Agriculture & Natural Resource Management Advisor at Gap Recruitment Services Limited

Job Purpose: 

The holder of this position will take a leading role in the design and development of new and innovative agricultural and natural resource management initiatives for the country programme and assist in the marketing of those initiatives to funders/donors and other stakeholders. He/she will ensure effective and timely delivery of agricultural and NRM programme that demonstrate sustainable impact among SHA targeted communities and ensure effective engagement of partners and stakeholders including private sector in supporting the achievement of programme goals and objectives in line with the Kenya Strategic Plan. He/she will also support in demonstrating quality of programming and impact through contributing to country reporting and documentation of best practices to donors and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Technical Support Functions

• Integrate research designs into demonstration sites/smart learning sites/bulking sites for improved technical advisory services.
• Support capacity building of program/project staff and other partners on agriculture and natural resource management (A & NRM) best practices e.g., climate smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, soil and water management, rangeland management, farmer managed natural regeneration, and tree planting methodologies in line with dryland management strategy.
• Keep the program/project staff and partners up to date with the development of the latest A & NRM information on production, harvesting, pests and diseases, and rainfall patterns.
• Support the program/project manager(s) in the design of appropriate models for A & NRM based on best practices.
• Provide technical support to program/project staff to ensure effective integration of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management strategies and other related practices.
• Work with projects and partners to promote community participation to attain sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and climate change resilience, environmentally sustainable land use practices, and nature-based enterprises.
• Programme Design and Development, Proposal Development, and Documentation Functions
• Support the Head of Programmes (HoP) in resource mobilization and acquisition through programme design and development, and proposal development.
• Provide technical support in development and review of country A & NRM policies, action plans and strategies for the counties where SHA has its presence.
• Ensuring that sustainable A & NRM principles are incorporated in program/project designs and proposals.
• Collect, manage, and analyze scientific research data, develop, and publish peer reviewed documents for visibility and subsequent programme development.
• Work with the other advisors in programmes to ensure integration of information and communication for purposes of outreach.
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Functions
• Support monitoring of program/project implementation, and dissemination of information.
• Liaise with the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor in co-ordinating evaluation schedules for programs/projects and in liaison with the HoP coordinate the engagement of technical personnel/institution to undertake the task.
• Spearhead development and review of program/project evaluation tools as directed by the HoP to maintain quality standards.
• Counterpart Relationship Functions
• Represent SHA-Kenya as directed by the HoP in Sector Technical Working Groups/meetings/workshops/field visits and other relevant forums.
• Nurture and strengthen strategic partnerships, networks and coalitions with civil society organizations, private, and public sector implementing similar programs/projects for continued learning and sharing of experiences and best practices and influence policy and practice.
• Support the HoP in identifying relevant international and national A & NRM coordination networks and participate in those networks to improve programmes quality.
• Gather and provide quality feedback/data/information to be used to develop technical papers and recommendations on key issues for external engagement with decision makers.
• Support county level A & NRM strategic document development e.g., Root and Tuber Crops Development Strategy, etc.
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisor or the Country Director

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Country Director
• Head of Programmes
• Head of Finance and Administration
• Finance and Administration Team
• All Programme Coordinators
• All Senior Technical Advisors (Gender, Nutrition, Enterprise, Policy, and Humanitarian)
• HQ Desk Officer assigned to Kenya.

External

• Project implementation partners
• Donors
• Stakeholders including national government, research institutions, financial institutions, external auditors, donors, Academia, and private companies

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of agricultural projects that are agri-business focused.
• Experience with project implementation through consortiums involving national and international NGOs and Government ministries.
• Experience in designing strategies and approaches for enhancing agricultural production and rural livelihoods among smallholder farmers.
• Experience in networking among development partners and government departments
• Proven ICT skills.
• Strong training and facilitation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

Essential:

• Masters Degree preferably in Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Agri-business, or a related field.
• Strong experience in research designs, forestry, agro-ecology and carbon credit will be added advantage
• Proven experience in agronomic practice in the context of project implementation in an international NGO environment. Experience in dryland farming and livestock management will be an added advantage.
• Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages.
• Strong M&E skills

Role Competencies:

• Excellent verbal, analytical, organizational, and written skills with fluency in Swahili and English.
• People management skills.
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africas vision, mission, and values.
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports.
• Ability to work as part of a team across different cultures.
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative.