Job Opportunities at Farm Africa

Purpose of the role

To take lead in agribusiness training for “Gwassi Integrated Community Empowerment project Economic
component” GICEP project beneficiaries and other implementing partners. Work with Input suppliers to develop and input supply chain. Identify and interlink agro dealers in Gwassi to form a network for input sourcing, Link input suppliers with back end suppliers to source for and get quality inputs.

Train agro dealers on business skills. Train and monitor implementing partners on business skills. This position requires an experienced Business Development practitioner with strong technical skills in implementing market focused complex agriculture projects and with a track record of marketing, product logistics, post-harvest handling, input supply chain and SME enterprise development.

Responsibilities

• Develop inclusive business plans for crop input supply
• Identify and interlink agro dealers within Gwassi to for a network for input sourcing
• Offer agribusiness support to agro dealers in Gwassi to develop robust distribution channels
  of crop inputs to ensure accessibility by farmers
• Set up demonstration sites to show good agricultural practices based on suitable use of
  inputs
• Identify and engage suitable back end suppliers for inter linkage with agro dealers
• In collaboration with implementation partners, map input demand within the project area
• Create strategic linkages with major input suppliers, financial institutions and other
  partners that can help build the input supply chain
• Work with implementation partners to ensure training and monitoring are done in ine
  with project objectives
• Project Monitoring and Reporting
• Other Roles as directed by the PC, PM and CD

Qualifications

• Degree level in Agri-Business or any other related field
• Experience of working with commercial enterprises
• Knowledge of the agriculture sector in Kenya Experience in enterprise developemnt
• Minimum 3 years relevant work experience in the agricultural crop input sector
• Previous experience working in the input sector in Kenya
• Project planning & implementation
• Capacity building of SMEs and farmers/farmer groups
• Knowledge & practical experience of economic models
• Negotiating & managing partner relationships

Skills & abilities

• Communication (both verbal & written)
• Multi stakeholder facilitation skills
• Organizational skills
• Intercultural sensitive
• Mastery Adult learning methodologies and training skills

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Purpose of the Role

To manage the implementation, monitoring and reporting of Farm Africa – Kenya “Feed The Future- Accelerated Value Chain Development Program – Drought Tolerant Crops Value Chain” (AVCD) project. This position requires an experienced manager with strong technical skills in implementing complex agriculture projects in semi-arid areas and with a track record of production, marketing, product logistics, post-harvest handling, seed systems or similar, of drought resistant crops. A good level of competence with budgeting, quality reporting and work planning desired.

Responsibilities for the Project Coordinator Job

• To provide overall technical and operations leadership in delivery of Feed the Future:
• Accelerated Value Chain Development Program (AVCD) objectives on fostering improved access to Drought Tolerant Crops seed and Improved linkages to product markets
• To manage the project in accordance with project documents, work plans and budgets and
• ensure that work is consistent with Farm Africa’s strategies and the conditions of donor contracts
• Line management of the project staff and provide technical and operational backstopping while, on day to day basis, be directly engaged in practical elements of project implementation
• To manage and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships with other stakeholders, including
• various service providers, Government departments, Local NGO’s and private sector companies.
• To keep abreast of relevant changes in government policy that could affect the project and advise senior management accordingly
• To play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Kenya team.
• To prepare monthly project budgets and work plans in line with Farm Africa’s planning process and schedules on timely basis
• To prepare and submit quarterly narrative and financial reports in the standard format to the line manager with both internal and donor requirements
• To ensure that financial management in the field office is in compliance with the basic standards contained in the Farm Africa finance procedures manual and donor requirements
• In collaboration with the M&E team, to develop and implement a project monitoring and evaluation process, capturing project outcomes/impact and lessons learned.
• In liaison with the programmes manager, participate in the recruitment of new staff/talent to the project team, including proper induction processes
• To provide leadership to all project staff and develop effective team work and individual staff skills relevant to the project and the Farm Africa business plan.
• To work efficiently together with ICRISAT and the AVCD program implementing partners while maintaining Farm Africa’s values and achievement of objectives.
• To carry out quarterly and end of project appraisals with all line-managed staff in line with Farm Africa staff appraisal system.
• In consultation with the PM, to act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops, conferences and meeting donors and other officials as and when required
• To ensure that the project contributes to, responds to and complies with all relevant agriculture sector policy developments.
• To contribute to the development of Farm Africa policies and strategies related to smallholder climate smart agriculture.
• To undertake any other duty as may be directed by the line manager or CD from time to time

Qualifications for the Project Coordinator Job

• Bachelor degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Project Management or any other related field.
• Knowledge of the development and policy environment in Kenya
• Good understanding of the role of the private sector in value chains
• Good understanding of how small scale producers can be linked to the private sector or markets for their produce
• A Masters degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• Knowledge & practical experience of farmer participatory research & the farmer field school approach
• Previous private sector agriculture value chains and rural development experience
• At least 5 years management experience with a private sector Agricultural actor and a strong value chains and market engagement focus
• At least 3 years field based experience implementing private sector and small holder projects in agriculture

