Job Opportunities at Fairtrade Africa (FTA)

‘Growing Women in Coffee’ project is a 3-year initiative within Fair Trade East Africa (March 2015-February 2018) directly targeting 450 Fairtrade-certified smallholder women coffee farmers in Kabng’etuny FCS, Kapkiyai MCS and indirectly 20,000 coffee smallholder farmers affiliated to Kipkelion Union in western Kenya. Activities are implemented by Fairtrade Africa in partnership with Fairtrade Foundation (UK) and Solidaridad Eastern & Central Africa Expertise Centre (SECAEC). Project donors include the Big Lottery Fund (BLF-UK), Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission (GOAC), Jersey Overseas Aid Commission (JOAC) and Dutch Post Code Lottery Fund.

Target outcome areas

Improved livelihoods for 300 women farmers in Kabng’etuny FCS resulting from increased use of sustainable farming methods leading to improved quality and yields of coffee.
Improved use of and access to natural resources through the adoption of green energy production by 300 households of women farmers in Kabng’etuny FCS, also resulting in lower levels of deforestation and less generation of harmful gases, mitigating climate change.

Improved livelihoods for 150 women in Kapkiyai FCS through the transfer of coffee assets from men to women and improved representation and participation for women through the establishment of a Women’s Coffee Association
Improved livelihoods for 450 women farmers in Kipkelion Union through support for the sale of branded women’s coffee into domestic markets and through the creation of a learning platform at Union level to spread benefits to women farmers beyond Kabng’etuny and Kapkiyai cooperatives

Responsibilities for the Micro-Enterprise Development Job

• Fairtrade Africa (FTA) is seeking professional services of a Self-Help Group (SHG) and Micro-enterprise Development expert with specific experience on rural women farmer empowerment to train 140 members of Kapkiyai Women in Coffee (WIC) Association aimed at developing their social & economic capacities under outcome 3 of ‘Growing Women in Coffee’ Project between March-May 2017.
• Capacity build on all aspects of a Self –Help Group (SHG) i.e. formation, leadership, governance and sustainability plans
• SHG formation, rules & regulations, leadership and conflict resolution strategies
• Mobilizing and managing SHG savings and inter-lending – define member responsibilities
• Bookkeeping and accounting
• How to establish credit linkage with banks
• How develop and manage common/revolving fund
• How to take up income generating activities
• How can an SHG become a vehicle for social development
• Going beyond economic function of saving and credit to tackle social issues and problems (link with use of Fairtrade Premium)
• Why and how to form networks with other self-help groups at micro/meso-level
• Establishing linkages between SHG and external institutions at macro level
• How can SHG achieve convergence of services?
• Train and guide in establishing feasible ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ (MSME) for Kapkiyai WIC
• Association members under the following categories:
• Micro Enterprise development related to crop diversification e.g. cultivation of African Leafy Vegetables, Passion fruits etc.
• Micro-enterprise development related to good livestock husbandry e.g. dairy farming, poultry farm, livestock feed production etc.
• Micro-enterprise development related to household-based operations/handicraft e.g. knitting, stitching, weaving, embroidery etc.
• Develop a comprehensive business plan for identified micro-enterprise(s)
• This should be realistic for immediate or medium term implementation

Submit a report to FTA on:

• General training – agenda, no. of participants, training modules, notes and other tools
• Kapkiyai WIC Association by-laws
• Kapkiyai WIC business plan
• Kapkiyai WIC Association SACCO structure & registration details

Qualifications for the Micro-Enterprise Development Job

• Extensive experience in micro-enterprise development for rural women Self-Help Groups
• Extensive experience in development of group savings and lending schemes/SACCOs
• Experience in Organizational Development for Smallholder Cooperative Societies/ Farmer groups – preferably for export crops
• A good understanding of Coffee sector in Kenya
• Knowledge and experience in adult learning and participatory methodologies and approaches
• Extensive experience in training communication, presentation and facilitation skills especially with Training of Trainer’s (ToT) model
• A good understanding of and ability to access FTA’s project location and target beneficiary groups
• Fluency in Swahili and local language (Nandi) an advantage
• Good understanding of Fairtrade Principles, Standards and FTA Child Protection Policy

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Responsibilities for the Agronomist Job

• Carry out site visits within Kapkiyai Coffee catchment area
• Commission soil analysis from sample farms within each zone in Kapkiyai catchment area
• Conduct theoretical & practical ToT for 40 promoter farmers on GAPs for Coffee
• Conduct theoretical & practical ToT for 40 promoter farmers on GAPs for other food crops
• Conduct theoretical & practical ToT for 40 promoter farmers on use of bio-slurry from domestic Biogas plants in Coffee/farm production
• Develop a Farmer Field School plan and budget for reference in rolling out training
• Identify demonstration plots per catchment zone as guided by the promoter farmers
• Identify a feasible coffee input procurement & supply plan
• Submit a report to FTA on:
• No. of ToTs trained
• Kapkiyai Farmer Field School Curricula
• No. of demonstration plots identified
• Develop and avail Coffee and other food crops training resource materials i.e. modules/manuals, posters, fliers etc.

Qualifications for the Agronomist Job

• A degree in Agronomy
• At least 5 years of experience in training smallholder rural farmers on implementation of Good Agricultural Practices for Coffee
• A good understanding of Coffee sector in Kenya and Kapkiyai Coffee Calendar
• Knowledge and experience in adult learning and participatory methodologies and approaches
• Extensive experience in training communication, presentation and facilitation skills through Training of Trainer’s (ToT) model
• A good understanding of and ability to access FTA’s project location and target beneficiary groups
• Fluency in Swahili and local language (Nandi) an advantage
• A highly motivated and organized individual, working under minimum supervision
• Good interpersonal, communication and team work skills
• Understanding of Fairtrade Principles, Standards and FTA Child Protection Policy