County Technical Advisor - Kajiado County at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

About the project

Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralist Economies and Landscapes Kenya’s ASAL (ICSIAP)

The Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralists and Landscapes (ICSIAPL) is a partnership of SNV, Kenya Agriculture Research Organization (KALRO) and the three county governments of Taita Taveta, Kajiado and Narok. The action will apply research towards building more resilient and market-based solutions for improved forage production and livestock husbandry through climate smart innovations and sustainable landscape management. The project aims to stimulate business models, and forage production and sales in order to provide opportunities for women and youth enterprise development, as well as opportunities for large scale commercial production. ICSIAP aims to support counties to build on the commercialization of climate smart innovations and to develop sustainable landscape management.

Overall objective: 

Livelihoods of   communities enhanced through improved forage production and livestock husbandry, building on commercialisation of climate smart innovations and sustainable landscape management in Taita Taveta, Kajiado and Narok counties.

Strategic outcomes:

1. Increased resilience of agro-pastoralists and SMEs against climate shocks by the adoption of technology and upscaling of appropriate grazing, and feeding innovations.
2. Capacity of county governments and other stakeholders improved in planning, implementation and coordination of integrated landscape and grazing management and drought resilient livestock feeding strategies.
3. County governments better able to domesticate national policies and develop local strategies/frameworks for drought resilient livestock sector development.

Job Description

SNV Kenya is seeking a professional with requisite qualification and experience for the role of County Technical Advisor (CTA), Kajiado County. The CTA is responsible for coordination of county level activities. She/he understands content and processes related to commercialization of climate smart sustainable agriculture innovations, especially related to the livestock sector in the project counties, including the forage value chain and resource base.

The CTA will coordinate the project interventions and stakeholders at County level and shall be the focal point of interaction with KALRO, seed suppliers and other private sector and service providers, farmers, livestock keepers, cooperatives, Group Ranches, conservancies, training centres, and county governments. The CTA technical advisor will also represent the project in the county with relevant government ministries.

Main role and duties

The County Technical Advisor is the project’s focal point at county level and represents SNV and the project in all stakeholder engagements on matters related to ICSIAP in the county. In this regard, she/he will coordinate closely with KALRO and other SNV technical teams to ensure effective delivery of the 4 project work packages within the respective county.

Specific roles and duties

i.) Project Coordination:

• Oversee county level day-today project implementation, coordination and monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Partnership management of key stakeholders in public and private sector.
• Responsible for project office and equipment.

ii.) County level project representation:

• Establish and manage partnerships with related programs in the county.
• Liaise with identified county government focal point to facilitate coordination between the project and county ministries and forums.
• Attend existing coordination forums, such as Country Climate Adaptation Steering Committee (CASCOM) or the Agricultural Working Group.

iii.) Delivery of work packages:

• Stimulate, advise and coordinate with KALRO county partners such as farmers, livestock keepers, Group Ranches, conservancies, cooperatives, and training centres in the establishment of forage plots, feedlots, improved grazing areas or pastures, both on-farm and/or for commercial forage production.
• In conjunction with the innovation business advisor, promote and facilitate with KALRO and other parties the dissemination of drought-resilient feeding innovations validated by research with respective value chain actors
• Facilitate identification and communication with SMEs (including women & youth enter-prises and cooperatives) identified for the innovation matching fund and/or feed voucher;
• Steer capacity development of stakeholders to implement climate resilient integrated landscape management strategies and plans.
• Coordinate and facilitate county staff capacity building for developing county strategies/ frameworks on drought resilience in line with national policy.

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, integrated natural resources management, or related field. Or basic degree with experience in implementation of similar interventions for a period of at least 5 years.

Experience:

• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in agriculture work in international development projects or private sector, preferably in livestock, forage development and nutrition.
• Experience in management and coordination of agricultural/livestock projects and/or with integrated natural resources management or landscape interventions.
• Understanding of the content and processes related to commercialization of agriculture innovations, preferably also in the forage value chain.
• Experience in implementing initiatives involving transfer or route to market of agriculture innovations by research institutions, involving small holder farmers, private sector and government.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder processes involving actors such as government, research, civil society and private sector.
• Experience in planning and managing surveys.
• Experience in managing and providing training and coaching to partners and target beneficiaries.
• Requisite skills set to facilitate and serve as project liaison for external actors.

Additional Information

Contract duration: 2 years with possible extension

Desired Start date: January 2021