National Livestock Value Chain Specialist

The National Livestock Value Chain Specialist will support strengthening sustainable and conservation-linked value chains for indigenous livestock products in Iran, enhancing income generation for local communities while creating economic incentives for genetic conservation. The role is home-based and involves collaboration with FAO representatives and project specialists to achieve project deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Support conducting a rapid value chain assessment for target breeds (Bactrian camel, Sarabi cattle, Mahabadi goat, Markhoz goat), identifying bottlenecks in production, processing, quality control, marketing and market access.
• Support analyzing existing milk and mohair processing practices and identify opportunities for product upgrading, diversification and branding linked to indigenous breeds.
• Support the development of practical value chain and upgrading approaches that link conservation objectives with income generation.
• Support the development of marketing approaches and business models suitable for small-scale producers and cooperatives.
• Support identifying niche markets (including eco-labeling, indigenous breed branding, geographical indication potential).
• Contribute in designing and delivering training modules on product quality, value addition, entrepreneurship and cooperative management.
• Support networking events, buyer–producer linkages and knowledge-sharing platforms.
• Contribute to the comprehensive conservation plan by integrating value chain incentives with breed sustainability.
• Provide technical inputs for procurement technical specifications related to Milk/Mohair/Wool processing, value addition, storage and quality control equipment.
• Support development of hygiene standards, quality assurance procedures and basic traceability mechanisms.
• Assist in designing and delivering training modules for producers and cooperatives on product quality, value addition, marketing and entrepreneurship.
• Contribute operational inputs to the comprehensive conservation plan, ensuring value chain incentives support breed sustainability.
• Collaborate closely with the International Livestock Value Chain Specialist including to collect data, to ensure alignment between field-level implementation and value chain upgrading frameworks, and to support adaptation of international recommendations to local contexts.
• Prepare periodic technical progress reports and a consolidated final report.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Livestock Production, Rural Development, Food Technology, Value Chain Development or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in livestock value chain analysis, agribusiness development, processing and marketing of animal products.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of I.R. Iran or resident of the country with valid work permit.
• Familiarity with local languages (Turkish or Kurdish) is an asset.
• Work experience in more than one province or rural production system is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in livestock product value chain analysis (milk, wool, mohair, meat) and market development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing or upgrading processing and collection centers.
• Familiarity with cooperative development, smallholder market integration and product quality standards.
• Familiarity with indigenous livestock systems and conservation-linked value chain approaches is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in linking value chain development with livelihood improvement.
• Experience working with pastoral or smallholder livestock systems.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Skills

• Livestock Value Chain Analysis
• Agribusiness Development
• Animal Product Processing
• Animal Product Marketing
• Livestock Product Market Development
• Processing Center Establishment
• Collection Center Upgrading
• Cooperative Development
• Smallholder Market Integration
• Product Quality Standards
• Indigenous Livestock Systems
• Conservation-linked Value Chains
• Livelihood Improvement
• Pastoral Livestock Systems
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Facilitation Skills

Languages

English