Consultant - To support business case implementation and capacity build grantee at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Objectives of the Assignment

This assignment is intended to support business champions (also referred to as grantees) that are already contracted by CRAFT to roll out and implement interventions contributing towards effective adoption of Climate smart agriculture practises and technologies. The consultant should provide lead / mentoring & coaching approach, where s/he will be part of the business case champion’s implementing team engaging in the day-to-day activities and ensuring that activities are carried out on schedule & promptly. In this period, it is anticipated that the grantee will have improved knowledge and skills towards implementation and successful completion of the agreed-on milestones.

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

1. To support the Business champion to define and implement quarterly workplans to achieve the set milestones.
2. To support the Business champion to adhere to the grant agreement – regulations for implementation and (technical and financial) reporting.
3. Support the staff and ToTs in farmer training, demo garden set up and organising farmer field events.
4. To support the Business champion by monitoring, reporting, and uploading of the business case activities on the CRAFT MIS platform.
5. Support farmer linkages to CSA services, inputs and market with the respective service providers
6. Support the business champion grain aggregation and marketing.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be assigned to a business case and will be hosted and operate from the business champion premises (Igambang’ombe Multipurpose Cooperative Society - IMCOS). The consultant will have a dual responsibility – to the business champion and to the CRAFT project. The consultant will be expected to champion the interests of the business champion and those of the CRAFT project as delimited by the grant agreement.

Deliverables

The expected outputs of this assignment are as stipulated in the business plan and includes but not limited to:

1. Timely submission as per grant agreement of quarterly progress (quarterly and annual financial and technical) reports signed-off by the business champion
2. Completion of the quarterly activities as per plan
3. 3 New demonstration gardens set up to provide training grounds
4. Remaining 200 profiled SHFs trained in green gram climate smart production practices and technologies and weather information
5. 700 selected SHFs contracted to produce, with fair price developed as part of the contract with the SHFs
6. 700 selected SHFs linked to CSA service and input providers
7. 50 women and youth entrepreneurs trained in business skills
8. Aggregation and marketing of 534T of greengram
9. Location and duration of Assignment

The consultant will be attached to IMCOS and shall work from their offices at Kanjuki with travel within  the areas of operation. SNV will pay the professional fees for the consultant, while the business champion through the grant budget will provide transport and logistics to facilitate travel.  It is anticipated that the assignment shall take 100 effective working days.

Qualifications

A Kenya-based consultant (s) with the following skills and experience: preferably from Tharakanithi/meru area

1. At least 5 years’ experience in Agri-business development of SME’s, service provision, financial services or cooperatives using an inclusive business approach.
2. Experience in climate smart agriculture practises and access to finance for climate smart technologies.
3. Evidence of experience in implementing value chain activities in agricultural value chains of, common beans, green gram and sorghum.
4. An understanding of marketing systems development
5. Experience in facilitating farmer trainings, agronomy practices and post-harvest handling
6. Experience working with diverse cultural backgrounds
7. Ability to follow strict time frame