Skills & Abilities

• Project management
• Team building
• Financial management
• Agricultural value chains development
• Participatory planning, monitoring & evaluation
• Effective communication (both verbal & written)
• Proposal & report writing
• Negotiating & managing partner relationships
• Field level training
• Policy influencing
• Fundraising
• Capacity building of organisations & individuals

Qualifications for the Project Coordinator Job

• Bachelor degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Project Management or any
• A Masters degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of the development and policy environment in Kenya
• Good understanding of the role of the private sector in value chains
• Good understanding of how small scale producers can be linked to the private sector or markets for their produce
• Knowledge & practical experience of farmer participatory research & the farmer field school approach
• Previous private sector agriculture value chains and rural development experience
• At least 5 years management experience with a private sector Agricultural actor and a strong value chains and market engagement focus
• At least 3 years field based experience implementing private sector and small holder projects in agriculture

Skills & abilities

• Project management
• Team building
• Financial management
• Agricultural value chains development
• Participatory planning, monitoring &
• evaluation
• Effective communication (both verbal & written)
• Proposal & report writing
• Negotiating & managing partner relationships
• Field level training
• Policy influencing
• Fundraising
• Capacity building of organisations & individuals

go to method of application »

Purpose of the Role

• To ensure a high standard of financial management and adherence to financial and procurement policy guidelines
• To participate in the annual workshops organised by the London Director of Resources and her team

Values

Farm Africa seeks to employ those who believe, as we do, that farmers can and will play a key role in achieving long-term rural prosperity in Africa and who seek to deliver on those

beliefs by:

• Being experts in our field, delivering insightful/impactful evidence-based solutions
• Pushing boundaries, being creative with new and old solutions
• Acting for the long-term, building relationships and delivering long-lasting change for farmers
• Working flexibly, taking advantage of the most effective solutions, whether from the
• communities, private sector or government
• Sharing knowledge with others, reaching more farmers than we do alone, ensuring effective
• technologies are widely accessed.
• Experience in planning, budget preparation and monitoring

Responsibilities for the Project Accountant Job

• To ensure compliance with the basic standards contained in the Farm Africa finance
• procedures manual and donor rules and regulations.
• To maintain comprehensive and up-to-date project financial records.
• To assist the Project Coordinator with budgeting and reporting.
• To perform routine administrative and logistical tasks.
• To ensure safe custody of Office assets.
• To ensure all purchases and procurement procedures are adhered to.
• To play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Kenya finance team.
• To reinforce and ensure financial discipline in decisions and activities of the Project.

Standards:

• To ensure that all per diems taken by project staff are correctly calculated.
• To ensure that all Staff Working Advances (SWA) taken by project staff are accounted in a timely manner
• Ensure full compliance with the procurement and finance procedures, approval thresholds and procurement guidelines
• To advise the Project Coordinator on relevant budgetary control measures to address any identified weaknesses in policy and/or practice.
• To feed back any pertinent financial management issues to the Finance & Administration Manager in Nairobi.
• To ensure that all project income and expenditure is accurately accounted for using Farm Africa’s accounting system.
• To enter income and expenditure figures into QuickBooks on a daily basis.
• To ensure that proper accounting records are maintained at the project level.
• To send an accurate and complete set of monthly project accounts to Finance & Administration Manager by the 10th of the following month.
• To prepare monthly budget monitoring reports for the Project Team by the 25th of the following month.
• To assist in the preparation of project budget revisions as required (e.g. when new funding is obtained).
• In liaison with the Finance & Administration Manager, to reconcile the expenditure figures included in financial reports to project donors.
• To maintain an effective and efficient filing and information retrieval system (electronic and
• hard copies).
• To handle incoming and outgoing project correspondence (letters and faxes).
• To answer and forward phone calls.
• To prepare payment vouchers.
• To receive visitors to the office and direct them to the appropriate staff.
• To handle and ensure timely replenishment of petty cash.
• In consultation with the Office & HR Manager in Nairobi, to carry out basic IT maintenance including updating virus software.
• In consultation with the administration and finance department in Nairobi country office, to
• ensure that office supplies (equipment and stationery) are promptly requisitioned and supplied.
• To assist in organising meetings, workshops and conferences.
• To make travel and accommodation arrangements for project staff and visitors.
• To maintain an up-to-date asset register for the Kitui office and convey any changes to the
• Country Office Accountant on a monthly basis.
• To ensure that all project assets (furniture, equipment and vehicles) are insured, serviced and maintained and to report any defects promptly to the Project Coordinator.
• To host a monitoring visit by the Finance & Administration Manager and/or other members of the Farm Africa finance team at least twice per year.
• To complete an annual appraisal with the Project Coordinator (with input from the Finance &
• Administration Manager).

Qualifications for the Project Accountant Job

• Bachelors degree in Accounting Administration qualification
• CPA (Part 2 Section 4) Previous NGO experience
• At least 2 years experience in project / fund accounting
• Financial reporting to donors
• Excellent Quickbooks competency Knowledge Financial rules and regulations