Livestock Specialist

Organizational Context

FAO Sierra Leone, in collaboration with UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, is implementing a Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme (UNN). This programme aims to strengthen food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and livelihoods in Sierra Leone, targeting vulnerable populations. It supports national priorities like the Feed Salone Strategy and UNSDCF outcomes. The Joint Programme focuses on climate-resilient livelihoods, improved nutrition-sensitive services, and strengthened governance. FAO specifically leads agriculture, livestock, and livelihood interventions, including poultry, apiculture, and integrated farming systems.

Job Purpose

The Livestock Specialist will provide essential technical expertise and operational support for the design and implementation of livestock and integrated farming interventions within the Joint UN Nutrition Programme in Sierra Leone. The role focuses on key areas such as poultry production systems, apiculture (honey production), and integrated crop-livestock systems. A critical aspect of this position involves applying climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive approaches to all livestock-related activities, ensuring alignment with the programme's broader goals of enhancing food security and livelihoods for vulnerable communities.

Responsibilities

The Livestock Specialist will lead the planning and implementation of livestock interventions, including poultry, apiculture, and small livestock systems, ensuring alignment with climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture principles. This includes developing intervention models, promoting integrated farming systems, and delivering training on animal husbandry, production systems, feed management, and disease prevention. The specialist will strengthen extension services through farmer field schools and demonstrations, support beneficiary identification with an emphasis on vulnerable groups, and promote community-based approaches for livestock distribution and management. Responsibilities also encompass coordinating disease prevention measures, enhancing livestock productivity through improved practices and biosecurity, developing livestock value chains, facilitating market linkages, and promoting income-generating opportunities. The role involves developing technical specifications for procurement, ensuring quality assurance, contributing to work plans and reports, monitoring field activities, and liaising with government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in livestock production and rural development projects is required. This experience should be complemented by a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Production, Animal Science, Veterinary Science, or a related field. The candidate must also possess a working knowledge of English (Level C) and be a national of Sierra Leone.

Skills

Strong experience is required in poultry and/or apiculture systems, livestock extension and training, and integrated farming systems. Knowledge of climate-resilient agriculture approaches and experience in community-based livestock programmes are essential. Proficiency in results-based project implementation (RBM) is necessary. The role demands strong analytical, communication, and training skills to effectively support project objectives and engage with diverse stakeholders.

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