Heifer Cambodia is on a mission to end hunger and poverty sustainably by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities. Our work has always focused on agriculture value chain and market system development which we believe we can end poverty among smallholders. We support farmers and their communities as they mobilize and envision their future, by providing relevant training and knowledge to equip them well, so that they can look after their livestock better and increase production.
We also help connect farmers to new markets for their goods so they can increase their sales and income. As their businesses grow, farmers join SHG (self-help groups) and agricultural cooperatives. Through these organizations, they have access to credit facilities for working capital or further investments in their farmers and other services. They can also sell their goods in bulk, reducing costs, and negotiating higher selling prices. We invest alongside communities, creating platform for governments, companies, and other stakeholders to get involved in projects. These stakeholders release additional funding to support agricultural cooperatives and farmers-focused infrastructure, enabling farmers to access new markets and continue to grow their businesses.
Heifer Cambodia has been funded by UNDP to implement the 13-month project which focuses on increasing smallholder farm productivity of backyard chicken, safe vegetable and climate resilience through the adoption of resilient and innovative agricultural practices and technology, capacity development of market actors and extension services, and the establishment of technology-enabled market facilities for sharing marketing information and technical know-how.
We are recruiting one Program Officer and two Project Assistants to implement the UNDP-funded project.
- Category:
Agriculture, Agriculture - Agronomy
-
Type :
Job Opportunity
- Location:
Siemreap Province, Kampong Thom Province
- Schedule: Full-time
- Salary:
$591
Location: based in Kralanh district, Siem Reap and one based in Kampong Svay, Kampong Thom
FUNCTION:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for building the capacity of project beneficiaries including self-help groups (SHGs), smallholder farmers and Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) on backyard chicken and vegetable production. S/he will ensure the functioning and sound management of the community stores/collection centers by linking agriproducts and agricultural inputs between the community stores and markets. The CF plays an important role in building social capital through the VBHCD approach and providing training on 12 Cornerstones to SHG/AC members.
- Strengthen social capital of self-help groups and agricultural cooperatives (30%)
- Facilitate the formation and capacity building of self-help groups (SHG) and Agricultural Cooperatives (AC).
- Facilitate SHG/AC to develop and carry out the vision and community activity plans for better benefits of its members and smallholder farmers.
- Adopt the value based holistic development (VBHCD) model and facilitate Cornerstones training to SHG and AC leaders.
- Support the capacity building of SHG/AC on SHG management, bookkeeping, entrepreneurship, and business plan development.
- Facilitate in conducting Cooperative capacity assessment Tools (CAT) to identify areas for strengthening the institutional capacity and business operation of AC.
- Support SHG and AC to ensure the participatory self-review planning are regularly implemented to reflect and learning for improvement.
- Ensure functioning of community store/collection centers and markets for agriproducts (30%)
- Support ACs to build and set up community stores and facilities based on the guidelines.
- Assist ACs in finding better linkages between farmer products or community market stores and local market agents.
- Provide capacity building and coaching support to ACs to develop market store business plans and ensure functioning of market stores.
- Provide capacity building to ACs on the adoption of link methodology and business canvas to improve the ACs’ businesses.
- Create a platform by working with local partners in providing updated market information including potential agriculture products and market trends to ACs and smallholder farmers.
- Build and maintain close collaboration with local authorities and District Office of Agriculture to support the functioning of market stores.Prepare and submit monthly reports on the progress of market stores including volume of sales, revenues and challenges or barriers of implementation.
- Transfer of agriculture technical skills (40%)
- Conduct training needs assessment and collect data related to farming systems and best practices of smallholder farmers and recommend adjusting or developing the training manuals/materials.
- Identify and establish model field demonstrations, conduct field testing for backyard chicken and horticulture farms for farmers to learn, practice and replicate.
- Mobilize successful producers and community agro-vet entrepreneurs (CAVEs) to transfer technical skills on animal production and horticulture to new farmers.
- Conduct technical follow-up assistance, providing appropriate technical solutions to farmers and timely document and report on issues and resolutions.
- Provide timely coaching support to backyard chicken farmers to ensure that nutritious forages and balanced feeding techniques are adopted by farmers and vaccinations to animals against major diseases are carried out at regular intervals.
- Facilitate exposure visits and exchange learning between farmers and entrepreneurs.
- Provide technical assistance and coaching for improved adoption of climate smart agriculture practices by using farmer field schools and on-farm technical trainings.
- Make recommendations for the design and improvement of water supply systems including adoption of solar water pumping for agriculture diversification.
- Collaborate with different partners, local authorities and government departments and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of technical provision to farmers.
Requirements
- QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
- Diploma or associate’s degree in agronomy or animal veterinary, plus at least 2 years of experience in fields related to livestock and vegetable project.
- Knowledge and experience in agriculture value chain and agro-enterprise development.
- Experience in agriculture extension in poultry and horticulture is a plus.
- Experience in conducting and facilitating participatory training methodologies with grassroot communities.
- ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:
- Knowledge of and experience with or within community organizations including self-help group and agricultural cooperative development.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Khmer, both spoken and written; proficiency in English is a plus
- Good communication and facilitation skills
- Good understanding of and sensitivity for poverty, social and ethnic issues
- Knowledge of project management
