Program Officer – Food System at Helen Keller International

Objective of the Program Officer Position:

• Support the design, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of agriculture activities related to sustainable food systems and impacts in Transforming Lives project in Kenya.
• Provide technical support to assigned County (Makueni, Tharaka Nithi or Kilifi) and ensure quality implementation of the Transforming Lives through Nutrition Project.
• Monitor project progress, document achievements and best practices, and facilitate learning.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordinate Transforming Lives project at the county level with the government departments of health, agriculture, water, social services and relevant stakeholders

Specific Objectives

Program implementation and technical support

• Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of food systems interventions and activities within the Transforming Lives project Counties.
• Facilitate community-level engagement in sustainable agriculture, climate-smart practices, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
• Provide technical assistance to staff, partners and local stakeholders on food systems integration and innovation.
• Working closely with the Transforming Lives project staff contribute to the development of the project work plans ensuring food systems interventions are included.
• Provide technical support to the County in the implementation of all activities according to the work plan ensuring objectives are met.
• Prepare quality activity reports; monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports
• Review and monitor project budget and follow the burn rate throughout the project duration.
• Ensure integration of project plans in the County health and nutrition annual work plan (AWPs)
• Promote integrate nutrition into livelihood interventions to ensure food security at the household level.

Provide technical support to assigned County and ensure quality implementation of the Transforming Lives through Nutrition Project.

• Working closely with the Transforming Lives project staff contribute to the development of the project work plans and monitor implementation regularly.
• Provide technical support to the County in the implementation of all activities according to the work plan ensuring objectives are met.
• Prepare quality activity reports; monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports
• Review and monitor project budget and follow the burn rate throughout the project duration.
• Ensure integration of project plans in the County health and nutrition annual work plan (AWPs)
• Promote integrate nutrition into livelihood interventions to ensure food security at the household level.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Contribute to the development of tools and systems to track progress and impact of food systems interventions
• Support to collect, analyze, and report on data related to agriculture, nutrition, market systems, and livelihoods.
• Document lessons learnt, human interest stories and success stories from the project implementation.
• Plan and implement project data reviews, document findings and recommendations and work with assigned County to implement the actions agreed.
• Ensure relevant project data are collected, analyzed and reports developed to inform program impact.

Coordination, Advocacy and Partnership

• Act as the focal communication point for the project while collaborating with the relevant government departments and the County stakeholders
• Actively participate in County level coordination programs that are relevant to the project objectives.
• Ensure effective communication and networking is developed and maintained through partnership and collaboration with County and sub-county health, agriculture, water, social services and other partners within the County,
• Actively participate in county planning and coordination meetings
• Organize county project inception, planning, review, closure meetings, and other relevant forums to facilitate project implementation and feedback sharing.
• Ensure the integration of project-supported interventions in the county health and nutrition annual work plans (AWPs).
• Advocate for prioritization of nutrition and gender equality and inclusion by actively participating in county and sub-county planning and coordination meetings.
• Enhance project visibility and communication efforts on behalf of Helen Keller Intl

Community Engagement

• Engage and Support communities in identifying nutrition and gender-related challenges and developing community-led solutions to promote diversified nutrition practices.
• Support Community health Promoters (CHPs) to conduct household nutrition counselling for project beneficiaries at community level.
• Support initiatives that empower women and girls in nutrition-related activities.

Others

• Identify funding opportunities and write grant proposals for research projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Food Systems or related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in implementing food systems or agriculture-related programs.
• Experience working with rural communities, smallholder farmers, or marginalized groups.
• Familiarity with concepts like agroecology, value chains, climate-smart agriculture, and food sovereignty is preferred.
• Strong understanding in linkage of food systems and health programming including nutrition standards, and health structures at county and sub-county level
• Familiarity with national health and nutrition policies.
• Experience in health and nutrition community resilience programming and household food production.
• Significant NGO experience with community groups and state institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and management of food systems and nutrition projects
• Ability to analyze data and produce quality reports
• Demonstrated experience in preparation of donors’ proposals, budgets, and reports
• Able to priorities clearly, oversee multiple tasks, and set clear objectives to be achieved
• Commitment to accountability principles and knowledge of quality assurance.
• Knowledge of computer applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Outlook.
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, and self-learner.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in data collection, monitoring tools, and basic analysis.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Fluency in English and Swahili; knowledge of local languages is an advantage.