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Project Manager Animal Health and AVPL Project

I. About MADERA

Mission d’Aide au Développement des Economies Rurales – Afghanistan (MADERA) is a French non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1988 with the purpose of improving the quality of life of the people of Afghanistan and fostering the conditions necessary for peace. Its actions are oriented towards empowering rural communities by building their capacities and supporting their initiatives, with the aim of giving them greater control over their own development.

MADERA implements a two-track strategy which links relief and rehabilitation with development. MADERA provides a response to: (i) Emergencies, through the creation of short term employment opportunities paid in cash and food, and distribution of food and agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer, etc); and provides vital water and sanitation facilities, etc - aiming at supporting the most vulnerable families. (ii) Medium to long term concerns, through rural development projects aiming at a more sustainable impact on livelihoods and improvement of the quality of life of the population. These projects adopted a multi-sector approach, in several rural development fields.

II. The Project

MADERA started its animal health and husbandry activities in 1988 through supporting veterinary clinics in Kunar Province and played a lead role in the rehabilitation of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Jalalabad.

In 2005 MADERA developped two programs: one for the support to the installation and privatization of veterinary field practitioners in 4 provinces (Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan and Wardak – Behsud I and II districts). The objective is to support the improvement of Animal Health in Afghanistan, and contribute to the development of rural livelihoods (food security and farm incomes) and thus to the overall economic recovery of Afghanistan. The second one participating to the revival of the AVPL (Animal Vaccine Production Laboratory), belonging to the MAIL (Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock). The objective was to provide basic equipments and training for restarting the production of 4 bacterial vaccines.

The original programs, which began in 2005 terminated at the end of May 2009. A new program, gathering the two previous ones, which will build on the achievements so far, has started in June 2009 for a 3-year period.

The two components of the new program are as follows:

  1. Improvement of Animal Health This component aims to improve livestock keepers’ access to animal health services; to assist Animal Health Service Providers (veterinarians, para-veterinarians and BVWs) to improve the quality of clinical services and the range of animal production advisory and related services; and to contribute to strengthening institutional and organisational relationships between public and private sectors and with other organisations with an interest in livestock health and production and marketing – (value addition, processing industries). This project is part of the national policy for the privatization of the VFU (Veterinary Field Units, i.e. the veterinary field practitioners).

  2. Support of the AVPL This component aims to contribute to improve the capacity of AVPL management to meet demand for vaccines against major epidemic and endemic diseases affecting livestock, and to support the AVPL to become increasingly economically sustainable. Strengthening the AVPL (management, administration, sales&marketing) is a key factor in reducing livestock morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan (through the production of safe vaccines adapted to local bacterial strains and able to protect existing herds from major epidemic diseases).

This programme involves working closely with the Direction of AVPL, the MAIL (specifically the Veterinary Department), the EC and the AHDP (Animal Health Development Program) of the EC.

III. Job Description

Acting under the responsibility of the Operations Director, the Project Manager (PM) will oversee the implementation of both components of the project.

With regard to the “Improvement of Animal Health” component, the project manager will plan and lead the project, ensuring the activities are carried out in an efficient and timely manner, while addressing any issues and adjusting activities accordingly. The PM will work in close cooperation with the provincial veterinary offices (Ministry of Agriculture) of Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan and Wardak.

With regard to the “Support of the AVPL” component, the PM will oversee activities and support the laboratory managerial team with technical training and assistance (especially in the areas of finance, administration, marketing and logistics), in cooperation with the laboratory Director. The project manager will also strengthen cooperation with other NGOs involved in animal health activities. The PM will also coordinate with and provide support to the AHDP – Animal Health Development Program- of the EC for the strenghtening of technical capacity.

For both project components, the PM will liaise with the national authorities (Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Animal Health and Production Directorate, etc…) and other stakeholders about animal health and husbandry issues.

The Project Manager is responsible for the following: •Planning and monitoring the implementation of project activities •Conducting budget follow-up and financial planning •Coordinating the Animal Health teams and support AVPL Direction for management issues •Supervising equipment purchases •Planning and organizing missions of consultants / experts •Liaison with national, provincial and district authorities and partners •Ongoing monitoring of the AVPL facility and regular monitoring of the provincial Team Leaders and VFUs in the field (for the Animal Health component). •Preparing reports: internal reports, donor reports, and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock reports. •Providing technical assistance and training of national staff in financial, administrative and logistics procedures (and at AVPL: provide guidance on improving the marketing strategy, especially regarding pricing, advertising and packaging issues, for future increase of sales). •Searching for other sources of funds and international in-kind donations of equipment and technical training. •Preparing proposals for funding for the existing project and future projects

IV. Qualifications

•University degree - 3rd cycle (MA) or equivalent professional experience in the field of project management, business management, economics and/or marketing. •At least 2 years of experience in project management including managing human resources, logistics and budgets.
•Excellent communication skills including a good sense of diplomacy and discernment. •Ability to work in a multicultural environment. •Leadership skills •Knowledge on animal health and husbandry is an asset. •Fluent spoken English and good written English skills. Notions of Dari or Pashto are an asset. •Proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel).

V. Conditions

•Fixed term salaried contract – 12 months renewable. •Remuneration: 24 000 € to 30 000 € annual depending on experience + distance allowance •Rest and Recreation benefits. •Housing at subsidized cost. •Medical insurance and repatriation insurance.

POSITION TO BE FILLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

VI. How to apply

Applications, in English, should include a CV, picture, cover letter and three references.

Applications should be submitted to: recrutement@madera.asso.fr Marion Léonetti MADERA, 3, rue Roubo, 75011 Paris, France Tel: + 33 (0)1 43 70 50 07 Fax: + 33 (0)1 43 70 60 07 Website: http://www.madera-asso.org