Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) Assistant at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Ref Code: SPS80119
Location: Yobe 
Band: 4
Reports To: Livestock Officer
Department: Programs/Water for Agriculture

Project/Program Summary
CRS Nigeria has been awarded the USAID/Nigeria Water for Agriculture Program.  This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase water availability and management, towards increasing agricultural productivity in in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states of Nigeria. This effort will contribute to CRS’ agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin. Additional project details are contained below:

Period:

• Three (3) years; July 15th, 2019 to July 14th, 2022

Location: 

• Yobe: Jakusko and Bursari
• Borno: Biu and KwayaKusar
• Adamawa: Gombi and Mayo Belwa

Amount:   

• US$ 8M

Interventions:  

• Construct water assets for agricultural use (crop irrigation and watering livestock);
• Build capacity of local government agencies and community structures to manage water assets;
• Increase agricultural production and productivity of famers and livestock herders

Job Summary / Background

• The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) will support the delivery of USAID-funded Water for Agriculture (WFA) project by promoting implementation governments’ Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures for protection of human, animal and plant life and health in targeted communities.
• Key performance indicators (KPI) of this position will include increased knowledge on identification and prevention of water-borne diseases between human and livestock populations.

Job Responsibilities

• Support target communities to carry out comprehensive risk assessments and develop local mitigation and response plans to reduce the risk and impact of water borne and animal diseases on livestock and humans.
• Build capacity of targeted communities to actively mitigate against water borne diseases. The post holder will be required to track and report on prevalence of / outbreaks of water-borne diseases within targeted communities / LGAs.
• Collate and analyze existing SPS measures and guidelines with the aim of producing client-friendly information products to increase awareness and implementation of community-level activities to protect humans and animals from diseases and pests.
• Carry out education activities jointly with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to increase awareness of SPS measures among farmers and herders especially around communal water resources.
• Build local government’s capacity and facilitate relevant MDAs to inspect and monitor animal movements, animal products and services such as abattoirs to mitigate disease transmission risks.
• Jointly with other projects and working closely with relevant MDAs, improve and expand animal disease surveillance and outbreak detection / rapid response to reduce impact of animal diseases.
• Support farmers and livestock owners to instigate and maintain good hygienic standards in public areas including animal markets and water points.

Interventions:

• Construct water assets for agricultural use (crop irrigation and watering livestock);
• Build capacity of local government agencies and community structures to manage water assets;
• Increase agricultural production and productivity of famers and livestock herders

Background, Experience & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree / Higher National Diploma in Animal Production, Animal Husbandry, Livestock Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine or other relevant fields.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in delivering livestock services / programming particularly among pastoralist communities.
• Public health knowledge / training will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work with livestock owners and partner and influence government MDAs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; knowledge of Hausa will be an added advantage.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
• Travel Required 60% to field locations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Senior Agronomist, Financial Inclusion Officer, Livelihoods Officer, Livestock Officer
• External: Government ministries departments and agencies, local and international NGOs, coordination platforms and working groups, community leaders

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results:

• Integrity
• Strategic Mindset
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Develops Talent
• Builds Relationships
• Accountability & Stewardship