Agriculture Trainer at University of California San Francisco Global Programs for Research & Training

Global Programs for Research and Training is registered as an international NGO in Kenya, wholly owned and affiliated to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Global Programs is recruiting for one motivated and proactive individual as an Agriculture Trainer for a research project known as Shamba Maisha. The Shamba Maisha (the Kiswahili phrase for “farming life”) study is testing the hypothesis that an agricultural and finance intervention will improve food security, prevent antiretroviral treatment failure, and improve HIV health outcomes among people living with HIV/AIDS. The position requires a six-months commitment.

The incumbent will organise participants into functional training groups, deliver the agricultural training as per the training manual, mobilize for loan down payment, and liaise with the equity bank trainer for bank specific training, coordination and communication with study staff (Study manager, Study Coordinators, and the Research Assistants)

The trainer will work with farmer groups to ensure they understand the theory and practice of vegetable production in order to improve participants’ health and nutrition and provide income for their families.

Implement Shamba Maisha trainings

• Organise the enrolled participants into training groups
• Clearly communicate training schedule to farmers
• Select sites for trainings and field demonstrations
• Prepare training materials and execute trainings
• Actively participate in mobilization of down payment for the loans
• Liaise with the Equity Bank Trainers to design a suitable training calendar
• Maintain a clean training attendance register
• Communication with the appointed Agrovet for input supply

Report Writing

• Write weekly reports on training progress, challenges faced, and possible solutions
• Collect and write-up case studies from trained farmers showing progress over the period
• Collect farmers’ views on the training process to include in Monthly reports.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Minimum Diploma in Agriculture, Horticulture or Agronomy
• Four years relevant hands-on experience working/training small holder farmers
• Excellent knowledge of all aspects of agronomy related to the cultivation (from land preparation, planting material selection to post harvest care and sale) of high value irrigated horticultural crops, including the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers and pest control, crop rotation, intercropping, etc
• Knowledge in IPM is an added advantage.
• Excellent training skills including, communication, needs assessment, course development, scheduling, implementation of trainings and the training impacts
• People management experience in working with partners and managing a small team
• Results/Performance Orientation – proven “self-starter” who is flexible and adaptable with an entrepreneurship spirit.
• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and Dholuo required

Desirable Qualities

• Excellent personal communication & negotiation skills
• Good report writing and communication skills
• Strong analytical abilities and detail oriented
• Comfortable with Microsoft Word and Excel; Data entry experience preferred
• Strong communication and organizational skills; detail oriented
• Independent judgment and resourcefulness, understanding of the local social and geographical landscape as well as the community
• Ability and desire to work in Nyanza
• Clean driving license with Motor Cycle riding experience
• Self-starter who is flexible, engaging and adaptable with an entrepreneurial spirit
• Excellent ability to articulate complicated material to adult learners