Main Functions

• Under the direct supervision of the APMD Platform Coordinator at AU-IBAR, and the overall oversight of the Director of AU-IBAR. The Project Expert for “Strengthening and diffusing functional data Ecosystems” will lead the design and implementation of activities aimed at supporting the accurate collection, organization, and utilization of data to inform and optimize pastoral sector policies, investments, and interventions. He/she shall perform the following tasks:
• Support strategic planning and project implementation
• Support planning, implementation and reporting on monthly, quarterly and annual project progress
• Lead market research data collection, analysis, and reporting in target geographies
• Lead data assessment and management of the Pastoral Livestock Marketing Chain in the targeted geographies.
• Support capacity assessment and developing and delivery of Training and capacity building activities / products
• Promote availability, accessibility and utilization of data on investment in pastoral livestock marketing chain
• Assist project coordinator to Prepare Annual work plans, and budgets 
• Assist the project coordinator to collect, collate and disseminate data / information on all aspects of promoting pastoral livestock marketing chain.
• Promote Pan-Africa pastoral livestock data stakeholders’ engagement and coordination
• Support Monitoring and Evaluation, resource management and reporting on status of project implementation on the data pillar.
• Assist in preparation of AU-IBAR APMD Annual project / Programme action plans, budget and implementation progress reports 
• Assist in co-ordination and liaison with Member States Data National authorities, Regional Economic Communities, Inter-Governmental and International Organizations/partners on matters of pastoral livestock data
• Assist in strengthening the networking and management of pastoral livestock data stakeholders 
• Perform any other relevant duties that may be assigned by the project coordinator and AU-IBAR Director.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic planning :

• Develop and lead the implementation of a comprehensive strategy for enabling functional data ecosystems and data diffusion in the pastoral sector in Africa 
• Support planning for sustainable data infrastructures and systems at targeted geographies unscalable to the Pan-Africa level
• Provide input and feedback on country strategic planning related to strengthening data ecosystems and data diffusion
• Contribute to high-level Platform strategic planning, governance, and project management as key member of the Platform Management Committee PMC
• Project implementation and management for data ecosystem development :   
• Facilitate research to identify key data ecosystem gaps in pastoral sector 
• Build Platform expertise on frameworks, methodologies, tools, etc. that enable data ecosystems and diffusion e.g., Livestock Marketing Information System, LMIS, Resource Management Information System, livestock identification and traceability system, LITS, etc. 
• Support the identification and adoption of effective Knowledge Sharing Hubs / platforms, KSH for pastoral livestock data collection, analysis, diffusion and utilization among policy makers, value chain actors, and other key stakeholders 
• Enhance continental awareness of pastoral sector data gaps and promote the implementation of solutions to minimize gaps and advance data informed pastoral sector policy and investment decision-making

Stakeholder engagement and coordination :

• Coordinate and support the Data Pillar Working Group, ensuring the working group operates cohesively and effectively towards informing and executing pillar goals
• Foster a conducive working group environment that encourages continuous engagement, creative thinking, and a bias for action

Stakeholders capacity building :

• Oversee the development of training curriculum for pastoral sector data ecosystems frameworks, methodologies, tools, etc. 
• Support training and adoption of pastoral data ecosystem tools and best practices among member states experts and other stakeholders

M&E, reporting, resource management :

• Collaborate with AU-IBAR M&E officers to support Platform M&E requirements 
• Support data collection, management, and analysis related to data pillar activities for Platform M&E
• Report on pillar performance against established KPIs regularly
• Support preparation of M&E reports for internal and external stakeholders donors, Platform Steering Committee, etc. 
• Utilize pillar resources in line with defined activities and related budget 
• Monitor pillar budget utilization and provide regular updates on financial status
• Identify potential risks to activity implementation and resource management and develop mitigation strategies
• Other relevant duties as may be assigned by the Project Coordinator and/or AU-IBAR Director.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Information Technology, Statistics or a related field in data management, analysis and utilization.
• Degree holder to have a minimum of five 5 years of progressive work experience in agriculture / livestock and/or pastoral sector in Africa, and Master’s degree holder to have two 2 years experience.
• Demonstrated experience in livestock and/or pastoral sector, with a strong understanding and knowledge of sector data ecosystem, methodologies, tools, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in data collection, data analysis and demonstration, database management tools and approach, ideally in the context of the pastoral or livestock sector 
• Experience in project management, including budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
• Demonstrated experience in data stakeholder convenings and coordination of collective activities 
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
• Proven experience in livestock data collection, management, and analysis
• Certification in project management applications like PMP or Prince2 or certification in a related field, will be an added advantage.
• Supervisor experience not mandatory, but an added advantage.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required, fluency in another AU language and or English in particular is an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Effective interpersonal and communication, from project kick offs to stakeholder meetings
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams is required.
• Possess leadership skills
• Self-starter with the ability to plan work and follow-up on implementation
• Self-motivated, creative, and a reliable team player
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting
• Sound project management skills
• Professional ability to use Information / Data Management Technology tools and approaches to enhance assigned tasks
• Sound communication, networking, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions and partners operating in the sector/ targeted geographies.