Agriculture Specialist at KCB Bank Kenya

The Position:

KCB Foundation has partnered with MasterCard Foundation through their programme Young Africa Works, to jointly implement an innovative 5-Year (2019 -2024) nationwide program that will create 1.5 Million Jobs. This project will be implemented under the 2Jiajiri programme of the KCB Foundation.  The partnership targets to reach 114,000 beneficiaries categorized as Micro and Small Enterprises, primarily in Manufacturing, Agricultural and Construction Sectors. The program seeks to alleviate poverty for Women and Youth in the informal sector through Wealth Creation and Employment.  

2Jiajiri is an end-to-end social transformational program divided into three phases. Phase one involves technical training, where beneficiaries undergo competency-based training in a vocational craft. In phase two, beneficiaries’ are incubated through Business Development consultancy Services, which includes access to Credit. In phase three, beneficiaries reach maturity and transition into the market.

KCB Foundation was established in 2007 to implement the KCB Bank Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs and as a sign of commitment to sustainable development to alleviate poverty and enhance well-being.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Operations, the Agricultural Specialist will be responsible for providing overall agricultural technical and administrative oversight to all agricultural activities of the Project on behalf of KCBF in liaison with the various implementing partners. The job holder will work in close collaboration with implementing partners responsible for farm production, construction and manufacturing. S/he will also work closely with Clerk of Works and the Project’s M&E Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure execution of all tasks and activities related to agricultural production in time and as per agreed standards and operating procedures in liaison with the implementing partners.
• Work with the relevant implementing partners and Clerk of Works to identify appropriate crops to be produced across the farms suited to the local contexts.
• Be responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring of crop production, productivity and income related to targeted crops being produced.
• Provide technical guidance on farm specifications, farm inputs and hydroponic structures.
• Embed crop management and agronomical best practices across all hydroponic and other crop farms by implementing partners, farm managers, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
• Provide progress and completion reports on relevant Project activities to Chief of Party, DCOP-Operations and M&E Manager.
• Providing periodic operations reports to the management team, reporting on progress vs targets and production reports.
• Support the M&E Manager in the design and implementation of the monitoring framework and plan as it relates to the agriculture compon