Expert and Trainer on Livestock, Vegetable Gardens and Fertilizer Production

Women for Change (WfC) a Gender-focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) seeks applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Expert and Trainer on Livestock, Vegetable Gardens and Fertilizer Production (1) for the Women Empowerment Project (WEP) in Chongwe and Rufunsa Districts of Lusaka Province in Zambia. She/he will be expected to work under the supervision of the Field Office Coordinator in implementing the WEP which is supported by Fundación Progresar and funded by The Foundation “Stiftelsen Support for Development”.

Location: Chongwe field office

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

To assure that the Project has access to adequate materials, knowledge and support in livestock production business, family gardens and compost production. Contribute so that a) the women manage their livestock business in the best way to achieve good production, a good treatment of the animals and generate income. b) that the vegetable gardens are productive and support the needs of the families and also generate some income, and c) the women know how to produce ecofriendly compost that can be used in vegetable gardens and in farming.

Responsibilities

• Participates and contributes in a working group for adapting the Manual on vegetable gardens, small livestock and compost. Contributes with adequate training materials for small livestock, vegetable gardens and composting to be used with the women’s groups.
• Trains and supports Project staff, particularly field officers in a) livestock management, b) vegetable growing, c) composting, according to the Manual and methodology of the Project
• Trains and supports group promoters in a) livestock management, b) vegetable gardens, c) composting, according to the Manual and methodology of the Project.
• Trains all new women’s groups in livestock management (done as step * in the Village Bank Manual) and retrains all groups in year two or three in livestock management, vegetable garden and composting.
• Trains staff, group promotors and women in agricultural production of vegetable, fruits and crops produced by the women in the project.
• Trains field officers and promoters in the use of educational material for training of the women in livestock, composting and horticulture.
• Conducts monitoring visits with group promotors to the women of the groups to follow-up and provide recommendations on their livestock, vegetables and vermicompost to strengthening them in a practical way.
• Participates in end-of-cycle evaluations of groups to analyse results of livestock business, vegetable gardens and compost production.
• Participates in planning and evaluation meetings of the Project.
• Participates in trainings related to the project.
• Prepares weekly, monthly and other requested reports.
• Identifies new topics and training needs to improve the result of the women’s livestock businesses, vegetable gardens and compost production.
• Recommends adaptations in the livestock manual and develops required modules.
• Conducts any other task requested by the field office coordinator according to the circumstances of the work performed in the field office.

Strategic focus (should be adapted to Zambia):

Train in livestock care and management including marketing and selling:

a) turkeys, chickens, ducks, b) pigs for breeding, fattening, c) sheep, goats and cows. (concentrate on the type of livestock that most women have)

• Training in vegetable gardens like home gardens and kitchen gardens that can be managed by the women and that produce for consumption and for selling to generate additional income. Should have knowledge of different types of vegetables and herbs grown by women.
• Focused on choice of crops to plant, type and conditions of the land, land preparation, planting, cultural work, fertilization, pest control, harvesting and post-harvest management.
• Include the use of organic fertilizers, mainly compost produced in the Project, use of repellent plants and other natural and biological means available to participating women.
• Use participatory methodology, that is, theory and practice. The methodology includes theory and direct field work with the participation of promoters and field workers. After training, make field visits with promoters and responsible field worker.
• All themes and approaches should be adapted to the conditions of the participating
  Training should be done in local language.
• In all topics write all new learnings that are not in the livestock manual.

Qualifications:

University degree in agriculture or livestock management.

Experience

Minimum five years of work experience in agricultural and livestock production, extension services and sales projects for similar groups of rural poor small scale farmers. Experience of rural based small scale businesses. Experience and knowledge of family based vegetable gardens for domestic consumption and sales. Experience of working with women groups is considered an advantage.

Experience of writing reports, plans, manuals and training materials.

Fluency in the language of communities in the project area and English

Computer competence: Word, Excel and Power Point.

Holder of motor cycle licence.

Other Attributes

• Good interpersonal and gender relationships.
• Positive attitude, collaborative, willingness and desire to improve the living situation of poor rural women.
• Willingness to work in rural areas, eager to learn and adapt and openness to work with women.