Project Associate at Rainforest Alliance

The Project Associate, Kenya, will coordinate the day-to-day activities under the Rainforest Alliance project entitled “Empowering Rural Communities and Households in Kenya with Renewable Energy”, in close coordination with Rainforest Alliance’s partners in the project, the Kenya Tea Development Agency and Living Earth. This project aims to promote the use of biomass briquettes in tea factories, as well as alternative and efficient biomass fuels and cookstoves across a section of the tea growing landscape.

It will also promote the distribution of energy access products such as solar lanterns through community-run energy enterprises. The Project Associate will provide training and support to Rainforest Alliance Certified™ tea factories and their associated farmers on alternative biomass fuels and technologies to be used in tea factories and in domestic settings, and provide support to Living Earth in setting up Household Energy Centres to manufacture and retail clean cooking fuels, as well as efficient cookstove and solar lighting technology.

S/he will also be responsible for coordinating and attending meetings with key stakeholders as well as field visits by other Rainforest Alliance member of the Landscapes & Livelihoods, Communications and Monitoring & Evaluation teams and partners.

Project Associate Job Responsibilities

• Facilitate an initial project needs assessment by a specialist consultant, including providing logistical support and introductions to key stakeholders;
• Provide support to Living Earth on the setting up and smooth operation of ten community energy enterprises, or Household Energy Centres, including providing technical and business training support as needed;
• Arrange and facilitate monthly project technical committee meetings with key stakeholders;
• Liaise with the relevant Kenya Tea Development Agency and biomass briquette central processing facility staff on technical issues related to biomass sourcing and correct use in factories;
• Support the development of training modules and materials on the correct use of biomass in factories and in domestic cookstoves, in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance training manager;
• Organize, support and provide follow-up on project workshops and exchange visits with local stakeholders;
• Support the Rainforest Alliance technical specialists on M&E, project KPI and climate-related data collection and processing, including the use of portable electronic devices;
• Provide on-farm and centralized training in energy efficiency and energy access measures as contained within the 2017 SAN Standard to certificate holders, trainers and other local stakeholders;
• Provide the Programme Manager data and content for project reports on a quarterly basis;
• Support the Programme Manager to generate stories and case studies from the field for use in project reporting, Rainforest Alliance Communication and Fundraising; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for the Project Associate Job

• BA or BS degree in agriculture, engineering, rural development, natural resource management, or related field;
• 4+ years of relevant field experience, with a minimum of two years’ work experience in providing training in energy access and/or energy efficiency technologies;
• First-hand knowledge of energy efficient cooking and/or solar lighting technology, its main market players and related distribution models;
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook with a demonstrated and working knowledge of PowerPoint;
• Written and verbal proficiency in English;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
• Resourceful, detail-oriented, dependability, strong attention to detail;
• Driving License valid for Kenya; and
• Ability to travel a minimum of 40% per year in Kenya.