Jobs at Self Help Africa (SHA)

Job Purpose:

• Take a lead role in the design and development of new and innovative agricultural and natural resource management initiatives for the country programme and assist in the marketing of those initiatives to funders/donors and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective and timely delivery of agricultural and NRM programme that demonstrate sustainable impact among SHA beneficiary communities.
• Ensure effective engagement of partners and stakeholders including private sector in supporting the achievement of programme goals and objectives in line with the Kenya Strategic Plan.
• Support in demonstrating quality of programming and impact through contributing to country reporting and documentation of ‘Best practices’ to donors and other stakeholders

Key Responsibilities:

Project Technical Support Functions

• Oversee all agriculture & NRM projects in the country and make regular visits to the project sites while providing technical guidance on programme implementation, budgetary control and capacity development among programme staff and implementing partners.
• Provide technical expertise to programme and partner staff to ensure effective integration of sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resource management strategies and other related practices
• Advice projects on identified challenges during programme implementation while keeping the SPM&PSL briefed on such issues.
• Work with projects and partners to promote community participation to attain sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and climate change resilience, environmentally sustainable land use practices, and nature-based enterprises
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee implementation of policies and strategies for implementation of sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resources management practices across the programme
• Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements
• Ensure all project reporting is undertaken in a timely manner
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and monthly project status reports
• Develop and execute work plans as agreed and approved by the SPM&PSL

Counterpart Relationship Functions

• Nurture and strengthen strategic partnerships, networks and coalitions with civil society organizations and private sector implementing similar programmes activities for continued learning and sharing of  experiences and best practices and influence policy and practice
• Represent SHA Kenya as directed by the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead in meetings/workshops/field visits and other relevant forums.
• Take charge in organizing meetings/workshops/field visits/forums with communities and Stakeholder’s/Partner’s
• Ensure positive working relationship with government and ALL Stakeholder’s/Partners
• To ensure regular communications are maintained among the field sites, and between the field and the country office

Project Design and Development as well as proposal development functions

• Assist the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead in resource mobilization and acquisition through new programme development and proposal writing ensuring integrated and sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, climate change resilience, environment and natural resources management issues are always articulated
• Prepare strategy documents, strategy papers, progress reports and evaluation reports
• Provide critical input and feedback on all new projects, concept papers and other programming documents as agreed by the SPM&PSL

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Conduct regular and accurate assessments, monitoring, and dissemination of information and ensure that sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resources management principles are incorporated in development planning and decision-making processes across the programme
• Liaise with the PC M & E in Co-ordinating evaluation schedules for projects and in liaison with the SPM&PSL coordinate the engagement of technical personnel/institution to undertake the task.
• Prepare the initial Terms of Reference for each evaluation to be approved by the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead
• Co-ordinate the review and appropriate dissemination of evaluation reports from ALL SHA donor funded projects
• Spearhead development and regular review of project evaluation tools as directed by the SPM&PSL

Logistics, Administration, HR and Safety

• Ensure efficient use and management of transport and other programme resource
• Work with Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead and Human Resources and Administration Manager in procurement processes of projects inputs through outlined procurement procedures,
• Ensure good individual and team performance in support of project implementation through coaching, mentoring and regular meetings
• Ensure all safety or security incidents (fires, vehicle accidents, theft, etc) are appropriately recorded and reported,
• Actively monitor field site safety and security and advise the SPM&PSL about new developments
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the SPM&PSL and by the SHA Kenya Country Director.

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Country Director
• Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead
• Head of Finance and Administration
• Finance and Administration Team
• All Programme Coordinators
• All Senior Technical Advisors (Gender, Nutrition, Enterprise, Policy and Humanitarian)
• HQ Desk Officer – assigned to Kenya

External

• Project implementation partners
• Donors
• Stakeholders including national government, research institutions, financial institutions, external auditors, donors, Academia, and private companies

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of agricultural projects that are agri-business focused.
• Experience with project implementation through consortiums involving national and international NGOs and Government ministries.
• Experience in designing strategies and approaches for enhancing agricultural production and rural livelihoods among small holder farmers
• Experience in networking among development partners and government departments
• Proven ICT skills
• Strong training and facilitation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Agri-business, or a related field 
• Master’s degree in Project Management, Agri-Economics or related field will be an added advantage
• Proven experience in agronomic practice in the context of project implementation in an international NGO environment. Experience in dryland farming and livestock management will be an added advantage.
• Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages
• Strong M&E skills

Role Competencies:

• Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational, and written skills with fluency in Swahili and English.
• People management skills
• Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports
• Ability to work as part of team across different cultures
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative

go to method of application »

Job Purpose:

Hunger and malnutrition remain a major issue worldwide and are of particular concern in SHA (Self Help Africa) countries of operation. Nutrition, in the past has been placed within the health sector. However, there is a recognition that the food and agriculture sector have a major role to play in ensuring improved food and nutrition security. Nutrition is a key theme across SHA’s programming: we aim to ensure that increased and diversified production translates to improved nutrition at household level, so it is essential that all our programmes have a strong nutrition focus.

