Global Research Alliance - The Livestock Research Group (GRA LRG co-chair)

The Global Research Alliance (GRA) on Agricultural Greenhouse Gasses brings countries together to find ways to grow more food without growing greenhouse gas emissions. The GRA organises its work through Research Groups, one of which is the Livestock Research Group (LRG). The LRG focuses on reducing the emissions intensity of livestock production systems and increasing the quantity of carbon stored in soils supporting these systems.

The UK is seeking to provide grant funding for a UK based expert to become a GRA LRG co-chair. The co-chair’s funding is up to £110,000 to be spread across the duration of the grant, which will be for two years. This funding is provided to cover the cost of the co-chair’s time and travel as well as prospective staff and GRA activities.

Role Description 

As part of the co-chair team you will be expected to deliver work as agreed with the LRG, while meeting the aims and objectives from Defra. Duties include, but are not limited to, leading international meetings and workshops, setting the agenda on international collaborative research priorities, draw in leading international expertise, enhance collaborations and access to UK expertise and encourage opportunities for new projects focussed on livestock sustainability.

The co-chair will be required to submit quarterly reviews back to Defra to report on their activities, written annual progress reports including a review of current year’s work, a proposed outline of next year’s work as well as a themed insight report. This will be linked to a quarterly meeting to discuss the reports and any other proposed work.  Drawdown of the grant will be linked to these as milestone deliverables and cost outlines as provided by the grant holder with receipt where needed.

The co-chair would be allowed to utilise grant funding to employ suitably experienced/skilled staff to assist their work, as part of a co-chair’s team. Assistant(s) will not need to be nominated/assessed during the co-chair selection stage, but prior agreement from Defra must be sought for any individual proposed to become part of the co-chair’s team.  To ensure that appropriate skills, expertise and capacity is available to the co-chair, it is not assumed that assistant(s) must necessarily work for the same organisation as the co-chair.  However, appropriate contractual/governance agreements between parties will be required where this is not the case.  Assistant(s) may change during the co-chair period as required to deliver work optimally. In addition, part of the funding can be used to fund GRA LRG activities including workshops and research projects, in discussion with Defra. Travel and subsistence support would be available in line with Defra policy.   

The funding is expected to cover the time of the co-chair (35 days per year) the assistant(s) (38 days per year) as well as travel and expenses for GRA meetings and workshops. In addition the funding should be used for GRA research projects either ongoing or proposed (in discussion with Defra) and to support the sub-groups within the LRG, for example by funding workshops (in discussion with Defra).

Examples of previous work include securing significant resources to contribute evidence to inform the UK’s Net Zero pathway through Reserach and Development on methane inhibiting feed additives, rumen microbiome and animal health. Increasing collaboration and strengthening relationships with international organisations including the Global Methane Hub and groups such as the Global Dairy Platform.