Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance
Position Title: Agricultural Extension Officer
Job Type: Full Time
Experince:3 years and above
Reports to: County Coordinator
Direct reports: None
Job Location: Wajir (1) and Mandera (1) Counties
Available positions: 2
Contract Details: One year, renewable subject to availability of funds and performance.
Job Summary:
Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance self-reliance and prosperity amongst vulnerable (Agro)-pastoralist communities living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands through promotion of better livelihood systems, sustainable use of natural resources and community empowerment. RACIDA has operations in Mandera and Wajir Counties in Northern Kenya, the Somali and Oromia regions in Ethiopia, and Gedo region in Somalia. RACIDA programs are part of a comprehensive strategy that sets local communities across the Mandera Triangle at the center of their own development trajectory. RACIDA seeks to consistently implement highly integrated, contextually appropriate, community-based programming.
RACIDA in partnership with Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development for Bread for the World (BfdW) and Diakonie Emergency Aid (DKH) is implementing an integrated humanitarian and resilience response in Mandera and Wajir Counties in Kenya and Liban Zone in Ethiopia. The project contributes to strengthening the resilience of the (agro)pastoralist communities to address and decrease disaster and conflict risks while providing lifesaving interventions to address the immediate humanitarian needs of drought-affected communities in the target areas. To support the food security and livelihood component of this project, RACIDA is now hiring Agricultural Extension Officer(s) who will be responsible for planning and implementing the food security and livelihood project activities in adherence with RACIDA and donor guidelines and standards.
Responsibilities
Program Implementation
- To actively engage in the beneficiary selection process under the guidance of the County Coordinator.
- Provide relevant training and skills development to Agro-pastoral farmers on fodder and high value crop production, on-farm water management, and beekeeping.
- Lead stakeholder dialogue and consultation meetings with target communities.
- Provide agriculture extension service support to focal farming households.
- Support the development of increased market linkages for farming households.
- Coordinate and liaise with other stakeholders in the project implementation
- Represent RACIDA in the cluster/donor meetings.
- Review facilitation/training manuals on key topic areas covered under the project to ensure they are addressing the Agro-pastoral needs.
- Provide assessments and analyses on improving crop production and project outcomes for the target project areas.
- Coordinate monitoring visits with established community structures in the project areas
- Coordinate with other organizations in the same location to ensure no duplication of efforts.
- Coordinate and lead needs assessments in project target areas.
- To document field achievements, innovations, lessons learned in monthly and other scheduled donor reports and inform future project development.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Holds a Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in either Agriculture or Agriculture & Home Economics or Agricultural Education & Horticulture or Agronomist or Food Security or any other relevant and equivalent qualification from a recognized institution; Have at least three (3) years' experience in the relevant field; Experience on similar projects in ASAL areas of Kenya.
Additional Skills & Competences
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office packages including Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and report writing skills.
- Good spoken Somali and spoken and written English.
- Excellent personal organizational skills including time management and ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues across the organization.
- Good understanding of cross-cutting issues - gender, disability inclusion, DRR, etc. and how to integrate them into food security and livelihood programs.
- Commitment to and understanding of RACIDA ’s vision, mission, and values.
How to apply
Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should send a CV and Cover Letter only to jobs@racida.org with the subject of the email as the position applied for and the location e.g. ‘Agricultural Extension Officer – Mandera'. The closing date for applications is February 8, 2023, however CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis**.** Eligible applicants are encouraged to send in their applications soonest.
Each application must include at least three referees who can validate technical expertise. Telephone contacts and email must be submitted with the application.
RACIDA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview