Terms of Reference (ToR) for Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist

Heifer Project Nepal is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth through sustainable agriculture-based livelihood and market systems development. Under its Dairy Sector Development initiatives, Heifer seeks to engage a Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist as consultant.

Position A: Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist

Duty Station: CDCAN Office, Kathmandu with frequent travel to program districts 

Scope of Work: Provide strategic and technical support through Central Dairy Cooperative Association Nepal (CDCAN), to strengthen the institutional, business, social capital and policy capacities of the farmers institutions like Central Dairy Cooperative Association Nepal (CDCAN), District Milk Producers Cooperative Unions (DMPCUs), and Milk Producers Cooperatives (MPCs)

Project: Milky Way 

Number: 1

Duration: 5-6 months with possibility of extension

Responsibilities and Deliverables

1. Institutional Development and Program Management

• Provide strategic and technical support for institutional strengthening, governance, and sustainability of CDCAN, DMPCUs, and MPCs. 
• Support preparation and implementation of organizational policies, strategic plans, business plans, and governance improvement plans. 
• Assess, identify and strengthen underperforming DMPCUs and MPCs through targeted technical backstopping. 
• Prepare work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules in coordination with CDCAN and Heifer. 
• Ensure timely, quality, and compliant implementation of the activities, including capacity building events, resource mobilization, and sector initiatives. 
• Establish systems to improve milk collection, processing, quality assurance (GMP), equipment maintenance, and quality-based milk pricing. 

2. Business Promotion and Cooperative Services

• Strengthen business performance of DMPCUs and MPCs through business planning, enterprise development, and market linkage facilitation. 
• Promote business development services (BDS) and member service expansion in sustainable cooperative business models.
• Support access to finance, private sector partnerships, and investment opportunities for dairy cooperatives. 
• Support to develop and implement dairy marketing strategies to enhance cooperative competitiveness. 

3. Government, Stakeholder Engagement and Sector Coordination

• Coordinate closely with Heifer Nepal, NDDB, DMPCUs, MPCs, and other key stakeholders related to dairy and cooperative sector for effective program implementation. 
• Strengthen collaboration with federal, provincial, and local governments to leverage technical and other resources for dairy sector development. 
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder coordination, policy dialogue, review meetings, and consultations. 
• Build and maintain effective relationships with government agencies, donor organizations, private sector actors, and development partners. 
• Serve as the key liaison between CDCAN's Board, member cooperatives, and external stakeholders. 

4. Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Strengthen the capacity of cooperative leaders through business and institutional related trainings and technical coaching. 
• Conduct organizational and technical capacity assessments and provide continuous mentoring to DMPCUs and MPCs. 
• Support development of skilled human resources for dairy equipment operation and maintenance. 
• Provide technical and strategic recommendations for institutional development.
• Provide technical guidance to farmers organizations in social capital development

5. Dairy Policy, Advocacy and Information Systems

• Support policy analysis, advocacy, and engagement to strengthen Nepal's dairy cooperative sector. 
• Facilitate implementation of dairy sector policies and strengthen collaboration with relevant government institutions to foster dairy business environment. 
• Support establishment and operationalization of national dairy information and database systems in coordination with NDDB, government, CDCAN, DMPCUs, and MPCs. 
• Collect, analyze dairy related information and promote evidence-based planning, advocacy and policy dialogue. 

6. Monitoring, Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Conduct regular field monitoring, review implementation progress, and provide technical backstopping. 
• Organize review meetings and facilitate timely decision making. 
• Prepare periodic technical and financial progress reports in accordance with Heifer and donor requirements. 
• Document lessons learned, success stories, case studies, and other knowledge products to support learning and scaling of best practices.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in management, business administration, veterinary science, rural development, or related discipline (Master's degree preferred). 
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in cooperative development, dairy sector development and agribusiness sector.
• Strong understanding of cooperative governance, dairy value chains, business planning, financial management, and institutional development. 
• Experience working with government agencies, dairy cooperatives, development partners, and multi-stakeholder platforms. 
• Proven experience in social capital development
• Demonstrated experience in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and program management. 
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, leadership, report writing, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications. 
• Fluency in Nepali and English (spoken and written). 
• Willingness to travel extensively to program locations.

