Extension and Market Development Officer at SPARD Africa Consulting

Division/Dept.: Programs

Reports to: Director of Programs

Supervision: None

Location: Field office in Taita Taveta County

• Fodder Market Development:
• Coordinate delivery of trainings to the farmers in the demand end, with the aim of addressing bottlenecks that limit uptake of commercial dairy and fodder production
• Coordinate the marketing of fodder through partnership with dairy cooperatives, agro vets and CBF as grassroots agents
• Support the CBF to package their services in order to become the service providers at both demand and supply ends of the market system
• Continuously monitor the market dynamics and the business environment, addressing any issues raised by the producers and ensuring production is aligned with market needs
• Establish the distribution channels and satellite stores for hay, which include partnership with cooperatives, agro vets and supporting establishment of a network of CBF as grassroots agents.
• Supporting the small-scale dairy farmers to aggregate demand and link them to our agents
• Analyzing competition in order to plan for the business to remain competitive in the market place

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in animal production or other related field, three (3) years’ experience in either dairy and fodder production, agribusiness especially marketing OR a diploma in animal production or related field with more than 5 years of proven experience in provision of extension services in dairy and fodder production.
• Demonstrated experience in setting robust and sustainable extension systems for small scale farmers
• Significant experience in facilitating market linkages and market development among smallholder farmers
• Most Critical Proficiencies:
• Experience in delivering extension services to small scale farmers using community-based approaches
• Strong farmer mobilization skills.
• Knowledge of income and expense budget preparation and monitoring.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in dairy and fodder productivity improvement that reaches women, youth, and other vulnerable groups in the society.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.
• Knowledge of and experience with developing private/public partnerships at the county level.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English and other local languages, both oral and written.
• Ability to understand, appreciate and implement SPARD Africa’s Community Based extension and market development approach
• Constant face-to-face, telephone and electronic communication with colleagues and the general public.
• May require constant sitting; working at a computer and focusing for extended periods of time and performing office environment activities in remote conditions.
• Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting sometimes inflexible deadlines.
• Ability to work with small holder farmers in rural set up while appreciating the dynamics or rural extensions and agro-marketing system
• Ability to work with minimal supervision