County Horticulture Sector Analysts at RTI International

The Horticulture Crops Directorate (HCD) has established that there is immense potential for avocado production in Western and Lake Victoria basin counties that fall within KCDSMS’ sphere of influence. In this regard , KCDMS is commissioning a rapid assessment to document the status of avocado production and marketing status in the Lake Basin Economic Block Counties (LREB). These include Trans-Nzoia, Uasin-Gishu, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Homa-Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Kakamega. We seek to recruit short-term County Horticulture Sector Analysts to be based in the Western Kenya counties. The study will take a maximum of 5 days.

Essential Duties

• Desktop review of relevant reports and documents from KCDMS, county governments, private sector actors and other development agencies on the following:
• Confirmation if the county has identified avocado as a priority crop
• The last three years’ county budget allocated the sector
• Details on active county avocado projects undertaken over the last 5 years.
• Details on active private sector-led avocado projects undertaken over the last 5 years.
• Details on active development agency avocado projects undertaken over the last 5 years.
• Avocado seedling production looking into the number of certified nurseries and volumes of seedlings sold/distribute.
• Estimated number of farmers active in the sector.
• Acreage under avocado production
• The number of mature trees (where data is available).
• Identify leading local and national level buyers (including exporters) active in the county.
• List any challenges affecting avocado production and marketing in the county.
• Report writing and presentation

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degrees in agriculture or any relevant field with a good understanding of the horticulture crops production and marketing space.
• Ability to administer questionnaires, collate, synthesize and interpreted field data
• Knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel