Job Description 

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

EADD- II is an ambitious five-year program designed to transform the lives of 136,000 dairy farming families through a competitive and inclusive dairy value chain in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. [35,000 dairy farming families].

Rungwe District is endowed with high dairy potentials which need to be harnessed to elevate farmers’ incomes and support livelihoods. The district has about 21,000 dairy farm families which produce a total of over 200,000 liters of milk per day.

FUNCTION

The Cluster Field Assistant (CFA) will be responsible for providing follow-up support and guidance to a team of Community Facilitators (CFs) and Community Agro-veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs) in the roll out of Production, Feeds and Gender and social capital development (SCD) activities at Producer Organization (PO), Dairy Interest Group (DIG) and Exponential Pass on the Gift (PoG) groups within Rungwe cluster under the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) II Tanzania project.

CFA(s) will provide follow up support to farmers to establish vibrant milk marketing groups to capitalize on economies of scale. From time to time, the CFA(s) will be coaching PO leadership to encourage and foster milk and other businesses around the PO. The CFA(s) will be responsible for supporting farmers to explore business connections with other key market players such input suppliers and milk processors within and beyond the Southern Highlands milk shed.

The CFA will work directly with the Cluster Coordinators, Production, Business and Social Capital Development teams for delivery of consistent and quality service.  The CFA will also be working with relevant project partners such Government Extension workers, PO staff and other key value chain actors such as milk processors.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTER TRAITS: 

Confident, positive, flexible, values-oriented, enthusiastic, passionate about community empowerment.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Ensure Program Effectiveness (40%)

Ensure successful follow-up on social capital strengthening and the roll-out of the SCD and gender approach in the EADD II project
 

DELIVERABLE

1. Carry out capacity needs assessments and plans to address identified capacity needs of Dairy Interest Groups (DIG), Community Facilitators (CFs), Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and Producer Organizations Extension Coordinators (POECs) on a quarterly basis, and provide feedback to the technical leader for action;
2. Monitor the quality of the delivery of training to Producer Organizations (PO) and Dairy Interest Groups (DIG) by the CFs and CAVEs on monthly basis;
3. That DIGs are encouraged to supply/sell at least 50ltrs per day.
4. Provide follow-up support to each CF informing at least 3 Exponential DIGs out of each original DIG within the first 6 months.
5. Facilitate participatory self-review and planning (PSRP) processes at PO and DIG level;
6. Identify and support the creative potential of PO and DIG to draft appropriate strategies and approaches for interventions at household and DIG level.
7. Support close monthly mentor-ship, empowerment and encouragement of the CFs, CAVEs and POECs
8. Coordinate the mapping out of existing DIGs to fit to the requirements of the SCD and support the development of Exponential Pass on Groups (E-POGs);
9. Work with POs to steadily increase women and youth as shareholders, and active suppliers of milk by 20% each quarter.
10. Coordinate Project Management Committees (PMC’s) and participate in the quarterly PMC meetings.
11. Carry out regular monitoring of social capital development activities at household, DIG andPO level. 
12. Identify and document best practices in Production, Gender & Social Capital Development (SCD) at household, DIG and PO level for shared learning
13. Support the dissemination and training of gender- and SCD-based information, education and communication (IEC) materials for use by the CFs, CAVEs and DIGs.

Support Business Development follow-up at the POs.(40%)

• CFA will assist in coaching the PO leadership to make the most of milk and other businesses around the PO. 
• CFA(s) will be responsible in supporting farmers to explore business connections with other key market players such input suppliers and milk processors within and beyond the Southern Highlands milk shed.

DELIVERABLE

1. Assist on-site field support in transforming dairy farming from subsistence into farming as a business (income generation) by imparting skills on basic farm economics. 
2. Support farmers to establish vibrant milk marketing groups to capitalize on economies of scale.
3. Provide support for basic farm records keeping and bookkeeping for PO businesses.
4. Assist in facilitating and promotion of collaboration between Heifer – EADD II project and other Public-Private development partners at all levels in the Project area

Reporting and Compliance (15%)

DELIVERABLE

1. Strengthen the working relationship between PO Members, leaders and Management teams through regular planning and review meetings. 
2. Validate data and records at the POs and DIGs, and share with relevant partners on a monthly basis.
3. Submit timely monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports and accountabilities

Partnership and engagements at implementation level (5%)

• Network with local governments, and other development stakeholders in the cluster on social capital development, youth and women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in EADD II
   

DELIVERABLE

1. Nurture partnerships with gender and youth-oriented public and private institutions/partners with a view of mobilizing resources and establishing sustainable linkages that will benefit women and youth within the dairy hubs.
2. Work closely with other Heifer projects to embrace synergies and complementary at the implementation level.
3. Assist in Foster and manage farmers relationships (group dynamics).

May perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in community development, gender, social development, rural development or other related fields, plus three (3) years in a mix of dairy production, value chain competitiveness, or agriculture development

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in community group formation and strengthening.

Most Critical Proficiency:

• Experience in developing and planning rural development, Agri-enterprise preferably marketing groups, social capital gender mainstreaming strategies in relation to the economic empowerment of women and youth
• A clear understanding of the dairy value chain and Heifer’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) model
• Experience in the market dynamics of the dairy sector in the Southern Highlands.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, program and project development and implementation processes (including planning, monitoring, and evaluation).
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills.
• Knowledge of and experience in cooperative development.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili (knowledge of other languages spoken in Tanzania is a plus)
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet
   

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

• Excellent oral and written reporting skills with the ability to prepare and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format with superior attention to detail
• Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of disadvantaged populations, particularly women and youth
• Working in a multi-cultural setting and commitment to promoting teamwork, gender equality, and sensitivity to hunger and poverty issues
• Excellent communication and negotiating skills with the ability to relate to individuals diplomatically and tactfully
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public
• Ability to travel extensively to the Producer Organizations on short notice
• Positive attitude with the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and in sometimes difficult circumstances
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality