Vacancies at Heifer International

Function

The Enterprise Development Coordinator will share his or her agribusiness technical expertise and operational experience with Farmer Owned Agribusinesses (FOABs) e.g. farmer cooperatives, self-help groups, and other growing enterprises: to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to develop and run successful enterprises and cooperatives. The Enterprise Development Coordinator will report to the Project Manager.

Essential Character Traits

Heifer International Kenya is looking for an energetic, positive, team player, result-orientated, quality-orientated, collaborative, pragmatic, and inspirational leader.

Responsibilities & Deliverables

Enterprise Development (50%)

• Design and manage the implementation of the enterprise development strategy, along with reviewing and updating it as appropriate.
• Work closely with the field coordinators and technical experts to design and update training packages/modules, business plans, and sustainability models, and training materials for different levels.
• Conduct assessments of local enterprises and FOABs within the target market systems to identify training needs and opportunities for capacity development.
• Mentor and coach producer organizations on business and entrepreneurship development.
• Offer technical support in exploring business opportunities along the value chain of the selected commodity and in preparing business plans for cooperatives, self-help groups, common interest groups, and farm families.
• Build innovation in business development for smallholder farmers, cooperatives, etc., to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Coordinate value chain studies of selected commodities as required.
• Coordinate economic analysis of proposed enterprises along the relevant value chain.
• Offer technical support in establishing and operating market structures (e.g., collection centers, market centers, processing facilities, chilling centers, etc.).
• Provide support in establishing marketing information systems among value chain actors.
• Prepare periodic reports and document best practices and lessons learned.
• Build the capacity of project staff, partners, and stakeholders in enterprise development principles and practices through training and mentoring.

Stakeholder Management (20%)

• Actively facilitate and monitor pre-cooperative/producer association orientation activities in the self-help groups and clusters as they develop into Farmer Owned Agribusinesses (FOABs) and Cooperatives.
• Facilitate farmer groups in the formation of cooperatives and FOABS.
• Design, develop, and deliver training packages/modules.
• Provide technical support in formalizing FOABs.
• Develop an institutional framework for FOABs with clear linkages to the self-help groups.
• Develop guidelines for the formation, management, and governance of FOABs.
• Facilitate the capacity building of the FOABs and management in effective and efficient decision-making, financial management, human resource management, operation, strategic planning and implementation, conflict management and democratic governance.
• Foster innovation and entrepreneurship within partner enterprises by promoting new ideas, technologies, and approaches to business development.
• Facilitate the partnership between the producer organizations and other partners/stakeholders.
• Represent the organization in relevant forums, networks, and working groups to share knowledge, build partnerships, and promote collaboration in enterprise development efforts through guidance from the project manager.

Cooperative Values and Principles (15%)

• Actively facilitate the development of a producer association values and principles orientation kit that incorporates Heifer’s Cornerstones and cooperatives act and by-laws.
• Facilitate the producer/cooperative associations in the orientation of new non-Heifer members to fully understand principles and values.
• Guide cooperatives in establishing a system for the fair distribution of benefits.
• Guide cooperatives to be competitive in the ecosystem.
• Guide cooperatives in conducting periodic PSRP and reinforcing values.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation (10%)

• Develop and share monthly, quarterly, and annual Business performance and progress reports, success stories, case studies, lessons learned and best practices with the Project Manager for submission to the Country office.
• Participate in project team and national business meetings, to help plan, and deliver on the project objectives as appropriate.
• Participate and represent the organization in learning and development forums at the county and regional level, and ensure best practices are documented and shared.

Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor (5%)

• This will be dependent on the specific duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in the fields of Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Rural Development, Enterprise Development, or another related field.
• Five (5) years of field and technical experience with a commercial sector, farmer cooperatives and/or agribusiness development in a mix of economic growth/trade,
• Experience in the implementation of projects within value chain competitiveness or market systems development approach.
• Demonstrable experience in value chain and blended financing is essential, and experience in access to finance or investment promotion will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrable innovation in the area of agricultural value chains.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in identifying and building public/private partnerships, preferably in the agricultural sector.
• Strong marketing, financial analysis, and management skills.
• Strong hands-on experience in managing or providing technical support to producer organizations.
• Experience in supporting and monitoring field-based projects.
• Excellent command of report writing, analysis, and presentation skills using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Track record of building strong client and stakeholder relationships.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Clear understanding of the Poultry and Livestock value chain.
• Innovative, analytical, and solutions oriented.
• Knowledge of enterprise development, market systems approach, and linkages to poverty alleviation.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and proficiency in English and other local languages.

Essential Job Functions & Physical Demands

• Preparing and presenting documents in a well-designed and attractive format with great attention to detail.
• Ability to understand, appreciate, and implement Heifer’s Value-Based Holistic Community Development.
• Demonstrated creativity with the ability to incorporate innovative solutions and systems thinking.
• May require constant sitting and moving, working at a computer for extended periods.
• Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to manage and execute multiple tasks with little supervision while meeting tight deadlines.

go to method of application »

Function

Under the leadership of the Project Manager, the Livestock Officer will be responsible for providing technical support and coordination in implementing trainings and promoting adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices among smallholder farmers in the dairy and poultry value chains.

