Country: Somalia
Closing date: 13 Jul 2017
Background
The African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical office of the African Union under the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. AU-IBAR is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of animals (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) as a resource for human well-being in the Member States of the African Union and to contribute to economic development, particularly in rural areas.
AU-IBAR is implementing a project for Reinforcing Animal Health Services in Somalia (RAHS) in partnership with two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) namely, Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) and Terra Nuova with financial support from the European Union (EU). The RAHS project aims to enhance the quality, access and sustainability of animal health services in Somalia. Towards this, the project is supporting the Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry of the Puntland State of Somalia and the Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland to develop and implement appropriate strategies to improve the delivery of animal health services.
In addition, a recent severe drought in Somalia resulted in the deaths of large numbers of livestock in different regions in the country. This saw many poor households lose their productive assets with negative impacts on their livelihoods, nutrition and ability to raise income for other household and social needs. Some severely affected households lost 75% - 100% of their livestock herds. These vulnerable households require support to enhance their recovery from the effects of the drought.
AU-IBAR is seeking the services of a Consultant Animal Health Expert to support the Line Ministries to develop appropriate animal health strategies to improve the delivery and regulation of animal health services. The Consultant will also work closely with selected drought affected communities in partnership with the public and private sectors to implement interventions to support some of the most affected households to recover from the effects of the drought.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Overall objectives
The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide assistance to the Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range of the Federal Somali Republic, the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry of the Puntland State of Somalia and the Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland to develop five-year (2017 – 2021) strategies to improve the delivery and regulation of animal health services in the respective jurisdictions.
To assist selected most vulnerable households to rebuild their household assets and recover from the effects of the recent severe drought.
Specific objectives
The specific objectives of the consultancy are as follows:
- Provide technical guidance and lead national Policy Hub task force members to design and document appropriate strategies for the improved delivery and regulation of animal health services in the respective jurisdictions of the three line Ministries.
- Provide technical support for stakeholders validation of the draft strategies.
- To support interventions to assist the most vulnerable drought affected households in selected locations to recover from the effects of the drought.
Tasks
- Review available livestock policy documents and legislative frameworks for the respective line Ministries.
- Review available disease surveillance and control systems consultancy reports.
- Examine the organizational set-up and institutional arrangements for the delivery and regulation of animal health services in the Federal Republic of Somalia and in the Puntland State of Somalia and Somaliland.
- Guide consultations with livestock owners, relevant public and private sector stakeholders as well as other livestock value chain actors to obtain data and information on key aspects of animal health services delivery and regulation that require improvement and strengthening.
- Organise and lead write-shops for the preparation of draft five-year (2017 – 2021) strategies for improving the delivery and regulation of animal health services under the jurisdiction of each respective Line Ministry taking into account the respective Government medium term development plans and sectoral policies.
- Provide technical support for three stakeholders’ workshops to validate the draft strategies.
- Work with community elders and leaders in selected drought affected areas to identify the most severely affected households for support by the RAHS project.
- Work closely with the selected communities and the respective line Ministries and private animal health service providers to identify and deliver interventions to support the most severely affected households to recover from the effects of the drought.
Expected Outputs and Deliverables
The following are the expected outputs:
- An inception report including the methodology and the work plan to undertake the tasks.
- Comprehensive draft strategies to guide the improvement of animal health services delivery and regulation by the Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry of the Puntland State of Somalia and the Ministry of Livestock of Somaliland in collaboration with the private sector animal health service providers and other livestock value chain actors.
- Presentations of the draft strategies in stakeholders validation workshops.
- Proceedings of the stakeholder validation workshops.
- Most vulnerable households identified in selected communities recovering from the effects of the recent severe drought.
- Interventions to support the severely drought affected households identified and implemented.
- Detailed documentation of interventions delivered among the most vulnerable drought affected households.
Following completion of the tasks the consultant will prepare and submit a consolidated report to the RAHS project Coordinator within 10 days of completion of the assignment and subsequently finalise the report following inputs from AU-IBAR staff.
Qualifications
The candidate must have a Masters in any field of Veterinary science. A PhD will be an added advantage.
General professional experience
- At least 10 years of proven experience in public and/or private sector animal health services management in Somalia.
- Experience in conducting and facilitating dialogue with livestock sector stakeholders in different geographic locations in Somalia.
Specific professional experience
- A good understanding of the institutional set-up for animal health services delivery and regulation in Central and Southern Somalia, the Puntland State of Somalia and Somaliland.
- Proven experience in facilitating the design and implementation of national animal health policies and strategies.
- At least 8 years of experience in the coordination/management of animal health institutional strengthening programmes in the Horn of Africa region. Specific experience in Somalia will be an added advantage.
- Experience in organising and facilitating stakeholder consultations and preparation of reports/ proceedings.
Skills and competencies
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to brief and debrief staff and stakeholders fluently in the Somali and English languages.
- Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan own work and to work independently, with minimum supervision, to high professional standards.
- Ability to withstand stress under different field conditions including high insecurity.
- Knowledge and experience of using participatory approaches.
Language requirement
- Proficiency in both Somali and English.
Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Duty stations
The consultants will be stationed in Nairobi (10%), Hargeisa (30%), Garowe, (30%) and Mogadishu (30%) for the duration of the assignment.
Duration
The duration of this assignment is 75 days. The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment with minimum delay.
Remuneration
The remuneration for this Consultancy is a fixed amount of USD Fifteen Thousand (USD 15,000). Expenses for field missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.
Evaluation Criteria
The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.
Application deadline
The deadline for submission of proposals is 13th July 2017, 17.00 hours, Nairobi Local Time.
How to apply:
The address for submission of applications is:
Applications including detailed curriculum vitae (CV) should be submitted through email to: procurement@au-ibar.org with a copy to applications@au-ibar.org