Agri-business Specialist at Action Africa Help

Reports to: Area Manager

Duty Station: Kakuma, Kenya

Job Summary

To oversee all agriculture related activities from planning to implementation and monitoring that will ensure improved food security and increased economic opportunities in Kakuma. S/He will be responsible to ensure that the approaches used during implementation are accurate and effective, conforming to the global best practice while staying relevant to the context of the project.

Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide advice on Agriculture programme issues and enhance program strategy & policy development and compliance so that AAHI and UNHCR mission and vision is enhanced at both Kakuma Refugee Camp and the Kalobeyei Settlement Site.
• Be directly involved in the implementation of proposed initiatives ensuring to adopt modern and climate smart interventions.
• Support the farmer cooperatives to analyse and develop marketing strategies looking at aspects such as planning where and how much to sell the farm produce.
• Develop and supervise implementation of a capacity building program that will strengthen the agricultural value chain.
• Keep the Program Manager (PM) informed on progress of the various initiatives, monitoring their progress and ensuring that they remain relevant and appreciated by the beneficiaries.
• Be responsible for ensuring that the agriculture interventions are effective in terms of creating self-reliance in the PoC mind set and that activities undertaken are profitable and sustainable in the life of PoC.
• Ensure that the social economic and skills of new PoC are captured in basic PoC data.
• Ensure that new PoC receive life skills and financial literacy induction process that prepares them for self-reliance during their stay in the camp.
• Plan for a target number of PoC to receive relevant training to deepen their involvement in agriculture and livelihood activities in the camp.
• Be responsible for proper collection, storage and dissemination of data on PoC economic activities, clearly identifying gaps and instituting interventions to fill the gaps in PoC knowledge, attitude and practice in livelihoods and self-reliance.
• Ensure that UNHCR and other partners stay informed about progress and ensure continued support and buy-in from all stakeholders if any changes are envisaged.
• The Agri-business Specialist will supervise, liaise closely with and ensure effectiveness of the officer in charge of Kalobeyei agricultural field operations to ensure that all the activities are coordinated and in sync with each other to ensure alignment with the overall goal of the project.
• As an expert in his/her field, the Agri-business Specialist will ensure that the Kalobeyei field officers have the space and freedom to operate and that they keep to the agreed targets over the project period.

Expected Outcomes

• Conceptualization, innovation, planning and management of the livelihood project as well as the transfer of knowledge and skills.
• Prepare the necessary reports as per UNHCR guidelines and handle reporting requirement in a timely manner.
• Formulation, development and planning of programme goals and objectives of the livelihoods program.
• Work closely with the Business Development Officer on material and strategies to support the programme.
• Provide information and support to the Livelihood Community Mobiliser.
• Monthly work (action) plans for the program, ensuring objectives and targets are achieved.
• To promote communication between all the stakeholders in order to encourage the sharing of information and continual development and improvement of the livelihoods service i.e. promoting professional learning and development as well as seeking to encourage a unity of vision and purpose among the PoC.
• To provide input to proposals and reporting that relates to livelihoods as and when requested by the Project Manager and the Kenya Country Program Manager.
• Offer of advice and support to livelihoods program in line with the vision and mission of AAHI and UNHCR.
• Perform any other functions deemed necessary or as delegated by the supervisor in order to meet the level of services in the organization

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS
Qualifications

• University degree preferred in Agricultural Economics, Agro-Enterprise, Rural Development, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum five (5) years’ work experience three (3) of which must be in a similar role
• Possess proven practical knowledge of the program development cycle and design and management qualities.
• Demonstrated strengths in relationship management; able to work with diverse groups of people in multicultural, team-oriented environment;
• Skilled in influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals;
• Able to manage relationships to achieve results

Desirable Skills

• Project management Field experience.
• Knowledge and exposure to the social and cultural values of the region concerned.
• Proficiency in local language(s).
• Skilled in influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control; able to manage long-distance relationships to achieve results

Additional Skills & Competences

• Communicational skills (written and spoken)
• Organisational and managerial skills
• ICT specialty (email, Spread-sheets, MS-word, Databases, job-related software, etc.)
• Team-work and participation
• Level of self-supervision and ability to take initiative
• Degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Technical side of the job (numeracy, report-writing, critical thinking, leadership, etc.)
• INGO experience and understanding of humanitarian sector
• Commitment to and understanding of AAH-I’s vision, mission, and values.