Short term Consultant – Agri-business Enterprise Development
Farm Africa is an International NGO whose mission is to reduce poverty by unleashing African farmers’ abilities to grow their incomes and manage their natural resources sustainably. Farm Africa’s approach in working with small holder farmers to improve their wellbeing is hinged on increasing production and productivity through capacity building and linking markets and input access to farmers.
Working with partners at various levels, Farm Africa’s roles include strengthening capacities of local farmers and institutions; developing new models and ideas through research; disseminating practical experiences to promote wider application of proven technologies and approaches in East Africa. Farm Africa is keen to ensure that farmers take farming as a viable business that generate sustainable incomes at scale.
Farm Africa, as part of its Youth Empowerment in Sustainable Agriculture (YESA) project wishes to recruit a Consultant to assist in its business development work in the Trans Nzoia East Sub-County. The project is being implemented and in Cherangani and Kaplamai divisions.
Position: Short term Consultant – Agri-business Enterprise Development; Consultancy contract period: Six (6) months
Reporting to: Project Coordinator, YESA; Location: Kitale, Kenya
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct enterprise capacity assessment for all YESA youth groups
- Train the YESA groups on strategic planning and work with the youths to develop group strategic plans
- Conduct value chain analysis/review for each of the agri business enterprises implemented at YESA
- Train the groups on business planning and guide the youth to develop business plans for all group demo and individual replicators agri-business enterprises
- Conduct periodic reviews (at least monthly) to ensure that all business plans are adhered to and the entrepreneurial capacity of the youth is enhanced
- Conduct a market study and advise on best implementation strategies that would ensure that the youths have profitable ventures
- Organize the groups into marketing clusters with linkages to relevant markets and develop a sustainable marketing structure to enhance market access for the YESA groups’ produce.
- Act as a liaison person between the groups and the markets while training the groups on the same (mentorship)
- Develop strategic linkages with other value chain actors with a view of creating synergistic partnerships/collaborations that would be beneficial to the YESA groups agri-business enterprises
- Recommend relevant improvements in the agri-business enterprises that would enable the groups realize better returns e.g. value addition, diversification
- Compile relevant reports to indicate the progress of the YESA groups and replicators
Qualifications:
- A minimum of degree in Agriculture Enterprise, Economics, Entrepreneurship or Business Administration
- Good understanding of agriculture based enterprises
- Experience in provision of business development services
- Understanding of value chain analysis
- Skills in youth training/facilitation
- Skills in market research and organizational development
- Ability to communicate fluently in Kiswahili
- Fully conversant with the principles and working methods of project cycle management
Terms and conditions:
- Monthly fee (consolidated) – Kshs. 50,000
- In-patient medical cover for the 6 Months to be provided
- Transport to the field will be provided
- Training materials and logistics related to group meetings to be catered for by the project
- This is a temporary contract and therefore the consultant shall NOT receive annual leave, sick pay or any other benefits usually afforded to the employees of Farm Africa.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should submit an application letter and updated CV by email to Lydia onkenyarecruitment@farmafrica.org; cc:lydiag@farmafrica.org ; raphaelk@farmafrica.org; by close of business on Tuesday, 31st December 2013.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
