Junior Consultant - Corporate Governance & Financial Management at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Livestock Intensification and Integrated livestock projects-components of ISLA Project

The Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) Kenya is a partnership set up by IDH in 2015 in response to deforestation and forest degradation in the South West Mau Forest block in western Kenya. ISLA aims to conserve 60,000 hectares of the forest by 2030. The partnership is built on the interest of tea and other companies to conserve the forest for its microclimate and of the Kenyan government to improve livelihoods of communities.

The South West Mau is the largest of 22 blocks of the Mau Forests Complex (MFC). The MFC covers over 400,000 hectares and is critical for Kenya and parts of East Africa. More than 10 million people depend on its rivers. The forest also influences the region’s microclimate such as rainfall patterns, creating ideal conditions to produce crops such as tea. Furthermore, the area is one of Kenya’s main water towers and much of its hydroelectric power is generated here.

In recent decades, more than 25% of the forest has either been cut down or degraded, putting tea production, other sectors and community livelihoods at risk. This is caused by growing populations, unsustainable livestock grazing, charcoal burning and timber extraction from the forest.

In response, IDH created a strong coalition of the Nakuru, Kericho and Bomet national government agencies; tea, energy, telecommunications and timber companies; and civil society made up of NGOs and community groups, implementing partners and knowledge institutions to work together across the landscape. Together, we developed an integrated action plan for holistic landscape management in the South West Mau Forest across four key themes: forest conservation, water conservation, sustainable energy with livelihoods as an important cross-cutting theme. The focus of ISLA Kenya is on the northeast boundary of the forest, where threats are highest. Based on baseline and feasibility studies done by IDH, it was clear that overstocking (of livestock) in the forest is a key threat.

The project/s seeks to fill the position of;

Corporate governance and financial management Expert (1 position)

• Facilitate the development and implementation of business plans for three milk Collection and Bulking Enterprises (CBE) to especially expand their milk catchment area into the project area and also provide support services such as AI and agro input access to their members.
• Train and coach the board of directors and management on governance and business management.
• Conduct detailed diagnostic assessments of the financial and operational management systems of the CBEs including their financial health status.
• Through the development of a capacity development plan, recommend appropriate actions to improve the financial management systems including development/strengthening of policies, staff training and most importantly improving their financial health.
• Facilitate the development of internal controls for financial operations
• Facilitate the development of financial management policy and procedures manual as per IFRS, IAS and Co-operatives Act (CAP 390).

Expected Profile of Candidate

• At least 5 years’ experience in Agriculture, Rural Development, and Agribusiness Supply Chains
• Expertise/Experience in Cooperative Business Management Training with at least 2 similar assignments performed in the last 3 years linking cooperatives to commercial supply chains and / or the financial sector;
• Experience with the IFC Business Edge practices will be an added advantage
• Good working experience in Kenyan’s agribusiness sector.