Agribusiness Officer at Arid Lands Information Network( ALIN)

Purpose

ALIN wishes to recruit a dynamic, energetic and committed person to join its team as an Agribusiness Support Officer. The officer will support the implementation of the “Powered by the sun: climate smart irrigation systems in Kajiado County” project. The officer will support farmers and farmer groups in Kajiado County on agribusiness, market linkages, agro-processing, post-harvest management, value chain development, solar-powered drip irrigation, enterprise development and business linkages.

Key Responsibilities

• Training and advising farmers on matters related to crop production, value chain development, market linkages, and solar-powered drip irrigation among others
• Support farmers and farmer groups in agricultural business planning and entrepreneurship development
• Advice and develop concepts on the design of strategies and policies related to agricultural marketing and inclusive and sustainable agri-food value chain development
• Set up and maintain strategic collaboration with relevant partners in the area of agribusiness and solar-powered drip irrigation
• Formulating and advising farmers and farmer groups on strategies for value addition
• Promoting the adoption of solar-powered drip irrigation
• Developing the capacity of farmers and farmer groups to identify sustainable agro-based economic opportunities
• Provide technical expertise in areas such as enhanced agricultural production, post-harvest handling, storage, and processing, improved food security, and improved market linkages
• Work with the project team to design data collection methods and capture all the anticipated benefits from value chain interventions
• Continuous follow-up with farmers on training and agricultural activities

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in any of the following fields: – Agriculture; Agricultural Economics; Agriculture Extension; Agriculture Education; Agribusiness; Horticulture; Food Science; Home
• Economics; Food Technology; or any relevant and equivalent qualification from a recognized institution
• Have a minimum of three (3) years of relevant work in agricultural investment, agribusiness advisory services, agribusiness investment, linkage with the private sector, project
• formulation, preparation, appraisal and management; and/or business development
• Experience with value chain strengthening, processing, and marketing systems development, especially in horticulture
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating value chain development, value chain analysis, and in building the capacity of value chain actors and in identifying key intervention areas within given value chains
• Demonstrated understanding of climate-smart agriculture
• Knowledge of technologies and issues for value chain development, business development, and rural livelihoods
• Knowledge of the latest developments in advancing best practices in value chain development and market systems development
• Knowledge of certification processes regarding production traceability, sustainability, and calculation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions
• Experience in implementing programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness, commercialization, and inclusiveness of value chains
• Successful experience preparing and presenting detailed cost of production analyses
• Knowledge of the local language as well as residing in Kajiado County is an added advantage
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage
• Commitment to gender equality and knowledge of gender mainstreaming principles and approaches