Commodity Based Trade (CBT) Manager

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The “Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands” Project funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims to will utilize collective management of livestock and ecosystems to restore Botswana’s communal rangelands, increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable populations and reducing GHG emissions. Over 8 years, the project will undertake activities in 104 villages in the Project Areas: Ngamiland, Kgalagadi and Bobirwa geographic areas of Botswana to improve management of 4.6 million hectares of rangelands. The day-to-day activities of the Project are implemented in each of the three Project Areas, and Farmer Facilitation Lead will be responsible for overall coordination and delivery of these activities. Administratively, the project areas cover the following districts: Okavango and North West Districts (Ngamiland Area); Hukuntsi, Tsabong and Mabutsane Districts (Kgalagadi Area); and Bobirwa District (Bobirwa Area).

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Gaborone, Botswana

The Commodity Based Trade (CBT) Manager will lead the development, operationalization, and scaling of Commodity Based Trade systems in Botswana's beef sector, with a particular focus on communal rangelands and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-affected areas.

The role exists to facilitate safe market access for cattle producers through the implementation of internationally acceptable risk-based trade systems that satisfy animal health, public health, traceability, and market requirements without reliance on geographic disease zoning.

Working closely with government, producers, processors, traders, veterinary authorities, and development partners, the CBT Manager will drive the establishment of practical compliance systems across the beef value chain while ensuring alignment with Botswana's livestock development, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods objectives.

The position focuses on translating policy into implementation and delivering measurable trade, compliance, and producer outcomes. The role will seek to establish and strengthen sustainable Commodity Based Trade systems that enable cattle producers in Botswana's FMD-endemic areas to access formal and premium beef markets while meeting national and international animal health, food safety, and traceability requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

CBT Strategy, Policy and Institutional Development

• Support DVS and relevant authorities in the development, refinement, and implementation of CBT policies, protocols, and operating standards.
• Facilitate alignment between veterinary disease control requirements, public health requirements, and market access standards.
• Support the development of practical implementation frameworks for communal farming systems.
• Provide technical guidance to national and regional CBT platforms and working groups.
• Serve as the project's primary technical advisor on CBT matters.

Beef Value Chain Compliance and Risk Management

• Lead identification and implementation of critical compliance controls from farm to market.
• Establish systems for livestock identification, traceability, movement control, and record management.
• Support disease surveillance and risk mitigation systems required for CBT certification.
• Develop practical compliance tools, procedures, and monitoring systems for value-chain actors.
• Support auditing and verification processes.

Stakeholder Coordination and Public-Private Partnerships

• Facilitate collaboration across the livestock sector to drive adoption of CBT.
• Convene and coordinate public and private sector stakeholders involved in CBT implementation.
• Strengthen engagement among government agencies, farmers, processors, exporters, and development partners.
• Support and strengthen existing coordination platforms, including the CBT Forum.
• Build consensus around operational requirements and implementation priorities.

Monitoring, Learning and Adaptive Management

• Track implementation performance and inform continuous improvement.
• Develop and oversee CBT performance monitoring systems/ tools.
• Monitor compliance, adoption, and market access indicators.
• Generate implementation lessons and operational recommendations.
• Produce technical reports and evidence to guide decision-making.

Resource Mobilization and Technical Support

• Support sustainability and growth of CBT initiatives
• Provide technical input into donor proposals and funding opportunities.
• Develop technical concept notes and implementation plans.
• Support programme design and scaling opportunities at national level.
• Represent the project with donors, government, and industry stakeholders.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment hosted in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture.
• Working outside normal working hours.
• Ability to travel frequently in the remote areas within the Project Area.
• Ability to work with local partners.
• High adaptability to difficult conditions.
• Be a team player.
• This role will be a fixed-term assignment.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Degree in Veterinary Science or related livestock health discipline.
• Must have 4 to 6 years of experience in livestock production, veterinary services, animal health programmes, beef value-chain development, or livestock market systems.
• Experience working with government regulatory systems and livestock producers.
• Knowledge of FMD control systems, traceability, animal health compliance, and beef export requirements.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Must have adequate working experience in multi-disciplinary teams and proven supervisory experience.
• Experience working with international development partners or agencies will also be a significant advantage.
• Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities. Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Experience with CBT implementation or livestock export systems.
• Experience in communal livestock production systems.
• Team Management experience.
• Project and programme management experience.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in the relevant field will be an added advantage.
• Work experience and existing networks in agriculture, NGOs, community development, local authorities or government at cluster level
• Proven ability to manage extension teams
• Supporting other staff in the implementation of project-related activities for the exigency of the service.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 (11:49 PM EST)

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