Project Officer - Agribusiness at Kenya Red Cross Society

Reporting to: Project Manager - Boosting Resilience of Vulnerable Rural Households

Grade Level: 12

Purpose of Position

Facilitate the successful implementation of the Boosting Resilience of Vulnerable Rural Households in Baringo County, Kenya, through Strengthening of Sustainable Livelihoods for Nutrition and Food Security.

The incumbent will be responsible for providing the necessary technical support and coordination of the project, which aims at strengthening the target groups towards sustainable livelihoods for nutrition and Food security in Baringo County.

Major Responsibilities

Project Planning and Implementation (35%)

• Provide effective, innovative and technical support for the project.
• Develop, a detailed plan that will support delivery of the project objectives throughout the project period appreciating the unique context.
• Development of annual Operation Plans. (4D matrices, DIPs, Annual Budgets).
• Facilitate adoption of proposed practice/ approaches/ models in the course of the implementation of the project.
• Ensure the project focuses on the right beneficiary as intended.
• Facilitate communities to identify viable project Interventions and ensure community participation in project implementation.
• Manage community expectations in terms of the support that WV can provide, enhance accountability & transparency mechanisms.
• Ensure that business processes, standards and guidelines related to Livelihood & resilience initiatives are adhered to in project implementation.
• Ensure integration and leveraging of the project activities with other complimenting projects.
• In liaison with Project/Program Accountant, track the project implementation expenditure levels and manage work plans and budgets & implement project audit recommendations.
• Ensure timely and effective implementation of all project interventions as well as the successful achievement of proposed outcomes and intended impacts.
• Ensure timely and appropriate utilization of the budgeted project resources.

Expected end results

• Successful project implementation as per the design and set guidelines.
• Interventions are appropriate for the context, culture, and audience.

Quality Assurance - Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation (20%)

• Develop monitoring plan with communities and sub grantee agreeing on the required standards for monitoring, with support from the DME specialist.
• Monitor project interventions in strict adherence to WV Kenya, Kenya government regulations and other agreed standards.
• Ensures participatory monthly data collection are conducted (involving communities and partners) using the standardized tools.
• Ensure project data is captured, validated and updated on horizon and or any other approved World Vison Kenya (WVK) DM&E system.
• Contextualization and utilization of reporting guidelines.
• Liaise with National Office technical specialists for their contribution to the technical aspects of the project design.
• Generate and share high quality and timely routine project management reports (Monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually) as per LEAP/Donor requirements
• Ensure that the project achieves acceptable financial and operational audit results by implementing activities in accordance with established norm and policies
• Provide project data for STEP system & Child monitoring and ensure use STEP data for project programming.
• Support set up and maintain effective complaints and feedback mechanisms to ensure that beneficiary concerns are addressed in a timely and effective manner.

Expected end results

• Project designs and Annual Operations Plans available and in use
• Project interventions meet the required standards
• Well organized monitoring visits conducted and documented
• Updated AP-TP data on Horizon and any other M&E platform
• No under/over expenditure within the project’s implementation.
• Timely submission of quality reports
• Identification of lessons learnt and issues that may require further follow-up
• Unqualified Audit report.
• Timely and quality financial reports
• Evidence of Integrated Monitoring for Sponsorship interventions.
• Children, their families, and other community beneficiaries build trust in WV’s programming and feel comfortable voicing complaints or feedback to WV staff.

Capacity Building (10%)

• Mobilize and build the capacity of sub grantee, partners and community to enable them effectively intervene in food & nutrition security and economic empowerment appropriately.
• Organise and facilitate specific and relevant trainings for community, local leadership, youth and children on specific skills geared towards increased economic empowerment, food security and sustainable agriculture.

Expected end results

• FSK having capacity to successfully implement project models effectively on their own.
• Transformed communities with positive mindsets ready for change towards sustainable food security and economic empowerment

Advocacy, Engagement, Networking and Partnerships (10%)

• Strengthen networking with relevant government departments especially Ministries of Forestry and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and Water and Irrigation to lobby for their active participation in building relevant structures for sustainability.
• Participate in the Baringo County Government’s Planning and Budgeting process and influence resource allocation to the priority needs within the sector.
• Ensure active engagement on policy at county level on issues to do with the food and nutrition security sustainable use of natural resources.
• Work with sub grantee to engage in advocacy activities with the government structures at the County level, to address the needs of local communities and inform national level advocacy initiatives.
• Work with community groups to utilize advocacy approaches to enable service users and local partners to engage directly with local government for enhanced service provision.

Expected end results

• Communities are able to articulate their identified needs/issues for necessary attention by the duty bearers.
• Good working relationship with the line ministries at the county level

Knowledge Management and Learning (10%)

• Together with sub grantee seek out and document lessons learned and project success within the project.
• Gather and provide quality feedback and data to be used to develop technical papers and recommendations on key issues for external engagement with decision makers.
• Together with sub grantee and other partners, conduct regular reflection and learning events.

Expected end results

• Innovative ideas are embraced in new subsequent designs/concepts development.
• Data/technical papers available for external engagement.
• Identified gaps are addressed in subsequent programming and/or concepts development

Resource Acquisition (10%)

• Develop timely and accurate funding concepts and proposals in line with donor requirements and WVK standards in collaboration with Project Manager and other sector specialists.
• Mobilize the community for community contribution for project interventions

Expected end results

• Increased funding for L&R activities
• Communities readily willing to invest their resources to facilitate their own development

Any other duties as assigned by supervisor (5%)

Minimum education, training and experience requirements to qualify for the position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Education and Extension, Agrinutrition, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness Management, Animal production or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years of work experience in food security and related sectors.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Working experience in implementation of Food Security Projects or related community based projects;
• Experience in proposal development is an added advantage
• Experience in local value chains development