Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Recruitment of Subject Matter expert on Dairy Production

  • Contract
  • Contract type: Short term consultancy contract

Company Description

SNV the Netherlands Development Organization is an international not-for-profit development organization working in over 26 developing countries for more than 50 years. In Rwanda SNV has been working for more than 30 years to improve people’s livelihoods by strengthening the capacities of public and private sector organizations. SNV works in full alignment with Rwanda’s development agenda. It does so by helping to realize the national development goals in three sectors: Agriculture; Renewable Energy; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. SNV supports development in these sectors by working with government, civil society, and private sector organizations. It does so by providing three types of interrelated services: capacity development, knowledge development, and supporting evidence based policy dialogue by national stakeholders.

Project Background

The Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management (EWMR) Project in Rwanda is a 3-year project funded by the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Kigali. The overall project is led by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and SNV is leading the component on Innovative Financing Mechanisms and Value Chains for enhanced livelihoods in Sebeya and other catchments of Western Rwanda.

The project implements activities to restore the Sebeya catchment using landscape approach through institutional capacity strengthening; village-based land use planning and action implementation; engaging with the private sector for market access; developing livelihood alternatives; and scaling up community-based approaches for restoration. The government of Rwanda is a major player in this project as they facilitate investment fund to enable action on the ground while the technical assistance will be provided by IUCN and SNV subsequently.

Community-based approaches

The EWMR project is anchored on a community-based approach and in recognition of diverse community needs and priorities, it is crucial to incorporate various types of livestock including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, and chickens

Rwanda’s livestock masterplan recognizes the potential of livestock to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector, contributing to nutritional gaps as well as improving household incomes. In addition, the need for fodder for livestock can act as an incentive for farmers to grow fodder crops on their farms that are good for feeding livestock as well as providing fuel. The manure from livestock is crucial for improving soil fertility and consequently farm productivity. Livestock integration presents an opportunity for multiple benefits in terms of income generation from the sale of livestock while contributing to EWRMR Project’s environmental objectives.

 

Job Description

The rationale for the assignment

Following recommendations based on community-led Village Land Use Actions Plans (VLUAPs), EWMR disbursed dairy cows to households to improve their livelihoods.  However, the households lack knowledge and skills that are crucial for the application of good practices in animal husbandry such as housing, health, reproduction, milk handling, and hygiene. This knowledge gap can easily result in low productivity in both body mass, reproduction, and post-harvest losses in products such as milk due to poor handling and hygiene thus becoming an impediment to optimizing the economic benefits of livestock keeping. Therefore, the support to farmers through training and linkage to both MCCs, inputs, and service providers is necessary to bridge the knowledge gap and equip the dairy farmers with relevant skills that will help them to maximize the benefits of sustainable livestock rearing (within the provisions of their environment) and improve their food security and incomes.

SNV is seeking the services of a technical expert in livestock management, who will work with the EWMR project team to deliver training to farmers in Nyabihu and Rubavu.

 Overall objectives of the consultancy

The aim of this assignment is to impart basic knowledge and skills on good animal husbandry practices targeting dairy farmers and integrate them into the dairy value chain to ensure that benefitting households are maximizing benefits from their dairy cows.

Scope of the assignment   

This assignment will target dairy farmers, MCCs, and dairy cooperatives in Rubavu and Nyabihu districts. The key activities under the assignment include:

i) Develop/adapt training modules and deliver training on:

a) Proper livestock housing and hygiene including waste management,

b) Feeding including feed and fodder management,

c) Health including pest and disease control,

d) Reproduction and breeding including breed types and calf management  

e) Milk handling and hygiene

f) Value addition of milk

g) Marketing of livestock and livestock products

ii) Support the establishment of fodder production and conservation demos.

iii) Link dairy farmers and MCCs with input and service providers.

iv) Develop training reports including before and after evaluations.

v) Monitor uptake of good animal husbandry practices and their effect on dairy cow productivity and household food security

Main deliverables

The main deliverables of the assignment are as follows:

Deliverable

Develop training Modules

Description

Detailed Modules covering at least the key training aspects as shown in the scope of the assignment.

Deliverable

Deliver training

Description

i)  Present the methodology to use for delivering training  

ii) Deliver training of trainers and carry out related technical backstopping in an appropriate manner.

Deliverable

Establish demos of fodder management

Description

Demo plot sites for fodder production and conservation for at least 2 MCCs

Deliverable

Produce training reports

Description

Training reports including before and after training evaluation

Deliverable

Submit all related materials and data on trainees to the project team

Description

i) All training modules will be submitted before the training for review and approval by relevant SNV EWMR staff.

ii) Plans on technical backstopping of training will be submitted after the TOTs  

iii) Data on training participants disaggregated by gender will be submitted after the delivery of training.

Qualifications

Profile and qualifications of the candidate

The candidate should meet the following requirements:

i) Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Animal Production, Animal health, and any other related fields (a master’s degree is an added advantage)

ii) Minimum of 5 year’s professional experience and advanced practical knowledge in animal husbandry, milk handling, and hygiene. 

iii) Demonstrable experience in delivering training to farmers using adult training methods

iv) Strong technical report writing skills.

v) Excellent writing and speaking skills in English and Kinyarwanda.

Duration of the assignment

The assignment will be conducted for a period of 6 months starting from November 2022-April 2023. The Expert will spend most part of the duration of the assignment in the districts of Rubavu, and Nyabihu delivering the training.  The expected start date is 20th November 2022.

Additional Information

Submission of Applications

Applications should be submitted not later than 4th November 2022, 1700hrs Rwanda, time. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

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