, rabies and brucellosis Proposal design, formulation and organizational management Effective cross-cultural communication skills Commitment to the principles of volunteer cooperation and familiarity with participatory approaches to development, including the promotion of gender equality, good governance and environmental sustainability Desirable: Previous international work / volunteer experience in COUNTRY or other developing countr How To Apply Download the full job description: Integrated Animal Health Specialist Apply Now Note Please note, employers receive numerous applications per posting and will only shortlist the most qualified candidates. Also Jobsinghana.com is not involved in any decision made by an employer/recruiter and therefore does not guarantee that applications sent will result in a candidate being shortlisted/selected for that position.
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