Local STTA Trainer on milk processing technologies

Information

Common information

USAID KYRGYZ REPUBLIC AGRO TRADE ACTIVITY (ATA)

Project background:

The USAID Kyrgyz Republic Agro Trade Activity (ATA, The Activity) is a five-year project that promotes job creation and increases incomes of Kyrgyz farmers and agribusinesses by strengthening value chains, improving regional and cross-border trade, particularly with the Fergana Valley, and improving the business-enabling environment. The Activity supports or creates interventions that boost productivity, upgrade processing capabilities, build international business-to-business linkages, facilitate access to finance, unlock opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized groups, and support private sector-informed policy reform. These activities reinforce efforts to build a democratic, well-governed, and prosperous Kyrgyz Republic.

Because of lack of knowledge and know-how, SMEs in dairy processing in Project’s target zones currently produce limited number of products what consequently limit their sales, and competitiveness. Moreover, the dominance of imported cheese products in the market poses a barrier to local producers, exacerbated by their lack of expertise in cheese production technology.

To assist SMEs in dairy sector in enhancing their production and marketing capacities by facilitating access to new technologies and know-how, the ATA intends to hire a local expert with strong background in milk processing technologies and experience in providing technical assistance to small dairy processors.

Upon completion of the training, dairy processing companies in South Kyrgyzstan should be better equipped to implement advanced technologies, expand their product range, enhance product quality, increase profitability and improve overall competitiveness.

Purpose of assignment:

Assist partners SMEs on  developing and launching of new products, improving safety and quality of dairy products they produce to increase their sales and enhance competitiveness.  

Level of Effort:

A total of 40 days of LOE will be required for the activities listed above.

Timeframe:

The timeframe for this assignment will be from September 26 until November 20, 2024

Place of Performance:

The assignment will take place in Osh and Jalal Abad oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic.  

Qualification requirements

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in food science, dairy technology, or related fields.
• Additional certifications in dairy processing technologies, food safety standards (like HACCP, ISO 22000), and quality management systems are preferred.
• At least 5-10 years of experience in the dairy industry, specifically in processing, quality control, product development, and innovation in dairy products.
• Hands-on experience in operating dairy processing equipment (pasteurization, homogenization, fermentation, etc.) and familiarity with technologies used in milk processing, cheese making, butter production, yogurt, and other dairy products.
• Experience managing dairy processing projects, including the design and optimization of production lines and factory processes.
• Experience in research and development of new dairy products or improving existing processes is an advantage.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety standards, quality assurance practices, microbiological testing, and compliance with international dairy industry standards.
• Strong problem-solving skills related to technical and operational issues in dairy processing.
• Excellent communication skills to train staff, experience in training production staff.

Duties

Specific tasks:

• Contact partner SMEs engaged in dairy processing and analyze their production practices, capacities, product range, availability and quality of raw materials.
• Conduct a rapid market analysis to identify unmet opportunities that partner SMEs can address, considering consumer demand trends, competition, and market gaps.
• Based on the analysis, recommend products for each assisted SME that align with market requirements and their production capabilities.
• Perform tests and trials on proposed products as necessary, develop precise recipes, technological guidelines, raw material specifications, final product quality standards, and any other documentation required for mass production.
• Propose methods to improve safety and quality across production lines.
• Provide recommendations for process optimization and equipment layout adjustments to increase production efficiency while maintaining product consistency and quality.
• Train partners’ staff on production of new/improved products, on safety and quality of products:

               o   Develop training program and learning materials that focus on enhancing participants’ knowledge and skills on technologies, processes, requirements and techniques related to production of various dairy products in-demand in the market. The training program and materials must be approved by responsible ATA staff.

             o   Conduct training for partner SMEs (individually or in groups) according to the approved program.

• Submit final technical report and conduct exit presentation on the assignment.

Deliverables:

• Assessment report, outlining the production practices, capacities, product range, availability, and quality of raw materials of each partner SME.
• Recommendations for new/improved products for each SME that meet market needs and align with their production capabilities.
• Recommendations for improving product quality and safety, process improvement and equipment layout optimization, including a rationale for suggested changes.
• Recipes, technological instructions, specifications, and other documentation necessary for production of proposed products.
• Training program and learning materials on technologies, processes, requirements and techniques related to production of various dairy products.
•  Final report summarizing all work completed, including analyses, product development, optimization efforts, training outcomes, and recommendations for future actions.
• Presentation of key findings, challenges, results of the assignment, and actionable recommendations for the partner SMEs.

Conditions

Please submit a resume and cover letter to KyrgyzstanRecruitment@acdivoca.org no later than September 20, 2024. Please include the position title in the subject line.

Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone or email. Only shortlisted candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.

ACDI/VOCA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and people from diverse groups are encouraged to apply.