Job Opening: Programme Coordinator – Agriculture & Natural Resource Management (NRM)
Department: Programmes
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead (SPM&PSL)
Benefits: 22 days annual leave, Medical Insurance and 10% Employer pension contribution and 25% leave allowance
Travel: Significant county level and nation-wide travel with minimum international travel required
Restrictions: 6 Months’ Probation period, 2 years contract renewable and one (1) months’ notice period
About Self Help Africa:
Self Help Africa (SHA) is an international NGO dedicated to the vision of an economically thriving and resilient rural Africa.
We have 50 years of experience working with smallholder farmers, farmer associations, cooperatives, and agribusinesses across Africa to help farmers grow and sell more food, improve diets, diversify incomes and make their livelihoods more sustainable and resilient to external shocks.
SHA also builds awareness of issues affecting smallholders and represent their interests at policy and institutional level.
SHA is a core member of The Gorta Group which is composed of a group of innovative organizations driving sustainable economic and social change across Africa.
Comprising Self Help Africa, Partner Africa and TruTrade, the Gorta Group combines expertise in market-based solutions to poverty and rural development; climate change mitigation and resilience; trade facilitation and farmer and worker rights; underpinned by an inclusive ethos that specifically targets women and youth.
In August 2021, United Purpose joined the Gorta Group, which operates as Self Help Africa (SHA), bringing together two organizations with proud histories of assisting those in greatest need.
United Purpose, formerly Concern Universal, has worked for more than 40 years as a leader in community-led development and grassroots innovation.
SHA now has over 700 staff worldwide, because of the merger, and a global turnover of over €40m. We are currently implementing a portfolio of 80 projects in Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia funded by a variety of institutional and private donors including the European Union, Irish Aid and World Food Programme.
In 2020, we supported close to eight million people in rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil and Bangladesh.
Job Purpose:
- Take a lead role in the design and development of new and innovative agricultural and natural resource management initiatives for the country programme and assist in the marketing of those initiatives to funders/donors and other stakeholders.
- Ensure effective and timely delivery of agricultural and NRM programme that demonstrate sustainable impact among SHA beneficiary communities.
- Ensure effective engagement of partners and stakeholders including private sector in supporting the achievement of programme goals and objectives in line with the Kenya Strategic Plan.
- Support in demonstrating quality of programming and impact through contributing to country reporting and documentation of ‘Best practices’ to donors and other stakeholders
Key Responsibilities:
Project Technical Support Functions
- Oversee all agriculture & NRM projects in the country and make regular visits to the project sites while providing technical guidance on programme implementation, budgetary control and capacity development among programme staff and implementing partners.
- Provide technical expertise to programme and partner staff to ensure effective integration of sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resource management strategies and other related practices
- Advice projects on identified challenges during programme implementation while keeping the SPM&PSL briefed on such issues.
- Work with projects and partners to promote community participation to attain sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and climate change resilience, environmentally sustainable land use practices, and nature-based enterprises
- Develop, coordinate, and oversee implementation of policies and strategies for implementation of sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resources management practices across the programme
- Ensure that project implementation meets donor compliance requirements
- Ensure all project reporting is undertaken in a timely manner
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and monthly project status reports
- Develop and execute work plans as agreed and approved by the SPM&PSL
Counterpart Relationship Functions
- Nurture and strengthen strategic partnerships, networks and coalitions with civil society organizations and private sector implementing similar programmes activities for continued learning and sharing of experiences and best practices and influence policy and practice
- Represent SHA Kenya as directed by the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead in meetings/workshops/field visits and other relevant forums.
