Career Opportunities at DAI Kenya

The Senior Agriculture and Food Security Advisor will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following detailed tasks:

• Lead the implementation of the FtF Initiative at the regional level -- design and lead strategies to improve the enabling environment for agriculture, including providing support to partner-country governments, regional trade associations, and regional economic communities, specifically EAC, to harmonize trade, facilitate harmonization and implementation of science-based food safety and nutrition standards, and support improved regulations that support trading of commodities,  warehousing and financing systems that increase farmer income and increase trade opportunities;
• Oversee technical assistance to improve the regional competitiveness of commodities throughout the regional value chains, including facilitating commercial partnerships, and supporting the evolution of sustainable market information systems and ICT to promote regional trade and increase profitability for farmers and private-sector businesses.
• Facilitate private sector engagement and investment among various levels of target value chains including but not limited to producer, processor, wholesaler and exporter levels.
• Coordinate operational integration of all components to achieve optimal results and impact.
• Consult with USAID’s Regional Agriculture and FtF personnel in Nairobi and bilateral missions as appropriate in designing and executing work plan activities that have been developed in consultation with USAID bilateral missions and formalizing strategic partnerships. 
• Work closely with COP and EATIH team to ensure an integrated approach in producing deliverables as outlined in the Work Plan and Rolling Milestones and Deliverables document. 
• Assure timely, organized, integrated, quantifiable reporting on Component 2 activities, initiatives, results, lessons learned, and success stories.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Agronomy, or agricultural economics, and advanced degree (s) in agricultural economics and/or trade economics.
• Thorough understanding of Feed the Future, from the theoretical and practical perspectives.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of possible reforms to the agri-business environment investment constraints that hinder growth in the sector
• Methodical research skills with analytical capabilities to collect distill and interpret data.
• Innovative and pragmatic problem solver with demonstrable skills for prioritization and organization of tasks.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work well within a team
• Excellent English report writing and communication skills

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PURPOSE:

The Grants & Gender Specialist (GGS) will work with the Senior Technical Advisor, Partnership Fund Director, Component Advisors (CA) and Procurement/Logistics Officers during the development of grants, providing information on the feasibility of practical aspects of implementation. Under the gender work he GGS will ensure that gender considerations are integrated into the Hub’s activities by addressing gender inequality issues in formal and informal cross-border trade.

TASKS:

Gender Related Responsibilities

• Oversee implementation of the Hub’s gender strategy, and ensure gender issues are fully integrated into the Hub work plan, Performance Management Plan (PMP), and component activities
• Identify and work with Hub components and partnership fund team to mainstream gender equity into trade policy, trade facilitation, entrepreneurship, and other activities
• Conduct outreach to identify new partnerships and opportunities for gender-inclusive programming
• Work proactively with the Senior Technical Advisor, Partnership Fund team, Communications team and Component teams to catalyze efforts to increase women’s participation in Hub activities
• Work with team to develop systems to measure success of gender inclusion in Hub activities
• Monitor and report on results related to gender strategies

Grant Management Responsibilities

Concept Paper and Proposal Stage:

• Guide grant applicants and project staff in formulating concept papers and proposals according to the EATIH guidelines
• Responsible for all aspects of proposal documentation and applicant vetting per DAI’s and USAID’s regulations
• Support the process of verifying grantee management capability
• Review and propose grant implementation strategies and milestones
• Analyze draft budgets submitted by grantees and propose changes, if needed

Implementation of Grants:

• Track and ensure the implementation of the grant including logistics, procurement and payments
• Ensure that TAMIS is updated regularly, documenting status, financial performance, indicators, and correspondence
• Manage expenditures within the limitation of approved budgets and that the grantee submits timely financial reports including cost share
• Monitor cash flow requirements on a weekly basis, providing estimates for disbursements sufficiently in advance
• Work closely with finance and procurement and keep records of purchases and deliveries and inventory for grantees
• Submit all necessary requisitions in a timely manner, ensuring completeness and clarity; participate in bid analysis and selection process as necessary
• Assist with delivery of, and payment for services, supplies, or equipment to grantee recipients
• Monitor grantee performance and ensure the grant is compliant with USAID regulations and deliverables/milestones are being met by the grantee
• Negotiate and implement modifications and addenda to grant agreements as required and authorized by Chief of Party
• Maintain all soft and hard copies of grant files (excluding finance documentation), including: MOUS; grants; Notes to File; official approvals, extensions, and other correspondence; milestones/deliverables and final reports
• Ensure coordination on each grant with the relevant teams as necessary
• Support the drafting of grant-related correspondence (letters of receipt, issue letters, rejection letters, close-out letters etc.)
• Write grant profiles and success stories for internal and external reports.

Closeout of Grants:

• Ensure all files are in order and grant file checklist is completed satisfactorily before submission to other functional Managers for final approval to close out
• Ensure TAMIS and all electronic files required by USAID have been uploaded to the appropriate portal for viewing
• Document lessons learned to be shared with the rest of the project

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• University degree in Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Project Management or appropriate field

Work Experience:

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience are required
• Three to five years of experience working on grants and sub contracts management with USAID is mandatory.
• Experience in program development, reporting; budgeting; networking highly sought
• In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours.
• At least 3 years’ experience in gender work
• Ability to travel within East Africa region and internationally as may be required.

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Knowledge of French or other languages, preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None. There is significant communication and interaction with partners and field-based teams.

BASE OF OPERATIONS:

Nairobi, Kenya with some travel to Eastern African Countries.

REPORTING:

Reports directly to the Partnership Fund Director.