Agronomist Intern-Nandi at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE

• Due to the wide geographical expanse of the Nandi Carbon–Climate Resilience, Livelihoods & Nutrition Project and the intensity of field‑level implementation, Save the Children seeks to recruit an Agronomist Intern to provide day‑to‑day technical and field support to the Agronomic Advisor.
• The Agronomist Intern will support agroforestry, climate‑smart agriculture, tree planting, and farmer engagement activities, strengthening field presence, improving follow‑up across dispersed locations, and supporting monitoring, documentation, and learning. The role is designed to build early‑career technical capacity while enhancing effective project oversight and delivery.

Scope of Role: Reports to: Agronomic Advisor

• Staff directly reporting to this post: None
• Key working relationships: Project field staff, implementing partners, farmer groups, cooperatives, and community structures
• This is a supporting role with no final decision‑making authority

Key Areas of Accountability:

Programme Implementation Support

• Support implementation of agroforestry and climate‑smart agriculture activities across assigned project sites.
• Conduct regular field visits to nurseries and farmer plots to support:
• Tree planting and survival monitoring.
• Nursery management and seedling care.
• Soil and water conservation practices.
• Support seasonal activities including seedling propagation, transplanting, and post‑planting care under supervision.

 Farmer Engagement and Extension Support

• Support farmer trainings, demonstrations, and community meetings (barazas).
• Provide basic agronomic guidance to farmers under the direction of the Agronomic Advisor.
• Act as a liaison between farmers and the technical team, escalating field challenges promptly.
• Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, and vulnerable households.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning

• Support farmer registration, land verification, and digital/physical mapping processes.
• Assist with routine data collection related to:
• Tree planting and survival rates.
• Nursery outputs.
• Adoption of climate‑smart practices.
• Maintain accurate field records and submit timely activity reports.
• Support documentation of field observations, lessons learnt, and best practices.

Coordination and Compliance

• Support coordination with community‑based organizations', cooperatives, and local extension officers.
• Assist in organizing trainings, meetings, and learning forums in Farmer Field Schools.
• Ensure adherence to Save the Children policies on:
• Child safeguarding.
• Gender equality and inclusion.
• Community accountability.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Problem solving and Decision Making 

• Undertakes operations in a complex environment through technical competence, anticipating challenges, and developing appropriate mitigation measures.
• Responds promptly to emerging problems and takes appropriate decisions. 
• Explores and analyses data trends, as well as their potential impact on strategic choices.

Developing self and others 

• Identifies clear development needs and development plans through regular constructive reviews of their own performance. 
• Gives regular positive and constructive feedback to others. 
• Creates space for others to learn and provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments when people are ready for them. 
• Coaches others to learn from their experiences on the job and to use the resources available to them.

Accountability

• Holds self-accountable in making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree (completed or near completion) in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Agricultural Extension, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• Strong interest in climate‑smart agriculture, agroforestry, and community‑based development.
• Willingness and ability to work extensively in rural field settings.
• Familiarity with the Nandi County geographical landscape, especially Emgwen, Nandi Hills, Tinderet and Aldai Sub-Counties.

Desirable

• Previous internship, industrial attachment, or volunteer experience in agriculture or rural development.
• Familiarity with smallholder farming systems in Kenya.
• Basic understanding of agroforestry or tree nursery management.
• Knowledge of or residence in Nandi County is an added advantage.