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 Private Sector Integration into Livestock Markets” will lead the design and implementation of activities aimed at fostering partnerships and collaborations with private sector entities across the pastoral and livestock sector. 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, analysis, and reporting in target geographies 
• Promote 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 information on all aspects of pastoral livestock marketing in Africa.
• Promote Pan-Africa pastoral livestock stakeholders’ engagement and coordination
• Support Monitoring and Evaluation, resource management and reporting on status of project implementation
• 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 National authorities, Regional Economic Communities, Inter-Governmental and International Organizations/partners on matters of pastoral livestock marketing
• Assist in strengthening the networking and management of pastoral livestock stakeholders 
• Perform any other relevant duties that may be assigned by the project coordinator and AU-IBAR Director.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic planning

• Lead the development of a comprehensive strategy for strengthening private sector integration in the pastoral livestock sector, and marketing
• Provide input and feedback on strategic planning in relation to private sector strengthening and engagement, in the targeted geographies 
• 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 private sector engagement
• Lead implementation of defined Platform strategy for promoted private sector engagement
• Conduct market research and manage database on private sector activities in the pastoral sector e.g., relevant sector funders, value chain actors in target geographies, pastoral sector investment programs, etc.
• Guide private sector knowledge sharing activities, including sector research and analysis, case study development, case study dissemination, etc.
• Contribute to pastoral investment promotion and facilitation by identifying and assessing investment opportunities, supporting structuring of potential investments and other funding mechanisms

Stakeholder engagement and coordination

• Coordinate Private Sector working group, including engagement of expert advisors, facilitation of working group meetings, collation, and dissemination of working group recommendations
• Identify opportunities for stakeholder collaboration and coordinate actors to engage in investment and collaboration
• Engage stakeholders to raise awareness about the benefits of private sector involvement in the pastoral livestock sector

M&E, reporting, resource management

• Collaborate with AU-IBAR M&E officers to support Platform M&E requirements 
• Contribute to Platform M&E by supporting collection, management, and analysis of data related to private sector pillar activities
• 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 livestock production, livestock agribusiness, or livestock economics.
• A minimum of five 5 years of progressive work experience in the pastoral livestock sector for a Bachelors’ holder or two 2 years for a Master’s holder.
• Demonstrated experience in pastoral/livestock sector, with a strong understanding of sector actors, challenges, and opportunities
• Demonstrated experience in the development and implementing private sector engagement strategies, ideally in the context of livestock and/or pastoral sector 
• Demonstrated experience in multi-stakeholder convenings and coordination activities 
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting
• Proven experience in livestock marketing data collection, management, and analysis
• Professional work experience in supporting project or Programme management livestock resources.
• Certification in project management applications like CIPM, PMP or Prince2 or certification in any other related field, will be an additional advantage.

Required Skills

• Sound project management skills and ability to multi task
• 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.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Possess leadership skills
• Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan own work and follow-up on implementation;
• Self-motivated, creative, and a reliable team player
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting 
• Possess the ability to use IT tools to enhance any assigned tasks
• Excellent communication, networking, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships
• Strong ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions and partners operating in the sector/ targeted geographies.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required, fluency in another AU language and or English in particular is an added advantage.