The Livestock Officer will also support Social and Behavior Change (SBCC) campaigns to increase farmer knowledge on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices as well as support efforts to ensure farmer and value chain actors access to financing to implement biosecurity practices.

The Officer will also support farmer producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services, all of which will ultimately contribute to increased production and productivity. The Officer will also support partnerships with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) partners in Kenya, Government (both at National and County Levels) and other stakeholders implementing similar projects under the one health approach.

Essential Character Traits

 Result Oriented, self-motivated, stakeholder focus, manages complex environments, excellent and effective communication, resourceful, manages conflict, interpersonal savvy, builds networks, situational adaptability, enthusiasm, team player, and respectful.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

Training and Technical Support in Biosecurity, Antimicrobial Use and Good Farm Management Practices (45%)

• Responsible in leading the review, preparation, and development of training curriculum and materials on biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management as well as animal health and nutrition related issues.
• Mobilize Community Agrovet Entrepreneurs (CAVES) and technical experts as appropriate, and arrange their trainings on biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship and farm management practices in collaboration with county governments engaged by the Project.
• Support deployment of farmer trainings and promote adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use stewardship and good farm management practices.
• Support research on the Return on Investment (ROI) on the adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and farm management practices as well as holistic nutrition in poultry and dairy value chains.
• Provide technical support to farmer producer organizations to offer quality and reliable services to their members, through a robust extension system which will facilitate easy access to inputs and services to increase production and productivity and promote adoption of biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
• Engage with National, County and Sub County veterinary technical personnel and other stakeholders (as required) in disease surveillance and reporting as well as the design and field implementation of livestock treatments and vaccination campaigns.

 Project Planning, Administrative Management, Budgeting & Reporting (30%)

• Support the development and implementation of project workplans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s regulations, guidelines, and requirements.
• Support implementation of approved workplans and budgets to achieve project objectives and targets as set out in the Cooperative Agreement, Results Framework and approved workplans and budgets in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
• Support the development and timely submission of high-quality reports, budgets, and other contractual project deliverables in line with the donor and Heifer’s policies, guidelines, and requirements.
• Provide advice and support monitoring of project activities for results, keeping track of project progress and actual or potential problems and recommending remedial options.

Technical Support to Social and Behavior Change Campaigns (SBCC), Access to Finance and Project Monitoring and Evaluation (20%)

• Provide technical input in the development of SBCC messaging and communication campaigns materials.
• Ensure that technically sound social behavioral change messaging is deployed to communities in the target counties where the project is implemented.
• Support development of Access to Finance biosecurity focused products and farmer access to financing to implement biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and good farm management practices.
• Provide technical support in the development of monitoring and evaluation tool, conducting MLE activities and reporting.
• Support periodic reporting of project results in line with the donor and Heifer’s results framework and reporting guidelines and requirements.

May perform other job specific duties as may be deemed necessary and as assigned. (5%)

• Deliverables based on duties assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine, Animal Science or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
• At least five (5) years in animal production, epidemiology research and monitoring of zoonotic and transboundary diseases, livestock value chain competitiveness or project management.
• Experience and ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers, farmer producer organizations and other value chain players in animal health & husbandry, biosecurity, antimicrobial use, nutrition, and farm management.
• Considerable experience building public/private partnerships, preferably in the Agriculture/ Veterinary/Animal Health sector.
• Experience in delivery of animal extension services and influencing policy formulation and decisions in the livestock/animal health industry.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in One Health, antimicrobial use stewardship principles, farm management/ animal production and veterinary practice.
• Substantial technical experience in implementing animal health intervention and managing projects funded by USAID and or other donors.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strategies aimed at providing institutional capacity building to Producer Organizations to build a more efficient, competitive, and sustainable animal/livestock value chains.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science or Animal Health from a recognized institution.
• Kenya Veterinary Board Registered.
• Complementary experience in biosecurity, antimicrobial use industry principles and standards, launching campaigns, and integrated development issues under the one health approach.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Strong project cycle management skills and fiscal management skills including planning, management of project budgets and reporting.
• Effective communication skills in both English and national language/s.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest developments in advancing good/best practices in poultry and beef value chain development.
• Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated creativity, ability to think systematically, willingness, and ability to incorporate innovative solutions and foster and maintain a spirit of unity, teamwork, and cooperation.
• Ability to manage training programs targeted at farmers in livestock farming, feed, and health.
• Experience in facilitating strategic alliances and partnerships with the private sector, including extension and processing.
• Strong computer literacy, preferably with Microsoft Office Suite.

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to relate to individuals and groups diplomatically and tactfully.
• Courteous and of high integrity, especially in high-pressure situations.
• Self-starter and self-motivator with the ability to work in a multicultural setting.
• Must be a team player and can execute and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively, both locally and internationally
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.