Essential Competencies

• High standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability. 
• Strong leadership, coordination, and relationship management skills. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. 
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and decision-making abilities. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information. 
• Commitment to teamwork, inclusion, gender equity, and respect for diverse cultures. 
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver results within agreed timelines.

Position B: Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist

Duty Station: Chitwan DMPCU Office with frequent field visits to affiliated MPCs

Scope of Work: Provide strategic and technical support through Chitwan District Milk Producer Cooperative Union (DMPCU), to strengthen the institutional, business, and policy capacities of the farmers institutions and dairy farmers

Required No: 1

Project: Milky way 

Duration: 5-6 months with possibility of extension

Responsibilities and Deliverables

1. Program Management and Technical Support

• Prepare work plans, budgets, and implementation schedules in coordination with DMPCU and Heifer Nepal. 
• Ensure timely and quality implementation of program activities in accordance with approved plans and donor requirements. 
• Assess performance and strengthen institutional capacity, governance, business planning, and service delivery of DMPCU and affiliated MPCs. 
• Support adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality-based milk pricing, milk quality assurance, and efficient operation of milk collection centers. 
• Facilitate establishment of district dairy data systems and support business promotion, value addition, and market linkage for dairy cooperatives. 
• Coordinate trainings, resource mobilization, and technical support for dairy farmers, cooperative leaders, and service providers. 

2. Collaboration and Partnership

• Coordinate closely with Heifer Nepal, CDCAN, local governments, and relevant stakeholders for effective program implementation. 
• Build partnerships with financial institutions, insurance companies, input suppliers, technical service providers, and private sector actors to improve services for dairy farmers including forward and backward linkage of DMPCU and MPCs in entire dairy value chain. 
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, resource leveraging, and collaboration among DMPCUs, MPCs, and government agencies. 

3. Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting

• Monitor Program progress through regular field visits and provide technical backstopping. 
• Prepare timely technical and progress reports following Heifer's reporting requirements. 
• Document program achievements, lessons learned, case studies, and best practices. 
• Present implementation progress during review meetings and support adaptive program management. 

4. Other Assigned Responsibilities

• Perform additional program-related assignments as delegated by Heifer Nepal and DMPCU management. 

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in management, social sciences, agribusiness, or a related field (master's degree preferred). 
• Minimum five years of experience in community development, cooperative development, or dairy sector programs; experience in dairy value chains is preferred. 
• Good understanding of cooperative governance, dairy value chains, agribusiness, and community mobilization. 
• Experience in program implementation, stakeholder coordination, training, and institutional development. 
• Proven experience in social capital development
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, report writing, and computer skills. 
• Fluency in Nepali and English and willingness to travel extensively. 

Essential Competencies

• Strong leadership, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills. 
• Sound knowledge of cooperative development, dairy value chains, and community mobilization. 
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and deliver results under pressure. 
• High integrity, accountability, teamwork, and commitment to gender equality and social inclusion. 
• Proficiency in MS Office and digital reporting systems.

How to apply: 

Interested eligible candidates are requested to apply with the following required documents to                          Procurement-NP@heifer.org with email subject line “Application for Dairy Cooperative Development Specialist (based at………..)” by 30 July 2026, 5:00 PM.

• Application letter with expected monthly remuneration for given deliverables
• Updated CV highlighting relevant experience
• Copy of citizenship certificate
• Copy of PAN
• Copy of academic certificates (highest level)

Culture of Belonging: 

Heifer is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially abled.

Disclaimer: 

Issuance of this notice does not obligate Heifer to hire, nor will pay any costs associated with the submission of application and participate in the selection process. Furthermore, Heifer reserves the right to reject any and all applications, if such an action is considered to be in the best interest of the program