2 (Two) x Extension Behaviour Change Officers – Livestock / Crops-Chemonics

Position summary

The Extension / Behaviour Change Officer – (Livestock & Crops for the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Fostering Agribusiness for Resilient Markets Activity (FARM) based in one of the districts in Masvingo / Manicaland with frequent travel to the field, and reports to the Provincial Coordinator.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Selection of appropriate farmers and partner beneficiaries to meet FARM activity objectives; Conduct technical trainings and extension in the selected wards; Select suitable demonstration sites and together with lead farmers establish appropriate demonstrations; Maintain the demonstration sites to the highest standard to effectively feed into the FARM activity objectives; Implement activities in the districts and/or wards according to monthly work plans; Facilitate the visits of short-term consultants and assist them to successfully carry out their assignments; Coordinate and collaborate activities in the operational areas with partner personnel, local authorities, and responsible government departments; Work with the GESI Specialist, Nutrition Lead, WASH Specialist, and Community Outreach/Social Behaviour Change Specialist to facilitate gender, WASH, and nutrition training activities; Work with Finance, Grants and Operations to facilitate trainings to build institutional capacity of implementing organizations, and those organizations partnering with Fintrac and Chemonics to implement the FARM activity; Monitor farmer activities, their performance and project impact by capturing all production and sales data, and producing weekly highlights, monthly reports, and success stories, and contributing to the quarterly and annual reports; Monitor input and output markets within the selected wards; Ensure M&E tasks are captured accurately and submitted through weekly and monthly reporting (attendance forms, type and number of trainings, commodity purchase forms, weekly reports, monthly reports, survey reports, etc.); Organize and conduct field/ technical days in the operational wards; Actively monitor debt recovery from farmers, if applicable; Capture field data (rainfall, input rates, yields, output markets, commodity values) of the demonstration plots; Maintain an up-to-date database of beneficiary farmers; Collaborate and work closely with local authorities and respective Government of Zimbabwe stakeholder personnel; Maintain all allocated activity property in safe and in good order; and Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Provincial Coordinator or FARM activity management.

Qualifications and skills

University degree in BSc in Agriculture specializing in Crops or Livestock production; Diploma in Agriculture from a recognised institution will be an added advantage; 3+ years’ professional working experience in agribusiness development; Experience working with smallholder farmers; Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; Possess skills in community mobilisation; Highly motivated with an interest in development work and is willing to learn.