National Animal Husbandry/Livestock Specialist; National Small Business Development Specialist

Lux-Development, the Executing Agency for Bilateral Development Co-operation financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, assists the Nghe An People’s Committee and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to improve living conditions through (i) improving local capacity to deliver appropriate sustainable agriculture practices, (ii) improving poor farmers incomes from diversified sustainable agriculture practices and (ii) supporting Rural communities’ access to goods and services, in selected poor communes of the three districts of Con Cuong, Tuong Duong and Ky Son.
The February 2009 launched Project VIE/028 – Western Nghe An Rural Development Project has a planned duration of four (4) years. The project, based in Hoa Binh Township, Tuong Duong district, is recruiting staff to strengthen the Project Support Team (PST) of advisors and staff to work with DARD employees at commune and district levels.

A. The project is looking for candidates to fill the following positions in the project team:
1. One (1) National Animal Husbandry/Livestock Specialist
His/her main responsibilities will be to improve sustainable agricultural Production by helping farmers and farmer groups to understand the issues related to animal husbandry and to discover practical
solutions to sustain an increase farmer’s incomes from livestock activities. This is done by via capacity building of district and commune extension providers and support to PMU. (i) assess the status of the trained paravets, design trainings and field activities to help Vet Service to establish viable paravet network; (ii) Support/guide district and commune technical staff to facilitate farmer discussions, and farmers workshops on topics related to livestock production and sanitation; (iii) Support the Vet services to stimulate creation of farmer’s groups interested in increasing their incomes from livestock activities through better raising practices using local breeds and locally produced feed; (iv) Guide the implementation of a research and demonstration programmes where displayed sustainable techniques are especially those regarding improvement of local practices: ration improvement; de-worming animals; housing, etc.; (v) Support extension services in regard to fish raising: evaluate the potential of fish raising to poor upland farmers; guide demonstration on fish raising practices; assess market demand and access; (vi) preparing of project plans, monitoring and reporting of all project activities related to his/her work.

2. One (1) National Small Business Development Specialist
The specialist will work for a total input of 24 months. The contract will be concluded on annual basis. She/ He will get the support of an international expert on Small business. The specialist will work
closely with the agriculture staff. His/her main responsibilities’ will be to assist PMU and project partners in identification and implementation of income generating activities: (i) Identifying current
income generating activities in the project area / assess economic value chain for each commodity:  markets, traders, consumers, places, prices; (ii) Support district staff to assess the importance of
income generating activities in the project area: incomes generated; possibilities for improvement; identify other organisation/ NGO for cooperation on the aspects related/ identify training resources;
(iv) Identify the private stakeholders of the different chains, set up a monitoring system in coordination with the government agencies; (v) Organise workshops and consultation with private and government state agencies for defining strategies to develop specific income generating activities; (vi) Support promotional activities: private stakeholder in participating in fairs and support
local events for promoting local products; (vii) Help in setting-up cooperatives of producers: identify the local producers /provide organisational support; work with the province and district government
agencies in charge of support to new cooperatives; (viii) preparing of project plans, monitoring and reporting of all project activities related to his/her work.

B. Requirements: The successful candidates should have:
1. For the position National Animal husbandry/Livestock Specialist
Hoa Binh Town, Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam
Tel. (84 38) 741 044 / 741 045
Fax. (84 38) 874 828
E-mail: [email protected]
- University degree on animal husbandry/ veterinary
- Significant experience with upland farming system and a minimum of 5 years working on participatory agriculture/veterinary extension services with smallholders, on rural development or poverty  alleviation projects;
- Experience in working with government extension services
- Knowledge of grassing and cut and carry production systems
- Experience of using Project Cycle Management tools;
- Familiar with participatory methods, with adult education principles, with research tools;
- Good communication skills and practical experiences working with diversified type of attendants (poor, ethnic minorities, women);
- Fluency in English. Knowledge of Ethnic minority languages will be assets for the position;

2. For the position of Small Business Development Specialist:
- The specialist has a university degree on business/economics/marketing.
- She/He has experiences of 3 years minimum working with small business development projects.
- She/He has experiences in preparation of market surveys, business plan development, etc.
- She/He has experiences in training of trainers on small business development approaches.
- The specialist has good communication skills, training experience and ability to facilitate workshops, FFS and trainings.
- Good command of main office software is required as well as fluency in English.

All the candidates should be aware, willing and prepared to live in a remote area on a long term basis (3h30 from the main city of Vinh)
C. Duration of Contracts: One year, renewable (with two-month probation, maximum up to the end of project if not stated otherwise)
D. Duty Station: Hoa Binh Township, Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province
E. Deadline for Submitting Applications for all the positions is 10 December 2010.
F. How to apply: Applications in English consisting of a covering motivation letter, a Curriculum Vitae in English and, minimum two referee’s contacts must be forwarded by e-mail to:
[email protected]
By specifying in the Subject line which position you are applying for.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview(s).
Women /ethnic minorities are highly encouraged to apply.
The project provides competitive salary. A housing allowance is part of the salary arrangement. A project bus will bring the staff on Monday to project office and back on Friday to Vinh City.
This is a re-advertisement. Previously unsuccessful applicants don’t need to apply again.