Equally, SHA recognises the importance of gender equity to ensure progress in reducing poverty. Working with smallholder farmers and recognising that women contribute the bulk of labour on family farms, there is a need to ensure our programmes have a strong gender element to improve cohesion within the household with better resource and power sharing. Development goals cannot be achieved without explicit consideration being given to all, which includes women, men, boys and girls, understanding their different needs and contributions.

This role is a key part of SHA’s drive to build technical excellence, improve programme quality across the organisation and become a leader in innovative development practice.  Promoting nutrition sensitive agriculture will involve ensuring that all of SHA programmes and projects progressively integrate explicit nutrition objectives and indicators into project/programme design and guide its implementation. It also ensures that gender is mainstreamed within all programmes.

This post will facilitate learning, mentor programme staff and build staff capacity (both SHA and partner staff) based on best practice from within the organisation and experiences from other development actors.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Resource:

• This position will be the resource person for Nutrition and Gender within the SHA Kenya programmes. The role will involve working with the team throughout project cycle management – from supporting the development of concept notes ensuring a strong nutrition and gender element, proposal development, programme delivery, supporting M &E and evaluation of projects/programmes.
• Advise, mentor, train, and support programme/partner staff to effectively integrate nutrition sensitive agriculture and mainstream gender into programmes and projects including setting objectives and measuring results.

Networking:

• This role will ensure SHA engagement in relevant networks to strengthen SHA’s visibility in nutrition and gender, remain current/up to date within this sector and where possible capitalise on relevant opportunities that arise in terms of funding, and dissemination of SHA work.
• Networking with relevant stakeholders will include the various ministries at national and county levels, UN agencies such as UNICEF, FAO and WHO and other relevant NGO’s involved in nutrition and gender sectors.

DETAIL OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead in planning and designing programmes; ensuring that nutrition and gender are specifically addressed with effective implementation strategies in line with SHA Kenya’s programme strategy.
• Support SHA staff and partners in developing nutrition and gender components of projects/programmes through establishing knowledge gaps and conducting capacity building/training and conducting project/programme monitoring visits.
• Support the SHA programme team/technical staff/partner staff in rolling out of project interventions to ensure that the project/programme interventions are both gender transformative and nutrition sensitive.
• Develop and carryout reviews of SHA nutrition and gender policies/guidelines and strategies that provide strategic direction keeping abreast of resources already available in country or regionally/internationally.
• Together with the SHA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer be responsible for designing, collecting, processing, analysing nutrition and gender data within SHA programmes.
• Identify and support the development of tools for programme and partner staff, such as IEC material, to use for gender and nutrition throughout SHA programmes/projects.
• Contribute and share knowledge, information, best practices and lessons learnt on gender and nutrition to ensure high quality programming throughout SHA programmes/projects for internal and external use.
• Liaise regularly with the Nutrition Advisor and Social Inclusion Advisor at Head Office for support and share learning with other SHA country programmes and head office.
• Guide processes of identifying and participating in nutrition and/or gender research as required.
• Facilitate and assist the timely submission of regular reports (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual) or special reports as deemed necessary.
• Organise and facilitate workshop SPM&PSL/trainings to share information/learning.
• Strengthen strategic partnerships with civil society organisations and the private sector to influence nutrition and gender responsive policies and laws.
• Keep updated on technical aspects of nutrition and gender with specific focus on vulnerable groups.
• Active networking and advocacy profiling of SHA country programme with external stakeholders implementing similar programmes at local, national and/or international level.

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Country Director
• Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector lead
• SHA Project/Programme Managers in-Country
• Partner Organisation Staff
• Head Office Technical Advisers
• Other SHA Country Nutrition & Gender Advisers

External

• Key Ministry Stakeholders (Ministry of Health, Gender and Agriculture as relevant)
• UN agencies, in particular; UNICEF, WHO, FAO and UNFPA
• Relevant National Food and Nutrition Organizations
• Research institutions and Universities as relevant

Qualifications/Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health or related discipline
• At least five years’ experience in the design and implementation of nutrition and gender projects/programmes
• Extensive knowledge and experience of sector thinking on nutrition, gender and inclusion, value chain approaches in Kenya.
• Experience working with multiple stake holders including civil society organization, public and private sectors and development agencies
• A good understanding of project cycle management approaches and tools including knowledge of M&E principles with a bias on Nutrition sensitive and gender focus development.
• Experience in facilitation of learning process and networking
• Experience in research and report writing
• Experience in developing and delivering training or general capacity building skills
• Excellent level of spoken and written English
• Very good working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and general IT skills
• Commitment to working with a value-based organisation
• Self-motivated with good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Experience in teamwork and coordination
• Willingness to travel in country and overseas to support nutrition and gender activities in other SHA country programmes

Desirable

• Experience in gender and social inclusion in an Agricultural development environment
• Demonstrated experience in integrating/mainstreaming gender in development and humanitarian projects focused on food, nutrition, and livelihoods sectors
• Ability to communicate effectively in more than one national language

Role Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of team across different cultures.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and take initiative.
• Ability to solve problems and take appropriate corrective action.
• Ability to spend up to 70% of time in field travels.