The core focus of SNV strategy (2023 – 2030) is the transformation of agri-food, energy and water systems to enable more sustainable and equitable living conditions for all. SNV vision is “A world where across every society, all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably.” Its mission is to build capacities and increase partnerships that transform agri-food, energy and water systems, enabling more sustainable and equitable living conditions for all. To do this, we have positioned ourselves as a learning organization striving for excellence and investing in getting knowledge to and from the front lines. We continue to position ourselves as a premium organisation, with decentralised management. Our Global Support Unit (70 staff) backstops our teams around the world.

For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org

SNV has been working in Ghana since 1992 with the objective of supporting local actors to strengthen their performance in order to fully work towards poverty alleviation and good governance. SNV works in three priority sectors: agribusiness, energy, and water. Within and across these priority intervention areas are three core themes: Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), mitigation and adaptation to change. SNV Ghana has offices in Accra, Tamale, Nandom, Takoradi and Kumasi, while working directly and through local partners within the sixteen (16) regions of Ghana.

Overview and Background

The program Peaceful Cross-Border Pastoral Mobility and Social Stability in the Sahel (Mobilité Pastorale transfrontalière apaisée et Stabilité sociale au Sahel (MOPSS) is the result of a construction between the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the consortium composed of the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), (RBM), the Association for the Promotion of Livestock in the Sahel and Savannah (Association pour la Promotion de l’Elevage au Sahel et en Savane (APESS)), the Network of Producers’ and Farmers’ Organizations of West Africa (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA)), Hub Rural and CARE Denmark.

The implementation of the program had a 1st phase of three (3) years which covered the period from 2020 to 2022. The 2nd phase of MOPSS aims to continue the implementation of MOPSS 1, by providing responses adapted to the worsening multidimensional crisis context (political, security, humanitarian) and to the new challenges prevailing in the implementation zones of MOPSS 1 (Liptako Gourma, Kénédougou, WAPO), where family farms of vulnerable agropastoralists and pastoralists, displaced people, women and youth face strong constraints in terms of access to natural resources and land, livelihood resilience and the representativeness/influence of their organizations. These cross-border areas are shared by seven (7) countries in which MOPSS 2 will work: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo. Supporting these cross-border areas in their capacity to be resilient to climate and security shocks, through a strong political and economic contribution to the livestock and pastoralism sector while considering the concerns of all stakeholders, remains highly relevant for human security and the stabilization/pacification of social relations in these sub-areas.

To do so, the consortium will build on its knowledge of the context and lessons learned from MOPSS 1, as well as the various results achieved in terms of contribution to social stability/conflict sensitivity, governance and transparency, engagement in fragile/poor areas, support to vulnerable households and social inclusion, and investment in pastoral infrastructure.

The impact targeted by MOPSS 2 is to “contribute to the social cohesion of communities in the cross-border transhumance areas in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea through increased resilience to climate and security shocks, peaceful livestock mobility, and an inclusive and integrated local economy. The new Theory of Change (ToC) developed by the consortium to achieve this medium- and long-term impact is based on four paths of change:

1. Concerted governance of pastoral resources and land;
2. Protection, maintenance and development of livelihoods;
3. Political influence and inclusion of Regional Producer Organizations (RPOs);
4. Triple nexus Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) for agropastoralists and pastoralists, displaced people and host communities.

The implementation strategy for MOPSS 2 will build on the cross-cutting approaches that were already used for MOPSS 1: conflict-sensitive project management, gender equality and social inclusion, human rights-based approach, youth employment opportunities, and climate change adaptation. The Nexus HDP approach and regional advocacy will complement this range of approaches. The adaptive management, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, and security management mechanisms that proved successful in Phase 1 will be continued and strengthened.​​​​​​​

Under the overall guidance of the Multi-Project Manager and within the framework of MOPSS/DDC implementation, the “Pastoralism Advisor” will be responsible for providing strategic and operational counselling to the team and support implementing partners on pastoralism. He/she will be based in Tamale, within the Northern Region of Ghana, with responsibility for all MOPSS 2 intervention areas.

Duties & Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Advisor will include the following:

• Strengthen the resilience of vulnerable agropastoral families through activities supporting family farms and access to renewable energy.
• Contribute to the structuring and operation of agropastoral organizations.
• Support actors in the completion of pastoral infrastructures and development as well as the management of pastoral resources and livestock mobility.
• Contribute to strengthening the skills of cross-border committees and community dialogue structures in terms of inclusion and conflict sensitivity.
• Contribute to the political influence and inclusion of Regional Producers’ Organizations (RPOs).
• Support the implementation of the triple nexus Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) activities for agro-pastoralists and pastoralists, displaced people and host communities.
• Facilitate the organization of unifying events that foster social cohesion, promote a culture of peace, and expose youth (boys and girls) as role models/mentors for citizenship.
• Participate in the revitalization of traditional mechanisms and expansion of innovative information, prevention and conflict management mechanisms for their appropriation by target youth.
• Support the participation of women and youth in the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of economic development initiatives, especially those related to pastoralism.
• Support job creation initiatives for women and youth in livestock products value chains.
• Implement training sessions on entrepreneurship, in connection with the value chain approach.
• Identify the various technical and financial partners to create a better complementarity with the Project.
• Facilitate the support of youth in the wise choice of their SME projects and assist them in developing their business plan and building their professional skills.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of MOPSS 2 work plans, monitoring, and annual reporting.
• Document lessons learned and contributed to the visibility of the program.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Rural development especially in field relevant to Pastoralism / Livestock or agropastoralism.
• More than ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in rural development, including five (5) years in supporting breeders/pastoralists and their organizations in pastoralism.
• Personnel must be bilingual (Strong communication and writing skills in both English and French).
• Demonstrated understanding of the Pastoralism/ Livestock sector, particularly in relation to increasing drought, land and water issues, governance and security; Sound experience within knowledge development, organisational learning.
• Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector including influencing skills and experience of working effectively in a matrix organisation.

Key competencies

• Very good skills in organizational capacity building, andragogy, counselling and coaching.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with farmers and entrepreneurs in agropastoral sector.
• Good knowledge of issues and challenges facing mobile livestock in the ECOWAS zone, especially in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
• Ability to strengthen and manage relationships with regional authorities, local governments, community/traditional leaders, technical services, project partners and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of policies and institutions in charge of livestock and pastoralism.
• Familiar with the engagement of productive sectors in skills development and private sector strategies for the vocational training of young agro-pastoralists.
• Passion for pastoralism with the socio-economic integration of young agro-pastoralists.
• Knowledge of gender equality and equity and social inclusion (gender approach).
• Ability to work in a volatile security environment.
• Be available at any times to respond to emergencies and to travel to the field in Ghana and the other possible six (6) countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali).
• Knowledge of Native/Local language in and within Upper East Region is considered an added value.
• Proficiency in French and English is required.
• Strong communication and writing skills (written and oral).

Application and Selection Process

Application Guidelines: Please read these carefully. Failure to comply will adversely affect your application.

• This is a full-time national with the successful candidate being contracted on an initial one year basis with the possibility of renewal. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a competitive secondary benefit package.
• SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts.

If you believe that your credentials meet the above profile, we invite you to apply by submitting through upload applications in English in the form of a one-page letter and current CV outlining experience, qualifications and three reference contacts, not later than 5:00pm, August 5, 2023.

• Expected Start Date: September 1, 2023
• This position is open to internal and external applicants.
• Only those applicants whose work experience and education meet the mandatory requisites below will be considered for the position.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.