Contract: Full-time for 1 year with possible extension based on performance.
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The Objective of the Assignment
The objective of the Herders Organizations and Certifications Specialist is to facilitate the establishment of herder organizations and improve a certification model that identifies herders who adopt responsible management practices and contribute to the overall health of rangelands.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
Specific tasks include, but may not be limited to:
- Facilitate the formation and strengthening of Pasture User Groups (PUGs), Herders Cooperatives, and Herders’ Saving and Credit Cooperatives, ensuring alignment with community needs and sustainable practices.
- Provide training and capacity-building support to herders on cooperative management, governance, collective decision-making, and financial literacy.
- Design and implement a practical certification framework for herders based on sustainable practices, incorporating technical guidelines aligned with the Responsible Nomads code of practices.
- Establish certification criteria in collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring they reflect local contexts and are practical for implementation.
- Collaborate with the Rangeland Specialist to integrate rangeland management plans into cooperative activities, including seasonal grazing schedules and compliance with rangeland use agreements.
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of herder organizations and the effectiveness of the certification model, ensuring continuous improvement.
- Collect and analyze data on herder compliance with sustainability practices, cooperative performance, and rangeland health, coordinating with the Rangeland Specialist to avoid duplication of efforts.
- Coordinate with the Livestock and Agrobusiness Specialist to link certified herder cooperatives with markets, value chains, and business opportunities, and engage with the Agronomist to explore synergies in crop-livestock integration that enhance cooperative productivity and sustainability.
- Document lessons learned and best practices, preparing regular progress reports on herder organizations and certification efforts to inform future initiatives.
- Conduct regular field visits to project sites to provide hands-on support, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with project objectives.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
The Herders Organizations and Certifications Specialist shall have (i) a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture, community development, environmental science, business administration, or a related field; (ii) have at least 5 years of experience in community organization, cooperative development, or agricultural projects, preferably with nomadic or pastoralist communities; (iii) possess strong knowledge of cooperative governance, financial management, and capacity-building techniques; (iv) be willing and able to conduct extensive fieldwork in rural areas, ensuring regular engagement with herder communities; (v) knowledge of marketing, business development, or livestock certification standards will be considered an advantage; (vi) excellent English and Mongolian oral and written skills; and (vii) good team player and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Application Procedure
Deadline: All documents should be submitted both through the e-mail below and in person to the following contact address before 5:00 PM on 30 January 2025.
- Curriculum vitae in English and Mongolian, with recent photo taken within the last 6 months,
- Copies of diplomas and relevant certificates with English translation,
- Copy of national citizenship ID,
- Copies of the Labor and Social Insurance books (first page and subsequent pages indicating the employment mobility),
- Reference or recommendation letters from current and/or previous employer,
- Cover letter in English.
The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Incomplete applications would not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Contact address:
Chingeltei District, J.Sambuu Street
MN tower, 10th floor # 1005
Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia.
Tel: +976-77660116, +976-91917179
E-mail: procurement@asdip.mn
