Agribusiness and Marketing Officer at Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)

Job Description

If you’re interested in working with ADRA Kenya, we’re more interested in who you are than what you do. So it’s important to us that you know who we are, and why we do what we do. We’re a team. In our business, working in isolation doesn’t cut it. We know it, and you know it. That’s why we’re aspiring to be a cohesive team; who learns and succeeds together – desiring the best for each other and for the work of our organization. We’re honest. Let’s be upfront about this - we truly believe honesty is the best policy. Across the organization - from the management to our support staff – we make honesty the basis of all interaction. So we encourage everyone to be courageous, freely admit mistakes, and question inconsistencies. And know, that your honesty will be appreciated. We love what we do. More than just a job, we never take for granted ADRA Kenya’s mission to profoundly improve the lives of those in need. This changes our perspective on the “Why” of our work and it fundamentally changes us as employees. It’s cliché but true: we’re driven to be the best and to achieve the best. We push ourselves to challenge assumptions, to realize the greatest goals and new ideas, and most importantly, never settle for the average. Our desire to simplify, be new, surprising and radically useful is becoming our daily mantra. If this is who you are, then you’re the person we’re looking for.

Specific areas of responsibilities include:

• In consultation with the project manager, the Agribusiness and Marketing Officer will plan for effective execution of the business and marketing related project activities for the Rehabilitation of Ecosystem and Agriculture Project (REAP) as outlined in the project proposal.
• Monitor and support timely and appropriate utilization of budgeted resources for related project interventions as well as ensure effective and timely response plans
• Work closely with key stakeholders and community members in establishment of beneficiary targeting criteria as well as identifying various vulnerable groups, disaggregating these groups on gender and age and developing a detailed beneficiary data base.
• Support community/Farmers Capacity building on alternative livelihood options through group saving associations modalities
• Design appropriate Group Saving and Loaning Associations (GSLA) and Agriculture training curriculum as per targeted modules
• Take lead in establishment and modulated training of targeted Community Members on GSLA
• Coordinate with the Project manager to ensure that appropriate controls, monitoring and evaluation tools are in place and being utilized in a timely manner in the implementation process.
• Contribute to effective and timely implementation of project activities
• Fostering partnership and networks with stakeholders. e.g. the government ministries, relevant civil society organization’s and community based groups
• Prepare articles, stories and photographs that can be used to enhance the projects’ image 
• Work closely with the stakeholders and community lead persons in identification of GSLAs groups
• Coordinate product promotion during market days and conduct market research for farmers produce
• Support project manager in providing technical support, trainings and overseeing the establishment of the vegetable gardens, fruit nurseries and model farms
• Develop, review and revise (as required) training materials to address identified gaps and meet local capacities
• Ensure regular visits to GSLA and marketing groups to offer technical support
• Represent the ADRA Kenya and actively participate in County and Sub-county Planning and Coordination meetings if it is necessary
• Prepare project documentation including quarterly and monthly project reports on implementation status, intermediate and final narrative reports as per donor requirements and sending them to manager and other relevant team members for review/further action within set deadlines.
• To accomplish any other tasks assigned by the Project Manager
• Expected deliverables
• Relevant stakeholders are informed, aware of and supportive of the project goals and activities, and ADRA Kenya at large
• Project targets are met within the set timelines
• Community members are mobilized, intimately vested in and actively participating
• Reports delivered on time and in excellent quality
• All project inputs and activities properly documented and accounted for
• Training materials developed

Candidate profile Qualifications

• This position would suit a candidate with a university bachelor’s degree preferably in Agribusiness/Agriculture/Agricultural economics or related area.
• Two or more years’ experience in successfully promoting increased production and marketing of agriculture products.
• Two or more years of experience promoting Group saving and loaning associations (GSLAs).
• Agricultural extension experience and coordination of development programs with some experience in farmer cooperatives agricultural credit. Experience with value chains related to agricultural products/horticultural products and livestock.
• Ideally, candidates will have had experience facilitating: Agribusiness, Marketing, Post-harvest handling, Enterprise Development, Business Development Services, Business Linkages.
• S/he should have prior experience in pursuing and maintaining partnerships with relevant stakeholders including donors.
• The successful candidate should possess strong command of written and spoken English.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft office suite is also required.
• Personality The successful candidate should be structured, creative, flexible, and detail-oriented.
• S/he should have excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• S/he should be a team player with good communications skills.