Senior Project Officer Job. Farm Africa

Purpose Of The Role

The Senior Project Officer (SPO) based in Kisumu, will form an integral part of Farm Africa’s Piloting Market-led Solutions to Aquaculture Development in Kenya. This is an 11 month project focusing on to test market-led solutions for production and market access constraints faced by pond farmers. The project will increase the level and quality of fish production, markets and linkages within the aquaculture value chain. This innovative project builds on Farm Africa’s experience in developing the aquaculture industry to create a sustainable and accessible market for farmers to sell high quality produce. The area of intervention is Kisii, Vihiga, Kakamega and Nyamira. Reporting to the Programmes Manager, the SPO is responsible for timely and high quality project delivery, liaison with private sector, farmers and other actors. Budget management and reporting on progress, throughout the project cycle.

The post holder will ensure that the project implements the appropriate activities, based on the work plan and budget for the project and reflect on how to improve the delivery of the project based on data and field observations gathered during the project.

This position requires an experienced officer with strong agri-business background and management skills and experience working with the private sector. S/he will have a track record of value chain development including production, marketing, linkages and developing business plans. High competence in budgeting, reporting, work planning, line management and ensuring project deliverables are met, are essential.

Responsibilities

The Senior Project Officer will oversee project implementation by Farm Africa and will be responsible for the following:

Project Implementation

• Ensure all project outputs, as listed in the project documents, are effectively achieved.
• To provide overall technical and operations leadership in development of business groups while networking with farmers and actors from the private sector.
• To manage and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships with other stakeholders, including various service providers, Government departments, Local NGO’s and private sector companies.
• To oversee the formation of farmer business groups and facilitates their integration within the aquaculture market system.
• Ensure high quality training delivery and appropriate participatory didactical methods for training and hands on support to diverse stakeholders for aquaculture farmers, agents and relevant stakeholders.
• To facilitate the formation of aggregation and marketing organisations, and support the development of business management competency for market orientation of producers, input providers and marketers.
• Organise networking events in collaboration with other actors in the aquaculture sector.
• Collate all activity progress and monitoring & evaluation activity into monthly reporting templates for feedback to Farm Africa.

Business development

• Improve entrepreneurial skills and business thinking of actors along the value chain
• Improve market orientation of the actors
• Foster business linkages horizontally and vertically in the value chain
• Provide capacity building on all elements of the project’s clients business enterprises, organizational development

Project Management

• Take responsibility for effective management of the project’s field activities.
• To lead in project work planning and ensure relevant Farm Africa support staff and consultants are notified in due time to support high quality deliverables.
• To prepare monthly project budgets and work plans in line with Farm Africa’s planning process and schedules on timely basis
• 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.
• In collaboration with the M&EL officer, develop and implement a project monitoring and evaluation process, capturing project outcomes/impact and lessons learned and use this information to improve project implementation.
• To line manage the M&EL Officer staff in Kisumu office.
• To ensure the smooth implementation, management and sustainability of all project activities completed by Farm Africa and project partners.
• Prepare field visits for visitors and networking events

Staff Management

• Providing leadership and motivation to the project team.
• To provide expert guidance and support for staff in development of business focused initiatives to support sustainable private sector uptake of interventions.
• Supervise staff and ensure they provide the required inputs for successful project implementation.
• Evaluate staff development needs for the project and ensure they have the right skills necessary for the successful implementation of the project.
• To carry out Mid-term reviews and annual appraisals with all line-managed staff in line with Farm Africa staff appraisal system.
• To chair the weekly project management meetings and ensure adherence to work plans of all personnel.
• Ensure that all project staff have developed individual operations plan for tracking of implementation of activities.

Project Development

• Assist in identifying new areas of intervention and partners for project implementation and scaling up.
• To support in identifying new funding opportunities for the project (both public and private).
• To co-ordinate in the design of new phases for project implementation and ensure that evidence based lessons learned are documented and built into future project designs.
• To keep abreast of relevant policy matters and to ensure that the project is actively engaged with all relevant agriculture sector developments.

Finance management

• To monitor and ensure the spending for the projects is in line with the annual work plan and budget and donor contractual obligations.
• To ensure compliance with and support production of up to date financial reporting to Farm Africa Country Office and HQ monthly reconciliation band statements, and ensure accuracy and timeliness in submissions.

Networking

• Ensure strong partnership and liaison with project partners and work effectively to maintain and develop dialogues on policy with the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and fisheries, county governments, private sector interest associations, etc.
• In consultation with the Farm Africa Country Director(or representative)/Programmes Manager, represent Farm Africa’s interests in relevant forums.
• Convene a monthly reflection meeting and ensure effective participation of all stakeholders.

Reporting

• Using Farm Africa’s templates, compile monthly, quarterly and annual reports and work plans for submission to the Programmes Manager.
• Responsible for the production of training and workshop reports of a high standard
• Compiling project donor progress reports as stipulated in the donor contracts
• To participate in regional programme meetings with other project coordinators, as requested by the programmes Manager.
• Produce reports/articles and other information as requested by the Farm Africa management team.

Others

• To play an active role as a member of the Farm Africa Kenya team.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Programmes Manager / Farm Africa management team.

Qualifications

Essential Desirable

Education, qualifications & other knowledge

• Bachelor degree or higher in Agribusiness, Business Management or any other related field.
• Knowledge in Aquaculture; Masters degree in agribusiness, Agricultural economic
• Knowledge of the development and policy environment in Kenya
• Knowledge & practical experience of farmer participatory research
• Demonstrable understanding of private sector agriculture value chains and rural development in Kenya
• Knowledge & practical experience of the farmer business group model
• Good understanding of how small scale producers can be linked to the private sector or markets for their produce

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
• At least 3 years’ experience of line management and project planning with staff members.
• At least 3 years field based experience implementing private sector and small holder projects in agriculture
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation practice.
• Experience in the aquaculture and fisheries industry
• Work experience with an international NGO with experience of report writing for largescale donors.

Skills & abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and computer literacy (including MS Office, Internet and email usage)
• Negotiating & managing partner relationships
• Training skills and experience Driving licence category B
• Experience in off-road driving in rural project sites

Our Values

• Deep expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.
• Positive change starts with Africa’s people, so our experts work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.
• We take a long-term view so we can deliver lasting changes for farmers and their families.
• We model innovative new approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

How To Apply

If you meet the above requirements for this position, send your cover letter indicating the title of the position and the expected salary along with an updated CV with email and telephone contacts of three professional referees to: The Corporate Services Manager, mail: [email protected] and copy [email protected] before 5.00pm on 19th April 2019.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Farm Africa is an equal opportunity employer and promotes gender equity. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Farm Africa does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. (E.g. Application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees). Please note this position is subject to donor approval.

VALID THROUGH: 04/19/2019
LOCATION: Kisumu, Kenya