Chief of Party - USAID/Kenya Feed the Future project – Scaling Inclusive Food Systems at World Vision Kenya

Key Responsibilities:

World Vision Kenya seeks a Chief of Party for an anticipated USAID/Kenya Feed the Future project. The goal of Feed the Future in Kenya is to sustainably reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the Zone of Influence. The purpose is to increase agriculture-led growth, resilience of people and systems and the population’s nutritional status, especially among women and children. The project is expected to foster private sector-led agricultural production sustainably; increase productivity, farmers’ income, and the resilience of Kenyan’s agriculture and food systems. This will take a market systems approach to promote the development of inclusive business models; improve farmer access to inputs, investment, technical expertise; and foster sustainable private sector partnerships.

The Chief of Party’s (CoP) primary responsibilities include providing overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the entire project and consortium partners, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the results defined in the award. The CoP will be the principal point of contact in Kenya and is ultimately responsible for all contract management and implementation. S/he will be the primary liaison with USAID/Kenya on technical matters and expected to steer operations in response to USAID/Kenya technical direction. The CoP expected to identify issues and risks related to project implementation and suggest appropriate timely adjustments. The CoP must be able to communicate World Vision's Christian ethos and demonstrate a quality of spiritual life that is an example to others.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Coordination and Management

• Provide overall strategic vision and leadership for project implementation including drafting project work plans and leading the successful implementation of annual work plans and budgets
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to consortium partners on effective strategies to realize Inclusive sustainable agriculture-led economic growth; strengthened resilience among people and systems as well as well-nourished women and children
• Put in place coordination mechanisms for effective project delivery among the consortium partners
• Foster integrated vision, coordination and synergy building with other WVK, government and other partners initiatives in target areas
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent for optimal performance.
• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being; provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for project and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
• Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyse and respond quickly to deficiencies.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with WVK partnership principles.
• Manage subcontractors to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements
• Ensure all staff understand and adhere to WVK staff safety and security policies and plans, and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Ensure program implementation in compliance with USAID standards, WVK Policies & Procedures and aligned to acceptable financial & operational audit results.
• Ensure inclusion of cross cutting themes including gender, youth, conflict sensitivity, disability and social inclusion
• Serve as the primary point of contact to USAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.

Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability.
• Ensure accurate and quality Annual Operation Plan (AOP) and Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the program in place and utilized
• Ensure accurate and quality Program Design Documents (PDD) are on file
• Put in place effective monitoring and reporting systems to guide consortium partners
• Ensure the program quality standards adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Provide oversight related to project results, reporting, analysis, and the use of strategic information to drive performance across the project
• Actively identify, manage and mitigate issues and risks related to project implementation at the national and regional levels and propose risk mitigation strategies and solutions for project adjustments
• Ensure the relevant project measurements (baseline, mid-term, end-line and any other study) are accurately and promptly conducted and results utilized to inform program management
• Ensure effective use of resources, on-time delivery of project activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and WVK policies and procedures
• Work with MEAL Manager ensure effective reflection and learning forums and documentation of project success for internal and external communication

Engagement, Networking and Fundraising

• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and WVK branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops and coordination forums.
• Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with USAID, WVK Directors, project teams, and other relevant stakeholders   
• Represent the project at meetings and events with the USAID, Government of Kenya, the business community, non-profits, and other stakeholders
• Build and Maintain effective communications and pro-active relationships with partners including the county government and the donor
• Collaborate with line ministries and departments in providing technical support and assistance to the program
• Support implementing staff to successfully engage with key internal and external stakeholders for improved trust, business development services, expanded investment in food security initiatives i.e. technology, infrastructure, skills and information
• Ensure that all consortium partners are equipped with pre-requisite capacity to effectively deliver on their mandate. Participate in public forums and events as appropriate.
• Pro-actively identify program expansion and scale up opportunities through public and private partner investments

Advocacy: Policy and Budget Influence

• Coordinate advocacy and policy influence initiatives of the program at county and national level
• Ensure competitive/strengthened public and private of institutions and systems
• Foster co-creation and partnership between community, private sector and county governments
• Influence on policy review initiated for effective governance policy and institutions as necessary
• Increase the visibility of WVK and USAID by maintaining active engagement and advocacy on project related matters
• Ensure that staff capacity around policy and advocacy well built.

Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge

• Master’s degree in business management, agriculture, economics, project management or other closely related field relevant to the position
• Minimum ten (10) years of relevant,  Chief of Party experience managing and implementing partnerships with the private sector to foster economic development.
• At least 10 years of experience working with the private sector, agribusiness development, and market systems preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) years of relevant,  Chief of party experience managing and implementing partnerships with the private sector to foster economic development
• Demonstrated experience  as chief of party for USAID or other donor market systems, agriculture, or related development programs of similar or greater scope and complexity;
• Prior experience with several of the following areas of expertise: inclusive market systems development, private sector engagement, value chain development, climate smart and/or resilient agriculture, nutrition/food security, policy and advocacy
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships
• Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture with ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities with ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally and strategic on how to approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
  Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Good understanding of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility
• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures and reporting requirements
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with consortium partners ,private sector, government officials, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Experience working in the Kenya context will be an added advantage