- Take charge in organizing meetings/workshops/field visits/forums with communities and Stakeholder’s/Partner’s
- Ensure positive working relationship with government and ALL Stakeholder’s/Partners
- To ensure regular communications are maintained among the field sites, and between the field and the country office
Project Design and Development as well as proposal development functions
- Assist the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead in resource mobilization and acquisition through new programme development and proposal writing ensuring integrated and sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods, climate change resilience, environment and natural resources management issues are always articulated
- Prepare strategy documents, strategy papers, progress reports and evaluation reports
- Provide critical input and feedback on all new projects, concept papers and other programming documents as agreed by the SPM&PSL
Project Monitoring and Evaluation
- Conduct regular and accurate assessments, monitoring, and dissemination of information and ensure that sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, climate change resilience and natural resources management principles are incorporated in development planning and decision-making processes across the programme
- Liaise with the PC M & E in Co-ordinating evaluation schedules for projects and in liaison with the SPM&PSL coordinate the engagement of technical personnel/institution to undertake the task.
- Prepare the initial Terms of Reference for each evaluation to be approved by the Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead
- Co-ordinate the review and appropriate dissemination of evaluation reports from ALL SHA donor funded projects
- Spearhead development and regular review of project evaluation tools as directed by the SPM&PSL
Logistics, Administration, HR and Safety
- Ensure efficient use and management of transport and other programme resource
- Work with Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead and Human Resources and Administration Manager in procurement processes of projects inputs through outlined procurement procedures,
- Ensure good individual and team performance in support of project implementation through coaching, mentoring and regular meetings
- Ensure all safety or security incidents (fires, vehicle accidents, theft, etc) are appropriately recorded and reported,
- Actively monitor field site safety and security and advise the SPM&PSL about new developments
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the SPM&PSL and by the SHA Kenya Country Director.
Key Relationships:
Internal
- Country Director
- Senior Programme Manager & Private Sector Lead
- Head of Finance and Administration
- Finance and Administration Team
- All Programme Coordinators
- All Senior Technical Advisors (Gender, Nutrition, Enterprise, Policy and Humanitarian)
- HQ Desk Officer – assigned to Kenya
External
- Project implementation partners
- Donors
- Stakeholders including national government, research institutions, financial institutions, external auditors, donors, Academia, and private companies
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in the design and implementation of agricultural projects that are agri-business focused.
- Experience with project implementation through consortiums involving national and international NGOs and Government ministries.
- Experience in designing strategies and approaches for enhancing agricultural production and rural livelihoods among small holder farmers
- Experience in networking among development partners and government departments
- Proven ICT skills
- Strong training and facilitation skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and team working skills
Qualifications/Other Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Agri-business, or a related field
- Master’s degree in Project Management, Agri-Economics or related field will be an added advantage
- Proven experience in agronomic practice in the context of project implementation in an international NGO environment. Experience in dryland farming and livestock management will be an added advantage.
- Strong computer skills especially with MS Word and Excel and other related packages
- Strong M&E skills
Role Competencies:
- Excellent verbal, analytical, organisational, and written skills with fluency in Swahili and English.
- People management skills
- Proactive and motivated with a strong commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision, mission and values
- Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports
- Ability to work as part of team across different cultures
- Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative
Download the Job Description
This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available and SHA reserves the right to make necessary changes.
How to apply:
If you are interested in the position and have the right skills and attributes, please download the Application Form and fill it in. Upload this form along with your CV and covering letter to our Online Recruitment Platform.
If you are experiencing any problem with submitting your online application please visit this link for assistance: https://bit.ly/SHA_TechSupport1
Please note incomplete applications will not be considered for shortlisting.
Closing date is Wednesday 4th May 2022
Please note that Self Help Africa Kenya advocates for equal opportunity and does not require applicants to pay any fee at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.
Self Help Africa is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, transparency, and accountability in all its affairs and is completely against fraud, bribery, and corruption. All employees are bound by code of conduct, child protection and conflict of interest policies.
Any candidate offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.
Police vetting is required.
All applicants are encouraged to read through the following safeguarding policies as you make your applications:
Code of Conduct
Conflict of Interest
Child Protection
Women applicants are highly encouraged; Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer