Senior Agriculture Expert at Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC)

The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) is currently seeking a Senior Agriculture Expert to serve as a technical lead consultant on a proposal for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s anticipated Food For Progress project in Kenya.  The two key objectives of Food for Progress are to: 1) improve agricultural productivity; and 2) expand trade of agricultural products.  The consultant will work closely with FSVC’s relevant proposal teams to conduct the tasks listed below.  All deliverables will be completed by the consultant in compliance with FSVC processes.

Responsibilities:

• Leverage existing professional contacts to facilitate high-level introductions and build strategic partnerships, particularly with government ministries, private sector firms, agricultural cooperatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other key stakeholders.
• Support the proposal team in designing the strategic and technical approach, activities, monitoring and evaluation plans, budget, and cost proposal narratives.
• Collaborate with international and in-country consultants, as well as Home Office-based proposal team members during capture planning and live proposal development.
• Assist technical writers by providing detailed reviews, inputs, comments, and ground truthing of technical drafts.
• Engage stakeholders, including private sector entities, government representatives, investment stakeholders, major agribusinesses, local and international organizations, donor-funded projects, and other relevant entities to inform the technical approach and proposal strategy.
• Prepare detailed written notes from stakeholder interviews, including full contact details, within 24 hours following each meeting.
• Regularly coordinate with the proposal team, adapting capture strategies as necessary.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses of selected agricultural value chains in target areas.
• Undertake additional relevant tasks as required. 
• Ability to travel within the country if needed to conduct stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong professional network and demonstrated ability to leverage contacts for strategic stakeholder engagement.
• Degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agro-Economics, or related fields, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience.
• Resident in Kenya with proven experience in agricultural consultancy within the local context.
• Demonstrated experience drafting proposals or providing technical contributions to USDA or comparable U.S. Government-funded projects.
• Previous involvement in implementing USDA or similar U.S. Government-funded agriculture projects preferred.