Animal Nutrition Specialist

Volunteer Position: Animal Nutritionist (Kenyan Nationals Only)

Project Title: Volunteers Engaged In Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS)

Donor: Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada)

Implementing Partners: VWB/VSF Canada Meru Dairy / Wakulima Dairy

Country: Kenya

Contract Period: 1 year

Time Commitment: Full time

Reporting to: Kenya Local Coordinator

Expected Start Date: April 2021

Overview
Veterinarians without Borders/ Vétérinaires sans frontières – Canada (VWB/VSF) is a
charitable, humanitarian organization whose mission is to work for, and with, those in need to
foster the health of animals, people, and the environments that sustain us. More information about
the organization can be found at www.vetswithoutborders.ca.
VWB/VSF sends many Canadian volunteers overseas to work with partners help create integrated animal
health systems. The Canadian volunteers include professors of veterinary medicine, veterinarians,
animal nutritionists, rural development specialists, food safety specialists, horticulturalists,
community health workers, and gender specialists. While universities, community
organizations—even government agricultural extension workers benefit from this initiative, the
primary focus is on improving the lives of small-scale livestock producers.
The Volunteers Engaged In Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) Project will directly
improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized people, particularly
women and girls, in six countries in Africa and Asia, through support to animal, human and
environmental health (One

Health) initiatives. The Project will use the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder
farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition
principally through improved production of livestock and crops. By working with
local women’s organizations and associations, as well as local partners that work with and
support the identified women’s groups, the Project will also help women assume greater leadership
and control over their livelihoods. The Project is built around the One Health (OH) concept which
recognizes that the health of people, animals and the natural environment are interconnected.
It promotes the production of more and better food and increased incomes from
livestock, all the while promoting land rehabilitation and conservation for sustainable
development. Between 2020 and 2027, Canadian volunteers will work with national
volunteers and selected country partners in Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Senegal and Vietnam to
help create integrated animal health systems that benefit small scale farmers

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of the Nutritionist volunteer position is to support development of strategies
for enhancing and better utilizing available/potential feed resources and implementing
good feeding and nutritional practices both for animals and human being which is in line with our
one health approach.
The role will involve working directly with the community members and Meru Central
Dairy Union extension staff, in liaison also with the local coordinator and Africa Program
Officer

Responsibilities

• Implementation of nutritional interventions and trainings.
• Maintain awareness of technical and scientific developments in animal nutrition and propose changes in existing feed formulations.
• Perform research to determine the effectiveness of dietary regimes on different types of animals
• Ensure that all formulated diet plans and regimes are designed to maximize growth, reproduction and health.
• Assess the nutritional and economic value of feeding systems and provide advice on bettering them.
• Raise community awareness and consumption of diversified, nutrient dense, fortified and nutritionally adequate food

Qualifications
Essential:

• Degree in nutrition or University Degree in Animal Production / Science with specialization related to animal nutrition – three years of relevant experience in the development of feed
• resources and improved animal nutrition, which included working experience in a diverse range of developing countries
• In-depth of understanding of the technical (nutritional), institutional and policy constraints affecting major livestock feeding systems in developing countries
• Knowledge of and experience in the application of improved animal nutrition
• Demonstrated Knowledge on how to improve food and dietary diversity at intra-household level
• Effective cross-cultural communication skills
• Commitment to the principles of volunteer cooperation and familiarity with participatory approaches to development, including the promotion of gender equality, good governance and environmental sustainability

Desirable:

• Previous international work / volunteer experience in development sector.