INTERN – ANIMAL HEALTH – ILLERET
JOB DESCRIPTION
Location: Illeret ward, North Horr Sub-County, Marsabit/Kenya
Period: 6 months
ABOUT CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
CRS is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, race or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners, including the Government to implement its programs.
Similar INTERN – PRODUCTION (LIVESTOCK & AGRICULTURE)
CRS opened operations in Kenya in 1965. For over 50 years, we have worked throughout the country to implement programs in agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water, sanitation, emergency relief and peace building. We have built deep relationships with the Government of Kenya and the Catholic Church through ongoing collaboration and support.
BACKGROUND
CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions is leading the USAID Nawiri Program, a USAID Office of Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Kenya. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) counties of Isiolo and Marsabit.
Nawiri is implementing a combination of an array of nutrition-sensitive and specific activities to address persistent acute malnutrition in 12 wards of Marsabit county namely North horr, Dukana, Illeret, Maikona, Turbi-Bubisa, Laisamis, Loglogo, Korr-Ngurunit, Kargi-South horr, Loiyangalani, Karare and Golbo.
WHY?
Nawiri is building capacity of vulnerable households in Illeret ward on improved livestock production and management practices to increase milk production and consumption and thereby reduce persistent acute malnutrition among Under 5 (U5) children, Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW). These practices include improved livestock disease identification, reporting and management, livestock feeding and linkages to markets.
Illeret ward is about 520 kilometres from Marsabit town and consequently has had limited support on livestock production and veterinary service provision from county government private actors and development partners. In collaboration with the county departments of veterinary and livestock production, Nawiri plans to engage an animal health intern to support animal health service delivery and other livelihood activities in Illeret ward, North horr subcounty. The engagement of the animal health intern will add value to livestock diseases reporting system and livestock production services to improve animal health and hence increased livestock production. S/He will closely work with community disease reporters on disease surveillance and reporting and will sensitize herders on zoonotic diseases as well as emphasizing on the need of seeking professional veterinary advice regarding their livestock disease management.
HOW
The Intern – Animal Health will support the project in the implementation of livestock health interventions in Illeret ward with close supervision and guidance from the Nawiri production (livestock & agriculture) officer and County Department of veterinary services. S/he will support a variety of livestock health and production -related activities, including training pastoralists on improved animal health practices, strengthening CDRs on participatory disease surveillance and reporting and facilitating private sector partnership and engagements. The engagement will provide learning and development opportunities to the intern by providing a platform for on- job-training and mentorship by project staff, partners, communities, and the relevant county government departments and equip young professionals with relevant skills and experience to enhance their employability and capacity to deliver quality services to communities, county department, private sector, and other development agencies.
ROLE
In close collaboration, and reporting to the Project Officer – Production (Livestock and Agriculture), the intern will support in:
- Building and maintaining close coordination and co-operation with county departments of livestock and veterinary services, to ensure synergy and improved coordination of interventions in Illeret ward.
- Coordinating with public and private service animal health providers to reach Nawiri participants with livestock services and products.
- fFollow-up, CDR in collaboration with Government counterparts, LIPs, and partners.
- Facilitating livestock producers to have improved knowledge and skills and to adopt practices that are nutrition sensitive and support resilience.
- Monitoring and measuring of outputs related to production interventions and in liaison with the accountability and learning team, ensure community feedback is monitored and acted upon and that learning around production interventions is documented and shared at all levels.
- Compilation of activity reports and field visit reports at end the of each activity using standard tools including weekly progress reports.
- Participate in team meetings as part of learning.
- Any other activities assigned by the production (livestock & agriculture) officer.
Personal Skills
- Strong relationship management abilities.
- Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
- Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Strong communications and presentation skills.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
- Capable of working in a dynamic, results oriented environment; ability to multi-task across various work streams/priorities.
- Team player with a positive attitude who can work independently while also being highly collaborative and open. Capable of building relationships and influencing the opinions of others.
- Demonstrated Commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.
Required/Desired Foreign Language: English, Swahili and Dassanach language is an added advantage.
Travel Required: 90% of the time to targeted sub-counties of Marsabit as per the role.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: None
Supervision: Reports to Project Officer Production
Internal: Nawiri production officer (agriculture & livestock), SPO livelihood, Nawiri Markets Systems and Value chain officer, Caritas Production officers and Caritas Markets Systems and Value chain officer.
External: Local implementing partners, government departments at different levels and local communities.
QUALIFICATIONS
WHO?
Basic Qualifications
- At least a diploma in animal health from a Kenyan recognized institution
- Be registered by Kenya Veterinary Board (K.V.B.) or be a member of a relevant professional association.
- Completed studies in the relevant field within the last two years.
- Demonstrated ability to be collaborative, creative, and innovative.
- Willingness to work in the field with, veterinary officers, CDRs, SILC and AN-GM Business Saving Groups
- Should be computer literate from a recognized institution.
- Willingness to learn new things in a rapidly changing context.
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Note:
The internship program participants will not be entitled to a salary as this is not considered employment. However, they will be provided with a monthly stipend and a medical and Group Personal Accident cover as per HR Compensation provisions.
CRS is under no obligation whatsoever to hire a graduate intern during or after their completion of the internship program.
What we offer:
CRS offers an opportunity for graduates to learn and work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.
CRS provides equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.
By applying to this opportunity, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff and interns to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviours related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
ABOUT US
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
ABOUT THE TEAM
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
