Land O’Lakes Venture37

Project Description

The Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AIDI) is a CGIAR initiative consisting of a series of rapid impact interventions aiming to ensure that smallholder farmers in key food production areas of sub-Saharan Africa have the information and innovation they need to offset the increase of food, fuel and fertilizer prices brought on by the war in Ukraine. The initiative aims to support resource-poor smallholder farmers to increase crop production and productivity through access to know-how, fertilizers, improved seeds, and financing mechanisms. 

Land O’Lakes Venture37 has a sub-agreement with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to implement a rapid impact intervention focusing on the commercial and indigenous poultry value chains in Zambia. The Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative-Livestock (AIDI-L) is a 24-month project whose overall aim is to contribute to improved food and nutrition security and rural incomes in Zambia. Specifically, the project’s purpose is to improve productivity and availability of poultry meat and eggs at household and local market levels through widespread adoption of sustainable livestock innovations. AIDI-L aims to reach 15,000 smallholder households in Zambia though private sector-led, women- and youth- focused innovations in poultry, and 375,000 through poultry vaccination and media campaigns.

AIDI-L objectives:

1. Improve access to and scale-up of improved breeds of dual-purpose backyard village chickens, as well as specialized commercial broilers and layers, through private sector agribusinesses providing bundled advisory services and inputs in areas where added advantages for these breeds are identified.
2. Support cost-share of start-ups and scale-ups of small-scale poultry enterprises in production, and marketing of locally produced chicken meat and eggs.
3. Reduce morbidity and mortality of poultry by facilitating access to, and vaccination of, poultry to key economically impactful diseases such as Newcastle Disease (NCD). Methods would include media advisory campaigns on vaccines, health, hygiene, and production, as well as support to private sector actors to provide extension messaging for existing poultry producers through the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ).

Position Summary

The Project Advisor is responsible for the programmatic implementation of the Land O’Lakes Venture37-led AIDI-L project activities The Project Advisor shall provide technical leadership, supervise team members, and be responsible for coordination of all parties. This includes liaising and coordinating with ILRI on all integrated program activities; building and maintaining local partnerships with host government, private and public sector, farmer-based organizations, and other key stakeholders. The Project Advisor is also responsible for the appropriate oversight and support to project consultants and staff. Through the Finance and Administration Manager, they will be responsible for ensure program operations and office functions, including all Zambian legal registration and reporting requirements, are met and maintained, and that all project deliverables, including program and financial reports are accurate, of good quality and are submitted in a timely manner.

The Project Advisor is to be based in Lusaka. The position requires close collaboration with Land O’Lakes Venture37 headquarters team including Technical Teams, Program Management Teams, Monitoring and Evaluation, Contracts and Compliance, Finance, and Human Resources.

Reports to: Group Director, Technical Impacts, and Innovation

Primary Responsibilities

Technical and Programmatic

Play a lead role in development and execution of project work plans, updating as needed and maintain technical oversight of all poultry production and promotion activities.

Provide technical oversight to potential grantees on all aspects of proposal development including institutional, technical, and financial components.

Lead the development of quality project reports, work plans, contracts, Monthly Status Updates and other programming documents, and monitor ongoing activities to ensure they are reaching the intended objectives and are in full compliance with donor regulations.

Liaise and coordinate closely with Land O’Lakes Venture37 supervisory and technical staff, as well as ILRI on program technical implementation activities and partnerships.

Initiate engagement and build relationships and partnerships with key planned project stakeholders including private sector, farmer-based organizations, and government in target provinces.

Guide the design and rollout of the project’s cost-share investment partnerships with local enterprises.

Participate in regular field visits and provide technical assistance in field activities.

Provide support and input into the project’s gender analysis and ensure that findings and recommendations are incorporated into project implementation.

Operational and Administrative

Ensure appropriate scopes of work for program employees and contingent workers as necessary to ensure programmatic success.

Support field staff and consultant orientation process including any necessary training/onboarding on, for example, project goals, objectives, activities, and workplans, organizational and funder rules and regulations, accounting and finance systems and procedures, administrative and human resource processes.

Lead day-to-day implementation of all program activities including providing direct supervisory support to four key project staff members ensuring all have detailed workplans and achieve individual milestones.

Support the Finance and Administration Manager in identifying resource needs such as supplies and services.

Oversee the project’s budget and projections to ensure that funds are used to maximize project performance in compliance with Venture37 internal controls.

Provide support as required to Land O’Lakes Venture37 Zambia registration process.

Ensure that deliverables are completed in full compliance with Venture37’ standard operating procedures, donor policies and regulations, and national policies and law.

Implement country security plan in conjunction with the Group Director, Technical Impacts and Innovation.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree (BSc) in Animal/Poultry Science/Production, Veterinary science Agribusiness, Agricultural, Rural Development, or other relevant fields.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of demonstrated relevant field experience in implementation of livestock development projects with an emphasis on poultry.
• A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated senior management experience in managing relevant and complex US Government and other donor-funded development programs
• Proven project leadership skills building and managing technical and administrative field teams, stakeholder relationships, and motivating team members.
• Extensive experience and/or technical knowledge in implementing poultry development projects and activities across the Zambia poultry value chain, both commercial and indigenous poultry including production, inputs & services, processing, transport, cold chain, retail, and financing.
• Demonstrated experience adapting project implementation and activities to achieve objectives and targets in a timely manner as needed.
• Program office financial, administrative, and human resource management experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence. 
• Able to work with limited supervision and deliver on time.
• Team player with excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Fluency in oral and written English.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree (MSc) in Animal/Poultry Science/Production, Agribusiness, Agricultural, Rural Development, or other relevant fields.
• Experience working in the commercial and informal poultry industry in Zambia.